Manresa

 Today was a day to explore Manresa and see sites where Ignatius had been. We had a pre-breakfast dawn walk to an art installation designed to honor people who had made a positive difference in the world. We also passed by an ancient crossroad where Ignatius had visions and also battled demons. 

After breakfast, we started at a hostel that was just outside the walls of the old city and where the sick and poor stayed. What became a common theme was exposed as the city has been the site of numerous battles and had been ransacked multiple times leading to the destruction of artifacts. But there was enough of the building left (but no church which had stood adjacent) and restoration gave us the feel for how Ignatius spent his time.

We then moved on to the Church de Seu, stopping by the remnants of the old church from the 10th century before entering the Basilica. some original components remained but most were either reproductions of restorations but still the size of the building (30m tall inside) and the placement and design of the side spaces was impressive. 

Finally we stopped at a very small chapel, another place where Ignatius stayed and was cared for when ill.

After lunch and a siesta (for some) we visited the chapel below our lodging which is attached to the cave where Ignatius went for solitude to pray and journal. The church has the religious history from the creation of the world to the Pentecost on 8 large scale mosaic murals each with side scenes and each presenting good and bad choices on those panels.

After a group sharing session where we gave our impressions of the pilgrimage, we visited the Cave and the cave extension. Amazing how something so small, helped produce such greatness.

Tomorrow we’ll have mass in the cave before heading to Barcelona.

Fred