First Religious Vows in Paris
25. The Companions in Montmartre
By 1534 Ignatius, Francis Xavier, a Savoyard, Pierre Favre, two friends, Diego Laínez and Alfonso Salmerón from Spain, Nicolás Alonso Bobadilla from Castile, and Simao Rodrigues from Portugal had all been worked on by Ignatius and given the Spiritual Exercises. By now they also were determined to travel to the Holy Land in order to serve and follow Christ. They came together, and after a period of discernment, decided to take vows of poverty and chastity and to go to Jerusalem, there to dedicate themselves to the conversion of the infidels and the salvation of the Faithful, to preach the divine Word to all, to minister the Sacrament of Penance and the Holy Eucharist, and all this without charge. They made their vows on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the crypt of Saint Denis in Montmartre.
When they had all finished their studies, they planned to travel to Venice to take a ship to the Holy Land. However, they had a plan B, knowing that travel to the Holy Land could be disrupted by wars; if they couldn’t get to the Holy Land they would travel instead to Rome and offer their services to the Pope.
Lyrics
My way to teach is not to preach,
but listen deep to what each one says;
To let the other speak his word first,
this way to learn his deeper thirst.
The deeper voice, the deeper choice,
lie deeper that the words we speak.
Each hidden self is growing where
his Spirit moved beyond each fear.
So when you sense: this meaning clear,
respond to him, respond to where
Each heart is thirsting to speak its love,
let free desire, gift from above.
His world is big, his will is love, his way is now.
From God we come to God we go;
Christ is our life, in him we grow.
His spirit abides in us to set us free,
to help us be his pilgrims now.
To walk alone to find yourself is an important way,
But people also need to share life with friends.
We need close friends to speak the truth with love, and seek
New ways to go, new fields to sow; let new streams flow.
He sends us out to seek and find his presence here.
From God we come, to God we go;
Christ our life, in him we grow.
His spirit abides in us to set us free,
to help us be his pilgrims now.
Apparent friendship on the road never seemed to last
Until one day I learned true friendship’s ways:
You must let each one give, if you intend to live
As true friends do, share through and through
— let friends give too.
His world cries out his hungry need for bread and love,
From God we come, to we go,
Christ is our life, in him we grow;
His Spirit abides in us, to set us free,
to help us be his pilgrims now.
And even better than one friend is a company.
A band of friends of different race and tongue;
Each sees with his own sight,
each brings his own delight,
Each hears his call, shares all with all,
God’s way with friends.
His Spirit abides in us, to set us free
to help us be his pilgrims now.
A thought to ponder
Ignatius and his companions showed both commitment and flexibility.
Commitment in taking their vows, flexibility in being willing to do whatever was most necessary, rather than being determined to do what they wanted or nothing!
What commitments have you made in your life? Have they brought joy to you?
When have you needed to be flexible in your life?
Scripture for the Day
As a way of praying today’s Scripture we suggest Lectio Divina
Psalm 116:12-19 NRSVACE
What shall I return to the Lord
for all his bounty to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful ones.
O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your serving-maid.
You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!
Music for Today
Psalm 116 Plainchant from Westminster Cathedral Choir
(Based on words of today’s Scripture)
Purchase more Gregorian Chant