Ignatius of Loyola – Finding God In All Things

Summary

The speaker recounts his transformative journey from a macho Spaniard to a devoted follower of Jesus. After a battlefield injury, he finds solace in religious texts, leading to a profound realization about finding joy and purpose in serving God. His travels to Jerusalem and experiences in Manresa deepen his faith, teaching him to discern God's will through personal connection and devotion to others. The narrative culminates in the founding of the Jesuit order, emphasizing that anyone can find God in all aspects of life, leading to a life of joy and love.

Takeaways

• 🛡️ The speaker's journey of faith began after a life-altering injury, leading him to a new understanding of his purpose in life.
• 🧍‍♂️ A transformation from a 'macho Spaniard' to a devoted follower of Jesus, showing personal growth and change.
• 📚 The discovery of spiritual literature during a time of physical incapacity opened the door to a new perspective on life and heroism.
• 🤔 Contemplation and daydreaming about saintly deeds led to a realization of the difference between worldly and spiritual energy.
• 🌟 The speaker found deep joy and energy in envisioning heroic deeds for God, as opposed to the lethargy of worldly ambitions.
• 🕊️ A pilgrimage to Jerusalem symbolized a radical commitment to a new life dedicated to following Jesus.
• 🗡️ An encounter with a Muslim man and the ensuing internal conflict highlighted the struggle between old instincts and new beliefs.
• 🐪 Entrusting decisions to a donkey represented the first step towards surrendering control to a higher power.
• 🧘‍♂️ In Manresa, the speaker learned the importance of personal, rather than imitative, spiritual practices.
• 💡 The realization that God could be found in one's own way, through listening to one's deepest feelings, was a significant insight.
• 🚢 A return to Jerusalem, this time by ship, reinforced the desire to connect with the physical places associated with Jesus.
• 📖 Studying in Paris and founding the Jesuit order with fellow students demonstrated the pursuit of intellectual and spiritual growth.
• 🤝 The understanding that serving others is a way to find God, emphasizing the importance of altruism in spiritual life.
• 🌱 The speaker encourages others to discern God's voice in their own lives, suggesting that everyone has the potential for spiritual awakening.

Q & A

What significant event in the speaker's life led to the beginning of his spiritual journey?

The speaker's spiritual journey began when he almost lost his legs on the battlefield, which led to a year of recovery and a profound encounter with Jesus.

What did the speaker initially desire to read during his recovery period?

The speaker initially desired to read novels about chivalry to fuel his daydreams about performing heroic deeds and winning the affection of a prominent woman.

What did the speaker receive instead of the chivalry novels, and how did it affect him?

Instead of chivalry novels, the speaker received a book about the life of Jesus and stories about saints. Surprisingly, he began to dream about these stories and felt a strong desire to perform even greater deeds for God.

How did the speaker's feelings differ when he thought about his life as a knight versus when he thought about serving God?

When thinking about his life as a knight, the speaker initially felt energized but later became lethargic and tired. In contrast, when contemplating serving God, he remained energized and experienced deep joy.

What decision did the speaker make that symbolized his dedication to God?

The speaker decided to leave behind his life as a knight and go to Jerusalem as a pilgrim, wanting to be in the places where Jesus had been.

What incident during the speaker's journey led him to realize he could entrust himself to the will of someone outside himself?

The speaker got into an argument with a Muslim man about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Instead of attacking the man, he let his donkey decide the direction, realizing he could entrust himself to a higher will.

In Manresa, what extreme actions did the speaker take in his attempt to woo God, and what was the result?

In Manresa, the speaker tried to outdo the saints by praying for longer hours and fasting for a week. However, these actions made him very unhappy and even led him to consider ending his life.

How did the speaker's approach to finding God evolve after his experiences in Manresa?

After his experiences in Manresa, the speaker realized that he needed to find God in his own personal way, listening to his deepest feelings and discerning God's invitation in his life.

What significant event did the speaker experience in Jerusalem, and how did it affect his understanding of God?

The speaker visited the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, where Jesus ascended to heaven. His desire to know even the smallest details about Jesus' life deepened his understanding that everything is centered on Jesus.

How did the speaker's time in Paris contribute to his understanding of finding God?

In Paris, the speaker made friends with six fellow students and discovered that one can find God by devoting oneself to others, which led to the founding of the Jesuit order.

What invitation does the speaker extend to the listeners at the end of the script?

The speaker invites the listeners to discern God's voice in their own lives, suggesting that God may be calling them to a life of joy and deep love for themselves and others.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ Spiritual Transformation Through Adversity

The narrator recounts his journey from a life of chivalry to a profound spiritual awakening. Initially bedridden due to an injury, he found himself drawn to stories of saints and Jesus, which energized him unlike his previous life as a knight. This realization led him to a deeper desire to dedicate his life to God, prompting a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The encounter with a Muslim man and his subsequent decision to entrust his path to a donkey symbolized his surrender to a higher will. In Manresa, he struggled with extreme religious practices, which ultimately led to the understanding that he needed to find God in a personal and authentic way.

