Editor’s note: Throughout July, we’re hosting 31 Days with St. Ignatius, a month-long celebration of Ignatian spirituality. In addition to the calendar of Ignatian articles found here, posts on dotMagis this month will explore the theme of “Hope Through the Twists and Turns.”
A critical juncture in the life of St. Ignatius was his stop at Montserrat. There, at the feet of the Black Madonna, he laid down his sword and his dreams of worldly success and turned over all of his hopes for the future. Today, pilgrims from all over the world still follow suit.
To get to the basilica in which this beautiful image is housed, one must first traverse the mountain of Montserrat. Most do so by a roadway that twists and turns up the mountainside. I invite you to imagine traveling this mountain road in light of the wisdom of St. Ignatius. Here you will notice glimmers of hope among the twists and turns as an invitation to hope that can illuminate our journeys each day.
- Know that all is gift. The natural beauty encountered on this road is undeniable. There are imposing, striated rock faces, vast expanses of naturally terraced vegetation, and, as you progress up the road, mountain vistas so expansive that it’s almost too much to take in. A sense of awe envelops you. Your soul sings. God created this for you; it’s all gift. When you’re having trouble holding on to hope, get out and experience God’s gifts in nature.
- Don’t let fear overcome you. As you progress up Montserrat, the turns can be so sharp that you can’t see what’s around the bend. The road twists around the mountain so tightly in some areas that you are mere feet from the edge of a cliff overhanging cavernous territory below. When you’re finally getting close to the basilica, the mountaintop is wrapped in clouds, so you can see nothing ahead. The only way forward is to follow the lines on the road. While there are some fearsome points in every journey, fight the urge to see doom at every turn. Stay the course, and hold onto the hope that God is with you, will protect you, and has good things in store for you.
- Notice the small things. As the sheer magnitude of the natural beauty takes your breath away, you may find that you’re also starting to notice beauty everywhere. You see the beauty of a single cypress tree or a flower on the side of the road. You feel your chest opening. You understand what Jean-Pierre de Caussade was referring to when he spoke of “the sacrament of the present moment.” Slow down, and pay attention to God in all things.
- Be patient and endure. The road is long and certainly not linear. Just when you think you’ve arrived at your destination, there’s more narrow, upward spiraling. Here you can’t see anything apart from the trees tightly hugging the roadway. But when you clear those trees and that last hairpin turn, you find yourself above the clouds with a nearly 360-degree view of a majestic spread of the mountains flanked by blue skies and the sun on one side, looming rain clouds on the other, and a rainbow bridging the two. Here you realize that God’s promise of new life never expires. Each day look for signs of new life.
- Pause to pray and reflect. Lay your cares and your dreams before the Black Madonna, and trust that she will bring them to her Son. Recall daily that, “[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13:7–8)
- Remember that it’s not just about the destination. When you get to the basilica, you realize that it wasn’t just the moment in front of the Black Madonna that made this journey special; every moment was special in itself. Each day, take the time to review the moments and give thanks.
- Share the good news. While you may experience deeply personal moments of awe as you ascend the mountain, as soon as you get back home, you may find the desire to share all about your journey with anyone who will listen. Find others who want to hear; these are the people to build community with as you hold onto hope.
Glimmers of hope are omnipresent even among the twists and turns. Take the time to look for them, and nurture hope every day.
Today in 31 Days with St. Ignatius, read Cobwebs and Cataracts by Loretta Pehanich. Share the link to this or any article from our site with the hashtag #31DayswithIgnatius on your favorite social media channels.