Chapter 1: What motivates young Iñigo to journey to the Holy Land?
Venice, 1554 AD. Young Iñigo sets out for the Holy Land, aspiring to become a martyr. But his journey across Europe brings him to a different kind of adventure.
The Saints, Adventures of Faith and Courage. Ignatius of Loyola, Episode 4, Guardians of the Holy Land.
Chapter 2: How does Iñigo's journey across Europe change his plans?
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Hold on, Father Ignatius. You wanted to go to the Holy Land to become a martyr, but this is confusing me. I have the same question as the beggar to whom you gave your clothes. What question? You had no food, no money. You had nothing. How could you possibly travel to the Holy Land?
Did Saint Francis have the materials he needed to rebuild the church? God provides for His children, and Inigo wanted to depend entirely on God. But Father, how did you actually get there? Yes, well, Inigo walked. You walked? To Jerusalem? From Spain? You're jumping ahead. Inigo did not walk all the way to Jerusalem. He walked over the mountains into France to a little port town.
From there, he bargained his way onto a ship that took him to Rome. He met a duchess who helped him get to Venice. In Venice, he begged for four gold coins. And you used those coins to pay for a ship's fare to Palestine? No. He gave them to a beggar.
You gave them?
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Chapter 3: What challenges does Iñigo face while trying to reach Venice?
Father! This story is hardly believable.
I am just telling you what Inigo really did. Go on, Father. What did you do next? In Venice, Inigo met a rich Spaniard named Didacus, who lived in the Holy Land and was preparing to sail back to Jerusalem. Were you able to convince him to give you passage?
Well, by this time, Inigo had resolved to never speak except to briefly answer questions because he wanted to counter his temptation to be praised by others. And he resolved to never tell anyone that he was going to the Holy Land. Father! And Nico did make exceptions to speaking if he was able to turn the conversation to spiritual things.
One night, over dinner with the Spaniard, he was able to do just that.
I miss my home in Palestine. Venice is beautiful, but Jerusalem? Have you ever been to Jerusalem? Never. What do you love about it? The fresh fish at the market. I travel to Galilee to catch all different kinds of fish out on my boat. You must feel so close to our Lord. He caught fish in the same sea. Well, I suppose. I haven't given it that much thought.
If I were there, I would think of the apostles. The good Lord said that they would become fishers of men. Isn't that wonderful? You seem to be a very religious man. We should all become fishers of men, should we not? Are you a preacher? No, I am just a poor pilgrim. I love to discuss God and holy things.
You will have to be careful speaking like that around Venice if you don't have a theology degree. The Inquisition is everywhere. If you are caught preaching without a license, they will throw you in prison. I do not expect to be in Venice for long. I am traveling east. East? Ah, well, why don't you join me on my vessel? Lord knows that I need more religious men aboard.
I will take you as far east as you like. As far as Palestine, anyways. I would be delighted to sail with you, sir. But I should warn you, preacher, the Turks in Jerusalem won't take any more kindly to your preaching than the Inquisition does. They've killed the Franciscans for less. I'll take my chances.
And so the Spaniard took Inigo on board his vessel, along with thirteen others. But these were not pilgrims. Who were they? Partiers. Blaggards. At this time, as Inigo was working to overcome his vainglory, He began to genuinely love Christ and hated seeing Christ offended.
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Chapter 4: How did Inigo manage to find passage to the Holy Land?
I have longed for years now to kiss the ground where the Lord walked. Well, go ahead. I'm sure he walked on this street. Oh, maybe it was the next street. How can I be sure? Hmm... Well, there actually might be a way. What about the Mount of Ascension? It is the place where the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven.
On the mount, there is a stone that bears the imprint of His feet as He rose into the air. If you want to kiss where He walked, there is no better place. Yes, that is perfect. Thank you. I will go. Where is the Mount of Ascension? Can you take me there? It will be very difficult for you to get into the holy sites. The Turks are on guard everywhere. They are very hostile to Christians. Perfect!
Not so fast, pilgrim. I know you like religious talk, but if you are really committed to this intention, you can't let what you're doing be known. Which intention exactly? To kiss the ground where the Lord walked. Right. The Turks may try to kill you. If the Lord has called me here, the Lord will preserve me if He wishes. Ha! Is there any room for prudence in your devotion?
It's much more prudent to defend yourself. Here, take this. A knife? Take it. Don't be afraid to use it if the time comes. I… I don't… I'm not a soul… Thank you. I'm sure I can make use of it somehow.
Inigo set out without a plan, and he wasn't prepared for who he'd meet next.
There it is, the Mount of Ascension, and perfect, a guard post. Lord, I commend myself into your hands. You there! Who are you? What is your business here? I am a poor Christian here to kiss the footprints of the Lord God. No Christians are allowed here. Go away. Please, I have come all the way from Spain. Here, have this. And you carry a knife? Do you intend to kill a Spaniard? No, never!
Here, take it. Kill me with it if you wish. This is a fine blade. Very well, go on. But be quick about it, or else I will use this against you. Thank you, thank you. I expect nothing less. I will return. To thank, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself walked up this very path with His disciples, up to the top of this very hill. Oh Lord, this little chapel is built where you once stood.
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Chapter 5: What significant encounters does Inigo have on his way to Jerusalem?
Lord, you rose from this very place. Where are the... Here are the stones. Your own footprints. What are you doing in here? Hello. I am a poor pilgrim. Get out. Now. Ow, my arm. Sir, please. Come with me. Who are you? You're okay. I'm a priest. They will kill you. Not to worry. I have him. I will take him away. Foolish Christians. Play it up for the gods. Come on. Ow! My arm!
I will dispose of this impetuous creature. Who are you? What were you thinking? My name is Inigo. I'm a poor pilgrim come all the way from... The Turks are killing us! They're killing Franciscan friars and pilgrims alike. And you waltz into holy sites under Turkish guard? Are you mad? I'm on a mission from the Blessed Virgin Mary. To get us all killed?
Mm-hmm.
Not all of us. Where are you from? Loyola, Father. Spain? Yes. Good. Good. I'm sending you home. No, Father, you can't. It's too dangerous to let you stay. I won't have more reckless pilgrims like you killed under my watch. And I certainly won't have a reckless young man getting my friars killed. Please, I am here to follow Christ the Lord in his life, his death, everything. I am a priest.
I act in the person of Christ. You claim to follow Christ, so you are under my authority. And you will follow my orders. And for the good of the church, I order for you to return home on the next ship leaving Palestine. And you listened to him? After all you went through to get to the Holy Land, and you just went straight home? What about your desire for martyrdom?
An eagle had to learn obedience, just as you do. I had to learn what St. Thomas teaches. If one were to suffer even martyrdom, or to give all one's goods to the poor. Unless one directed these things to the fulfillment of the divine will, they could not be meritorious. We follow His ways, not our own. If I had done what I set out to do, the Society of Jesus would not exist.
My desire for martyrdom was vainglory, and I could not win the Red Crown by force. Yes.
I think I see now, Father.
Do you see how serious the matter of obedience is? How grave it is? I do, Father. Do you really? Yes! Then would you obey the doctor's orders if you could go back and do it over again? And leave you dying in your own sweat? No! My son, this is why men are dismissed from the Society of Jesus— for this crime more than any other!
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