05:00

🌏 Finding God in All Aspects of Life

The speaker's spiritual journey continues as he revisits the places Jesus had been in Jerusalem, seeking a deeper connection with his faith. His experiences in the Holy Land solidified his belief that everything revolves around Jesus. Returning to Europe, he pursued intellectual growth and befriended students with whom he later founded the Jesuit order. This period marked his discovery that serving others is a path to finding God, and he emphasizes that everyone can discern God's voice in their lives. He encourages listeners to seek God in various aspects of life, including social issues and personal relationships, and to embrace the transformative power of faith.

Keywords

💡Adventure

Adventure is a journey or series of experiences that are unusual, exciting, and often involve personal risk or discovery. In the video, the speaker's life is described as 'an adventurous life,' highlighting the unexpected and transformative nature of his experiences, particularly his encounter with God and the subsequent changes in his life.

💡Knight

A knight is a medieval warrior of noble birth, often serving a lord or king. In the script, the speaker initially aspires to restart his life 'as a knight,' indicating his former identity and lifestyle focused on chivalry and heroic deeds. This concept is contrasted with his later realization of a different kind of heroism through service to God.

💡Conversion

Conversion refers to a profound change in one's beliefs, attitudes, or way of life. The speaker's 'conversion' is a central theme of the video, as he moves from a life of a knight to a life dedicated to God. His transformation is marked by a shift in his values and actions, as he learns to find God in all things.

💡Discernment

Discernment is the ability to judge well, especially in matters relating to good and evil, truth and falsehood. The speaker learns to 'discern God's voice' in his feelings and longings, which is a key part of his spiritual journey. It is through discernment that he is able to understand and follow God's will for his life.

💡Desire

Desire is a strong feeling of wanting to achieve something or wishing for something to happen. The script mentions the speaker's growing 'desire to dedicate my life radically to God,' which is a driving force behind his actions and decisions throughout the video.

💡Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage is a journey or trip taken to a holy place as an act of religious devotion. The speaker decides to go to Jerusalem as a pilgrim, which signifies his commitment to his new faith and his wish to connect more deeply with Jesus by visiting the places where he lived and walked.

💡Insult

An insult is an expression of disrespect or scorn. In the video, the speaker is offended by a Muslim man's comments about Mary, which leads to a moment of introspection about his values and the appropriate response to such provocations in his new life dedicated to God.

💡Ascension

Ascension refers to the act of rising or being lifted up, especially in a spiritual context. The speaker's visit to the Mount of Olives, the place where Jesus is believed to have ascended to heaven, is a significant moment in his spiritual journey, symbolizing his deepening connection with Jesus and his teachings.

💡Jesuit Order

The Jesuit Order, or the Society of Jesus, is a religious order within the Catholic Church known for its educational, missionary, and charitable works. The speaker's friendship with six fellow students in Paris, who later become the founders of the Jesuit Order, represents his commitment to service and finding God through devotion to others.

💡Joy

Joy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. The speaker experiences 'deep joy' when contemplating his life dedicated to God, as opposed to the lethargy he felt when thinking about his previous life as a knight. This joy is a sign of his alignment with God's will and the fulfillment he finds in his spiritual path.

💡Service

Service is the act of helping or doing work for others. The video emphasizes the idea of finding God through service, as the speaker and his companions care for the poor and help others find God in their everyday lives. This concept underscores the idea that spiritual fulfillment can be found in altruistic actions.

Highlights

Finding God in all things is a key theme of the speaker's life journey and spiritual discovery.

The speaker's adventure with Jesus began after a near-death experience on the battlefield.

A year of recovery led to a profound realization of God's different plans for the speaker's life.

Daydreaming about heroic deeds for God versus a knight's life revealed a striking difference in energy and joy.

The speaker's desire to dedicate his life to God grew stronger, leading to a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

An argument with a Muslim man sparked a deep internal conflict about the speaker's new path.

The speaker learned to entrust himself to God's will rather than his own impulses or a donkey's decision.

In Manresa, the speaker struggled with imitating saints' practices, leading to unhappiness and desperation.

A realization that God was inviting a personal, unique way of seeking Him, rather than blind imitation.

The importance of listening to one's deepest feelings to find God was a significant insight gained.

Praying with the stories of Jesus' life and discerning God's invitation became a daily practice.

A second journey to Jerusalem deepened the speaker's connection with Jesus and His sacred places.

The speaker's quest for detailed knowledge about Jesus, even the direction of His ascension, shows his dedication.

Studying in Paris and founding the Jesuit order with fellow students marked a new phase of spiritual growth.

Devotion to others and finding God in service was a key discovery made during the Paris years.

