My Ten "Take-away" from the Ignatian Day

During Quarantine in a hotel in Colombo (Srilanka), just before entering into the Tertianship programme, I read James Martin’s famous book ‘The Jesuit Guide to (almost) everything’. It was a very fascinating reading as the author, a Jesuit himself shows the ways of applying Ignatian insights and Jesuit spirit (or Jesuitness) in every aspect of life. Once I began Tertianship, I have had ample opportunities to study and reflect on the life and works of St Ignatius (Inigo). On the eve of the feast of Inigo (July 31), which we Jesuit loving term as Ignatian day, I draw ten “Take-away” from the life of this great Saint. They are:

1. Striving to live a meaningful life. Life is not a bed of roses rather it is a chain of challenges from womb to tomb. We make our life meaningful by focussing on our goal, while working hard to face any challenge. Inigo was never satisfied with mediocracy. He assiduously worked hard, faced all challenges bravely and made his life meaningful.  

2. Failures are part of life. Every failure can be treated as a gateway to excel in life. The turning point of Inigo’s life was a ‘failure’ at the battleground. He rose up again and made a complete ‘U-turn’ that led him to be a founder and spiritual guru.

3. Happiness does not depend on material things or excessive possessions. The inner happiness comes from ‘being’- with the Creator, with others and with oneself. Inigo left his family palace, gave up all his richness and chose to live like a beggar.  After his conversion, he did not waste not even a drop of his sweat to make money rather he gave himself totally to ‘mission making’.

4. Optimism is a gateway to inner peace. Inigo was always optimistic and passionate of being positive.

5. Living and leading life happily is an art. No one can bring us happiness unless we decide to live a happy life. Happiness is within us, around us. Inigo was a happy person in all aspects because he chose to be happy.

6. Experiences of God vary from person to person. Inigo’s vision of God is ‘service in participation’. He believes God takes active part in our lives and He wants us as his collaborators. He found God in everything, in everywhere...

7. Decision making is an art - a process of discernment. Inigo was master of discernment. He gave enough time before making any decision and once a decision is made he stood by it.  

8. Friends are hidden treasures in life. Inigo valued human relationship and was very expressive in his relationship with others. He regularly kept in touch with his friends irrespective of their age, sex and professions.

9. Inigo never had any double standard. He was very outspoken and refused to make any compromise with his values and principles.

10. Real leader exercises leadership by example. Inigo believed in action rather than mere words.  

Let Inigo continue to inspire us all!

Happy feast of St Ignatius to all of you (30/07/21, Kandy Tertianship).

31 Days!

Making myself naked before God!

This time of the year, honestly speaking, every year I tend to become more reflective on my Jesuit life. This pious practice I began in the novitiate. Just before the feast of St Ignatius we would have nine days of special prayer or novena. Our novice director would ask us to reflect on the life of St Iganatius and ask for the blessing for our life. During my two years of novitiate I did it according to the instruction of my novice director.

Years have gone by! I do not have the same opportunity of any structural prayer or novena. But every year on July 22, I strongly feel that I need to spend quiet time. This year also the same! This time is more special. Presently I happen to be in the land of St Ignatius. I will have the opportunity to celebrate his feast in a place, very close to his birthplace. Last weekend I visited his birthplace Loyola. To my great surprise, I realized that for the last three years I have been regularly visiting Loyola and other Ignatian sites. What surprised me that after each visit, I would never thought that I would come back again. But I have been fortunate enough to come back again and again. Every time I come back with different people both- laity and Jesuits. Each visit leaves some impact on me.

Just a few days ago, I have completed 12 years as Jesuit. In 2000, I left a remote village of Bangladesh and now I am living in Rome, the very house where St Ignatius spent 12 years of his life. A long way…a long story! I remember sitting in the room of St Ignatius (in Rome), late in the evening I asked myself how was my last 12 years!

I joined the Jesuit with a view of making myself a holy and pious priest. But soon I discovered the impressions I had about the religious life are far more distant from the reality. I did begin to question. I did have many doubts. But I was fortunate to have some very good formators who have helped me to understand the meaning of religious life. They helped me to see things in different perspective.

