As our much-appreciated Career Week ended, the students, comprising my set were each handed a copy of Walking with Ignatius, a book encompassing the series of interviews held between Darío Menor, a journalist, and Very Revd. Fr. Arturo Sosa, S.J., the esteemed Superior General of the Society of Jesus, week after week for two months.

Very Revd. Fr. Arturo Sosa, S.J.,

At first, I was a bit reluctant to read the book, but when I finally did, it left me better than the person who decided to read it initially. The book marks the celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Conversion of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the man who started the Jesuit Order. His story begins on 21st May, 1521. He was a soldier leading the Spanish defence army against the French when suddenly, he was hit by a cannonball, which completely smashed his legs. He was taken to Castle Loyola nearby, where he rested for nine months until he recovered. Not fully, though, because the war injury left him with a limp for the rest of his life. During this period, he would read about the Lives of Saints and Jesus Christ. The books left him aroused and eager to do great things: being a co-founder of the Jesuits along with six other people. This basically sums up his conversion story.

Painting of St Ignatius at the battle of Pamplona

The book aims to lure readers into embarking on a journey towards finding God. One of the main elements discussed in the book was discernment, a term commonly used in Jesuit circles. The word, according to the Catholic Church, is the process through which we discover God’s will for us in our lives. It doesn’t happen shortly; it takes a while before you can fully discern God’s purpose for you and thus calls for patience, a virtue truly valued in the eyes of God. Others also refer to it as a calmer approach sourced from the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius.

I also understood that despite the many atrocities prevailing in today’s society, there are still good people or at least people who are willing to rise above present realities and help build a better future – typically through vocation. I now know that God can call us through many aspects of our lives, with vocation being one of them. The book encourages the service of God through vocation, which is a good thing.

The book also introduces the reader to the Universal Apostolic Preferences, which encourages Jesuits all around the world to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and take those words into action. They are divided into four main points:  Promoting Discernment and Other Spiritual Exercises, Walking with the Excluded, Caring for our Common Home and Journeying with the Youth.

The Universal Apostolic Preferences of The Society of Jesus

Speaking of journeying with the youth, the book encourages youth around the globe to be outraged by all forms of injustice and to learn to take action in all necessary situations. Since we occupy most of the earth’s population, we must join hands in building a better tomorrow and be the change we all would like to see in the world.

In conclusion, the book has given me better insight into the way of the Jesuits, which I definitely would have never known if I hadn’t set time aside for it. It spread a worthy message and was equally a good read. Considering what modern-day society is shaping into, especially with the influence of pop culture, the world needs more books like this.

Onije Angela EZEIKE

Class of 2026

Onije Angela EZEIKE