San Ignacio De Loyola Y El Señor Santo Niño Jesús De Cebú

Fr Arturo Sosa SJ prays before the Holy Child Jesus at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu during a visit on December 12, 2018.

I

remember seeing in the film Ignacio de Loyola (2016) when Ignatius was swimming in a river he had an encounter with the young Jesus in a vision. In the pilgrim saint's autobiography we read that he had several visions of the humanity of Christ. "Often in prayer, and even during a long space of time, did he see the humanity of Christ with the eyes of the soul. The form under which this vision appeared was that of a white body, neither large nor small; besides, there seemed to be no distinction of members in His body. This vision appeared to him often at Manresa, perhaps twenty or even forty times, once at Jerusalem, and once when he was at Padua" (Autobiography). What I saw in the film must have been one of those visions he had.

Early during his personal conversion there was a vision that he had while he was being treated for his war wounds in the hospital near the family castle in Loyola. He recalled one night having seen Mary and the child Jesus in that hospital and he attributed his miraculous recovery to them. Mary's influence on Ignatius became increasingly evident in his life. No wonder he would often ask for Mary's help to place him with her Son (Joseph A. Munitiz and Philip Endean, Saint Ignatius of Loyola: Personal Writings, London: Penguin,1996, p. 16).

On the other side of the earth, beyond the Pacific ocean, the same Holy Child would spark the first conversions to Christianity beginning from the rulers of the motley tribes occupying the Philippine islands. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, gave to the local king and queen of Cebu island, as a gift, a statuette which will later become the famous Señor Santo Niño de Cebú. Together with it, he also gave an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a cross. These are the oldest among all Christian relics in the country since the arrival of Magellan five centuries ago.

Creator: Jane Hellings

Is this a mere coincidence? Both the personal conversion of St Ignatius and the first wave of conversions in the Philippine islands happened almost simultaneously in 1521. What is the significance of Jesus' image as a child for the Filipinos and for everyone around the world who will take part in the Ignatian Year? In a letter circulated to the entire Society of Jesus on 27th September 2019, the Superior General, Fr Arturo Sosa SJ, declared an Ignatian Year from 20 May 2021—the five hundredth anniversary (Quincentenary) of Ignatius’ injury during the battle of Pamplona to, 31 July 2022, the solemn feast of Saint Ignatius which is also the four hundredth year (Quadricentennial) of his sainthood. Fr Sosa writes, “It is my desire that at the heart of this Ignatian Year we would hear the Lord calling us, and we would allow him to work our conversion inspired by the personal experience of Ignatius.” Prior to this declaration, last December 12, 2018, he visited the island of Cebu, that is, the heart of the "birthplace" of Christianity in the Philippines. He is seen praying in the file photo above before the Holy Child Jesus at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu.

500-year-old Christian Relic Brought By Portuguese Explorer Ferdinand Magellan To The Philippines
Photo Credit: Vivapinas.com

Three Resounding Calls From The Holy Father

1. A Culture of Care or Revolution of Tenderness: Last January 1, 2021, Pope Francis gave a message for the 54th World Day of Peace celebration. I quote, "These and other events that marked humanity’s path this past year have taught us how important it is to care for one another and for creation in our efforts to build a more fraternal society. That is why I have chosen as the title of this year’s Message, A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace. A culture of care as a way to combat the culture of indifference, waste and confrontation so prevalent in our time." Pope Francis' favorite word is "tenderness" especially that one that is experienced within the family. During his inauguration as Pope he spoke about tenderness and he cited as his example the life of St Joseph. “In the Gospels, St Joseph appears as a strong and courageous man, a working man, yet in his heart we see great tenderness... not the virtue of the weak but rather a sign of strength of spirit and a capacity for concern, for compassion, for genuine openness to others, for love. We must not be afraid of goodness, of tenderness!” (March 19, 2013 Homily of Pope Francis at the Inauguration Mass).

2. A Culture of Communion or Solidarity: In the third chapter of Fratelli Tutti (FT) with the title “Envisaging And Engendering An Open World," Pope Francis dreams about “a universal dimension,” “an ethics of international relations.” He exhorts everyone to "Go 'outside' the self" individuals, institutions and nations alike. He says that the pandemic is proof of the failure of the world to work together fraternally. To cultivate the sense of solidarity and of fraternity, we begin again within the family, the Holy Father adds. He also elevates the status of politics that needs to be centered on human dignity and not subjected to finance. He challenges the United Nations to step up in being a "family of nations" that work towards the common good especially for the "victims of natural disasters in Southeast Asia, especially in the Philippines and Vietnam, where numerous storms have caused flooding, with devastating repercussions on families... harm to the environment and consequences for local economies. As I think of Asia, I cannot forget the Rohingya people: may Jesus, who was born poor among the poor, bring them hope amid their sufferings" (December 25, 2020 Urbi et Orbi Message and Blessing—Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord). Pope Francis tells us that: the Church esteems the ways in which God works in other religions, and “rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions. She has a high regard for their manner of life and conduct, their precepts and doctrines which... often reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men and women” (FT 277).

3. A Culture of Conversion: Ever since the pandemic broke out, the Holy Father has been persistently harping on about conversion. He says that “Conversion involves sorrow for sins committed, the desire to be free from them, the intention to exclude them from one’s own life forever. To exclude sin it is also necessary to reject everything that is connected to sin; the things that are connected to sin and that need to be rejected—a worldly mentality, excessive esteem for comforts, excessive esteem for pleasure, for well-being, for wealth… This is the first aspect of conversion: detachment from sin and worldliness” (December 6, 2020 Angelus Message).

"May the Child of Bethlehem help us, then, to be generous, supportive and helpful, especially towards those who are vulnerable, the sick, those unemployed or experiencing hardship due to the economic effects of the pandemic, and women who have suffered domestic violence during these months of lockdown" (December 25, 2020 Urbi et Orbi Message and Blessing—Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord).

Fr JM Manzano SJ