Compañía Pilgrimage

There’s a common denominator during the entire Ignatian Pilgrimage: the constant presence of stars. In some places they are easy to spot – like the ones dazzling behind the magnificent mountains of Loyola and Montserrat – in others, it’s nearly impossible – like in Barcelona and Rome. But I am confident that, in all those locations, Ignatius looked at them consistently during his own time. We know, through different sources, that he spent long hours gazing up at the stars and he would often be moved to tears when he did so. In Ignatius’ Autobiography, we read, “the greatest consolation he received was from gazing at the sky and the stars, and this he often did and for quite a long time. The result of all this was that he felt within himself a strong impulse to serve our Lord.” (Auto. n.11) At the end of the Spiritual Exercises, he possibly invites us to do the same: “consider all blessings and gifts as descending from above.” (Sp. Ex. n.237). If I have to pick my favorite activity during the Pilgrimage, it’s probably to gaze at the stars… and if one thing keeps me connected to that experience, to Ignatius and his spirituality, is the profound wisdom and piety behind that simple exercise.