Wednesday 2 October 2013

Day 31, Tuesday 1st October. Montserrat - Manressa (25km)

Today is our final day of pilgrimage as we continue our contemplation on the Love of God?

We reflect on the gifts we have received on this pilgrimage: gifts given us for service in the world, not for ourselves and our own benefit. However, we note that we cannot give away the graces we have received as such; however, we can give away the fruits of these graces, as Fr Michael stressed in his talk to us setting the day's theme.

It is to contemplate and pray today for insight into what it is I have received in these days, how have I been changed, and what might God be inviting me to now?

And we note too, that there is grief associated with the break-up of this pilgrim community: we began as a group of pilgrims; however, we quickly were formed into a pilgrim community, with each assisting the other, each offering their gifts at the service of the community, the community in turn being enriched with such an outpouring of giftedness.

 

Before breakfast I made another visit to the sanctuary to pray the prayers entrusted to me. I again read through and offered as prayer each of the petitions. I then lit two yellow candles seen here: one for the prayers of St Mary's parish, the other in addition for the prayers of the children at St Mary's school. The red candle to the right is for my own beloved family, especially my deceased mum and dad, to whom I owe so much, not least of all the gift of faith.

After our beginning prayer, our pilgrims made another visit to the shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat, again loving touching her statue and making our private prayer.

Another image in the sanctuary of St Ignatius whose spirit here lives on strongly.

Helen making her private prayer before the Virgin, as we all did for one last time.

The beauty in the early morning is overwhelming.

One last view of the sanctuary as we depart for Manressa, as did Ignatius.

 

On the way down the mountain nature calls, men to one site, women to another!

It's a steep descent: a tough days walking to Manressa.

The sanctuary is far behind us, now seen only in the distance.

A rest stop in a village brings out the playful spirit in Helen and Tracy.

An ancient Roman road forms part of our trek down the mountain.

Geraldine and Joe make ground in the hot afternoon sun. It's often hard to come down from the mountain!

We pray our way through timeless beauty.

Nearly there! Resting as we await the 'tail' to catch up: there was a mini-event that might have caused serious injury (thank God it didn't today or any day!) necessitating a taxi for one of our pilgrims.

Our Good Samaritans in that mini-event, Larry and Stephen, rejoin the pilgrim community for our final walk together, as we ent Manressa, the end/beginning of our pilgrimage.

The Jesuit House of Manressa , built over the cave where Ignatius prayed and wrote the Spiritual Exercises.

Along with the whole community, John and Vin are delighted to arrive healthy in mind, body and spirit.

We cross the river Cardenal which was the place of mystical experiences for Ignatius which informed his writing his classic.

The three amigos for one last time, hearts grateful for the gift of friendship and faith shared.

 

We enter the Ignatian retreat house as the destination of our pilgrimage.

Joe is ecstatic!

As am I!

An evening view from my window looking from Manressa back to Montserrat.

We were deeply moved to celebrate mass in the small chapel in the cave overlooking the Cardenal river, where Ignatius was so isspired to write the Spiritual Exercises.

 

ALL FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD! A prayer of Ignatius for every day.

 

The altar and tabernacle in the cave chapel.

 

Suscipe (St. Ignatius of Loyola)

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.

 

Anima Christi (St. Ignatius of Loyola)

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
Good Jesus, hear me
Within the wounds, shelter me
from turning away, keep me
From the evil one, protect me
At the hour of my death, call me
Into your presence lead me
to praise you with all your saints
Forever and ever
Amen

 

 

 

Prayer for Generosity (St. Ignatius of Loyola)

Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will.

Fermin, our intrepid Spanish guide/friend, 'appeared' again for our final two days pilgrimage. Here he farewells the bus as we depart for Barcelona, then home!

 

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Day 30, Monday 30th September. Igualada - Montserrat (27km)

Today is the culmination of our prayer pilgrimage. Having walked in the footsteps of St Ignatius and breathed his spirit and wisdom, we now reach his destination of Montserrat where before the Madonna of Montserrat, he laid aside his sword and armour, put on the clothes of a beggar, and spent the night in prayer.