Then I have encountered my own shortcomings. I have fallen again and again. I realized that I am a human being. It is normal for me to fall but I have to rise. The Lord, whom I was placing only in the Church, falls with me. He also helps me rise. Many of my external practices vanished day by day. The form of my prayer has changed. The rituals, formalities, and external devotion, which I had for Divine God, have been replaced by my personal relationship with a God who lives among us. I have begun a process of making myself naked. And these years St Ignatius has been the source of inspiration for me!

Journeying with St Ignatius

Day 9: They show us the path!

Sometimes I wonder! I think! I reflect!


I wonder…Why did Bishop Linus Gomes SJ, after his retirement from the diocese volunteer to work in Bangladesh along with other Jesuits? What inspires him to make himself available for the service of the Church, when he could have easily spent his days in a retirement house in Calcutta or elsewhere in India?

Journeying with St Ignatius

Day 8: He changed the world!


Only the other day I happened to meet an Indian Priest in the room of St Ignatius, at Geus, Rome. Pointing out the height of St Ignatius, he said ‘this was man who changed the world.’

Each time I visit the room of St Ignatius, I discover something new – may be just a simple thought! I wonder…I reflect…and he becomes more real to me…

Journeying with St Ignatius

Day 7: I’m a sinner!


“God who loves us creates us and wants to share life with us forever. Our love response takes shape in our praise and honor and service of the God of our life.”(Taken from ‘draw me into your friendship’)…

One of the things which I was/am able to accept in the light of Ignatian spirituality is my ‘sins’. I know God loves me and he wants to share his love with me even though I am a sinner. This motivates me to go ahead. All I know is that, ‘I came from God, I am belong to God and I am destined for God.’

‘I’m a sinner yet called to be the companion of Jesus…’

Journeying with St Ignatius

Day 6: God has His own plan!


I do believe that one of the main reasons to join the Jesuits was to become a missionary. But after joining the Jesuits I came to know that I have to be ‘missionary in my own country’. Even I will not be able to work in my province Calcutta (India) due to visa problem. I accepted it as God’s plan.

Journeying with St Ignatius

Day 5: Wanted to find, and found HIM


The other day I found the following sentences in my diary, which were taken from the Autobiography of St Ignatius: ‘’He made a solemn avowal…that his devotion, that is, his ease in finding God, was always increasing, now more than ever in his entire life. At whatever time or hour he wanted to find God, he found him.’’

Journeying with St Ignatius

Day 4: MAGIS


‘When will you finish your formation? When will be ordained a priest?’ These are the few questions I kept on hearing from my near and dear ones, who wish to see me a priest as soon as possible. Each time I face with such type of questions, I just give a smile. I do not blame them for such type of questions as some of my companions who studied with me, have already received ordination to priesthood in different Orders. But personally ‘do I regret for such a long formation?’ My simple answer is NO. Rather I enjoy, because it gives me more time to reflect over life and prepare myself better.

Journeying with St Ignatius

Day 3: Finding God in all things

I read about St Ignatius, I listened to many people about St Ignatius, then, what did I do? Have I stopped with it? This is a very timely question to reflect over. I consider that some of the experiments I did during novitiate were in a way to experience Ignatian spirit.

Journeying with St Ignatius

Day 2: St Ignatius: beginning of my relationship!


It did not take much time to find out what would be the novitiate life like. In a very simple term, ‘it was sort of intense life- withdrawing oneself almost from the rest of the world and fully immerse in spirituality, meditation, prayer, personality growth, community building and so on’. I would rather avoid narrating my novitiate life at this stage!

Journeying with St Ignatius

Day 1: St Ignatius and my life

(St Ignatius of Loyola was not a familiar name before I joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). But ever since I joined the Jesuits, he has become my ‘FATHER’. The more I read about him or listen to someone about him, he becomes more real to me. I am fascinated by his spirituality, philosophy and idealism of life. I have encountered a number of Jesuits, who have lived out or are living out the life of St Ignatius. As we prepare to celebrate the feast of St Ignatius I thought of penning my personal thoughts on St Ignatius. This is not a scholarly writing or research paper rather it should be treated as my personal reflection.)