Following in the footsteps of St. Ignatius of Loyola, his journey between February and March of 1522 marked a decisive turning point in his spiritual life. Upon arriving at Montserrat on his way to the Holy Land, Ignatius experienced a symbolic moment before La Moreneta, the Black Madonna. There, he laid down his sword and noble garments, choosing a rough pilgrim’s tunic and renouncing his former identity as a soldier. Stripped of status and possessions, he set out as a beggar, guided by the kindness of fellow travelers who led him to Manresa. In this small town, Ignatius spent nearly a year he later described as the most transcendental months of his life. It was a time of intense inner transformation, marked by prayer, penance, and mystical experiences. Ignatius discovered the mission that would define his future. Here he laid the foundations of the Spiritual Exercises, and his spirituality was forged—one that would eventually lead to the founding of the Society of Jesus, his legacy.