As we walk our prayer focus is "the Contemplation of the Love of God" as given by Ignatius in the exercises. First and foremost, love ought show itself in deeds over and above words. Secondly, that very love consists in a mutual sharing of goods. As David Fleming SJ writes in his book, Draw me into your Friendship - The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius: a literal translation and a contempory reading, "as a lover one gives and shares with the beloved something of one’s own personal gifts or some possession which one has or is able to give; so, too, the beloved shares in a similar way with the lover. In this way, one who has knowledge shares it with the one who does not, and this is true for honors, riches and so on. In love, one always wants to give to the other."

So it is I pray for the gift of an intimate knowledge of all the goods which God lovingly shares with me. Filled with gratitude, I want to be empowered to respond just as totally in my love and service.

 

We set out with great anticipation on the challenging and most important of days being farewell end by some of the children on the way to school.

I and others are carrying the prayers of our own school children as well as parishioners who are on pilgrimage with us. Later on we will deposit these prayers at the Sanctuary of Montserrat before the Black Madonna.

Initially it is a long and hard ascent from the valley of Igualada to Montserrat: life calls us to make such ascents if we are to travel the spiritual path.

Jesuit, Michael Smith proudly before the Ignation Camino indicator!

 

Many such shepherds' huts are passed along the way. It was to shepherd children that Our Lady appeared in the 9thC which event led to the establishment of the Shrine at Montserrat and later in the 11thC, the monastery.

Our first glimpse of the mountains where Montserrat is to be reached on the other side.

Paddy nearing our destination after a long and fruitful pilgrimage.

Fitzy and Tracy from Hong Kong who are full of anticipation.

The Ballarat diocese crew: Vin and Sandra, and John.

Lunch break with Helen, John and Tracy surveying the valley below.

Looking back on the village of our lunch break.

 

Climbing the heights to our destination.

Looking back to Igualada in the distance, where we've come from today.

 

Still smiling!

Higher and closer each step!

Husband and wife sharing an amazing journey of love!

Crossing the saddle, it's a steep descent to the other side of the mountains.

 

On the road to Montserrat, with the other sign indicating our journey to Manressa tomorrow.

The beauty of these wild, craggy mountains is breathtaking: our hearts beat with excitement and wonder as we walk in this wondrous garden of God's creation.

Not alone are we in the challenge we have undertaken: rock climbers also scale the heights risking all!

 

High atop this stark peak flies the Catalan flag: who and how did they place it there? Catalonian sentiment is very strong!

St Cecelia's 10th C church is one of the many churches, hermitages, and convents that dot this range of mountains and valleys.

St Benedict's below is a secondary school.

Daily, 000’s of pilgrims travel to Montserrat, such as in this train, or buses, cars or chairlifts, etc. they come from all over Spain, indeed the world to honour the Virgin.

Welcome to the Sanctuary of Montserrat.

 

 

 

Within this envelope are the written intentions/prayers of St Mary's parishioners and school children, not only carried on the pilgrimage but prayed with and for each day: Lord, that I may see you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly.

Fr Joe Taylor, Shepparton, presenting his parishioners prayer intentions before the Virgin of Montserrat.

Fr John Fitzgerald, Warrnambool, doing likewise.

And myself, so honoured and privileged to carry the prayers and heart desires of St Mary's, Hamilton, parishioners placing them before the Black Madonna.

Descending from the visit to the Black Madonna, there are thousands of candles from countless pilgrims lit as a symbol of the light that prayer creates and the ongoing pray of our heavenly mother for us all.

 

The spirit of St Ignatius and his mystical experience in this sanctuary lives on powerfully in the history of Montserrat.

We joined in Evening Vespers with the Benedictine community presided over by the abbot, who spiritual leadership has played a significant role in Catalan and national politics.

The Benedictine community at Vespers numbered about 40, with younger faces evident.

Following Vespers, the resident boy's choir sang a number of cantatas.

An evening of thanksgiving and celebration. 2 of our number leave in the morning, thus tonight was a time to give thanks for and honour each of our pilgrim community. This was appropriately led by Vin and John with incisive comments on characteristics and gifts displayed by each pilgrim during our journey together. The humour in the stories recounted, especially by John, was memorable: a great night of celebration.

 

 

Awards were presented to each pilgrim with a humorous twist!

Patrick vied for Pilgrim of the Year!

But was pipped at the post ny Larry! No hard feelings! So terminated a wonderful day. Manressa tomorrow completes our pilgrimage.