Day 2

June 25th

We started off the day with the great privilege of assisting at Mass celebrated by Father Cush in the Rooms of St. Ignatius of Loyola!! The Blessed Sacrament is reserved and an altar placed in the room that was the very bedroom of St. Ignatius.  St. Ignatius died in this room in 1556.  In the centuries after Ignaitus' death, the room was decorated with ornate baroque artwork. We learned today, however, that the rooms were recently (in Roman standards--meaning within the last 50 years!) refurbished to again resemble the actual way they would have looked when St. Ignatius lived there.  Here is a picture of some of our Sisters in St. Ignatius Room right before Mass.  You will notice in the photo behind the Sisters a painting of the Holy Family and St. John the Baptist. St. Ignatius had a devotion to this image and it was actually hanging in his room during his life and at his death.

After Mass we visited an adjacent room that has relics from St. Ignatius life, including his chasuble, vest, undershirt, shoes and robe. In the picture below Ignatius chasuble (in center back) and shoes (on left front) are visible.

We then went to the Church of the Gesu' (right next door) where St. Ignatius' tomb and the forearm and hand of St. Francis Xavier can both be found.  The Gesu' is the central church for the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) throughout the world.  Below is a picture of our Sisters praying in front of St. Ignatius' tomb.

The late morning and afternoon included conferences from Father Cush, meals together, and a Eucharistic Holy Hour with recitation of Vespers.

A great second day!!