01 Aug

Salmon numbers are way up this year. Millions of the silvered fish have streamed into the fresh rivers of the Pacific Northwest. In fact, over 30 million sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) have finned and funneled through the Georgia Strait up into mother Fraser. Relentless and heaven-bound, the sockeye have surged up the Fraser, spilled into the turbulent Thompson, to finally rest, spawn and die in the 12 km long Adams River over 450 km deep in the heart of BC. Not all make this perilous journey, but millions of sockeye managed to spawn in the Adams this year. Thousands of people from all over the world came to stand on the banks of the river and marvel at this dance of life....

31 Jul

A large prairie field flanked by woods and bordered by a stream may seem like an unusual setting for Canada's newest cathedral. But then one might remember Constable's paintings of Salisbury Cathedral in which the stream, woods and field are complemented by grazing cattle. The new Cathedral of the Holy Family on the outskirts of Saskatoon offers a comparable vista without the cattle although it is next door to the local zoo....

29 Jul

Ignatius boy-soldier hoodlum courtier day-old dreamer smashed up good in war convalescent convert cannonball Christian...

29 Jul

Today is the Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. He died on this day in 1556. Ignatius left many gifts to the Church. Today is a day to give thanks for those gifts and for the many ways in which they are evident throughout the world. It is a day to celebrate the continuing influence of his spiritual wisdom in the lives of individuals and communities....

28 Jul

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. A rhyme most of us old folks heard often as children. But I have a new one for this occasion: "In 1491 Ignatius became a native son." A son of Spain that this, a Basque though he be. (That mysterious people whose roots are said to be non Indo-European) That same year the Spanish completed the reconquista (the reconquest ) of their home and native land after centuries of off and on warfare with the Muslim rulers. The battle hardened Spanish would then go on to build an Empire of their own in Americas and beyond destroying the Aztec and Incan Empires along the way....

25 Jul

A prayerful retreat in silence is a powerful experience. A whole day spent away from communication creates a peaceful quiet in which the retreatant can express her or his most subtle and unformed feelings to God and also be open to receiving God's loving replies. Remaining silent, whether for a day, a weekend, or even longer can be difficult for some. So try to follow these five helpful tips so that you can take maximum advantage of your time of retreat.....

24 Jul

One thing that I have now become accustomed to, as a Jesuit, is a yearly 8-day retreat. Recently I completed my annual retreat at Loyola House in Guelph. Such a retreat involves quite a bit of prayer; spending days mostly in silence; perhaps watching a sunset, or a stroll through the woods. And not a whole lot more than that....

23 Jul

On a tombstone in California we can read – "Buffy Anne Summers, 1981 to 2001. Beloved Sister, Devoted Friend. She saved the world – a Lot." Who is this Buffy? For seven seasons on TV Buffy the Vampire Slayer lived the saying - "Into every generation a slayer is born: one girl in all the world, a chosen one.. She is the Slayer." In 1949, Joseph Campbell wrote The Hero With A Thousand Faces in which he showed how thru the ages men and women have been Chosen and sent on quests that will change their lives. This notion of the chosen continues today in our popular culture....

22 Jul

From time to time, over the next few months, as part of the "Our Culture" section, , igNation will post poetry written by Jesuits. Poems from Gerard Manley Hopkins and St. Robert Southwell will appear as well as poems by contemporary Jesuits....

22 Jul

In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Bilbo Baggins is chosen by Gandolf to help reclaim the stolen mountain home of a group of Dwarves He asks if Gandolf can promise him that he will come back. Gandolf replies "No, but if you do come back, you will not be the same." In 1949, Joseph Campbell wrote The Hero With A Thousand Faces in which he showed how thru the ages men and women have been Chosen and sent on quests that changed their lives and their worlds. This notion of the chosen plays an important role in our popular culture – especially in movies....

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