The speaker emphasizes that everyone can discern God's voice in their own feelings and longings.

The invitation to seek and find God in all aspects of life, including social issues and personal relationships.

The call for a personal conversion and change of direction in response to God's invitation.

Transcripts

Finding God in all things… I’d like to tell you something about that. I am now at

the end of an adventurous life. And I can tell you that I find God whenever I want to

find him.

How did it happen? Do you see this young man? A real macho Spaniard. That's me. My story

begins when I almost lost my legs. To my own amazement, there on the battlefield, my adventure

with Jesus began.

I was on my back for a year. At first with just one thing on my mind: to restart my life

as a knight as soon as possible. Until I slowly discovered that God had other things in store

for me.

I daydreamed a lot in those days, what else was there to do? About a prominent woman and

how I would win her affection through my heroic deeds. What I wanted was a few novels about

chivalry to read. But what I got was a book about the life of Jesus and a collection of

stories about saints, people who followed Jesus in a special way.

It surprised me that I started dreaming about these stories too. Then I imagined how I would

perform the same great deeds as the saints. And that I would do even more for God than

all these men and women put together.

In all this fantasizing I made a remarkable discovery. Each time I thought about my life

of excess as a knight, I felt energized at first, but then I became lethargic and tired.

However, when I thought of the great heroic deeds I would accomplish for God, I felt just

as excited, but I remained energized afterwards and experienced deep joy. A striking difference.

It turned out to be a key guide for finding God in everyday life.

My desire to dedicate my life radically to God grew ever stronger. For me that meant

leaving behind the life of a knight. I decided to go to Jerusalem as a pilgrim because I

wanted to be in the places where my new friend Jesus had been. This thought filled me with

joy, which for me was a sign that I was on the right path.

When I was still just at the start of my journey, I got into an argument with a Muslim man.

I found what he said about Mary, the mother of Jesus, offensive and it really got under

my skin. He went on ahead and I began to question myself. I believed he had insulted Mary. Shouldn’t

I attack him with my dagger? I would certainly have done it before, but maybe it didn't fit

with this new life. I didn't know.

I decided to give my donkey free rein so that it could decide. In this way, and to my own

surprise, I discovered that I could entrust myself to the will of someone outside myself.

I am not in this alone. Later, when I knew better who God is and how to find him, I wouldn't

let a donkey decide but God himself.

I travelled on to the Spanish town of Manresa where I had many new insights. In my heart

I was still a bit of a player who wanted to woo God the way I had secured the affections

of women. If a saint had kneeled for five hours, then I prayed for seven. Another time

I decided not to eat or drink for a week. I blindly followed the example of all the

saints at the same time and it made me very unhappy. It made me so desperate that I even

considered ending my life. This was not what was meant to happen! Clearly living like this

was not what God was asking me to do.

From this I realised that God was inviting me to look for him in my own personal way.

It was as if my eyes were slowly opening. Bit by bit, I discovered how I could find

God by listening to my deepest feelings. In this, my friendship with Jesus was a great

help. I worked at it every day, praying with the stories of Jesus’ life. I paid close

attention to what was going on in my heart. What is He inviting me to do? In this way

I learned to discern how I could better direct my life and come to find God more easily.

A year later I made the crossing to Jerusalem by ship. Finally. Again and again, I visited

the places Jesus had been. What more could I want? Standing on the ground where my friend

Jesus had stood, breathing the air that He breathed.

Before the journey home, I went to the Mount of Olives one more time. This is the place

where Jesus ascended to heaven. Because it was forbidden to go there without a guide,

I had to bribe the guard. I wanted to pray at the place where Jesus had stood for the

last time.

When I realised that I didn't know which direction Jesus was facing at his ascension, I went

back. I wanted to know even the smallest details about Jesus. It was now clear to me that everything,

absolutely everything, is centered on Him.

As I was being led through the city like a criminal, my heart was filled with joy and

I felt Jesus close by

Back in Europe, I began to study. I had come to realise that you must use not only your

heart to find God, but also your head. In Paris I became friends with six fellow students,

with whom, later, I would found the Jesuit order. With them I made another discovery:

you can find God by devoting yourself to others. More than that, you can find Him in all things.

We cared for the poor and helped others to find God in their everyday lives.

It's hard to believe what that cannonball set in motion. A tough guy who founded a religious

order... What a conversion.

And yet this is not offered as something exceptional. Absolutely not. You too can learn to discern

God's voice in the feelings and longings already present in your life. In this way, God invites

you to a life of great joy and deep love, for yourself and for those around you. It

is up to you to choose to make your decisions on this basis.

There are many ways to find God. Find Him among young people hoping for a meaningful

future. Listen to the earth that groans and longs for healing. See the countless poor,

refugees and outcasts yearning for justice.

God invites you also to seek Him and find Him in all things. What conversion, what change

of direction, is he calling you to?