Pilgrimage and New Ways

   After his wounds healed he decided to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  On his way there he stopped at the Shrine of Monstserrat in Spain.  In Monstserrat on March 24, 1552, he placed his dagger and sword on the grill of our Lady's Chapel. (This symbolizes he was leaving his worldly ways and was now living as one with Christ)

   After his time in he Monstserrat he ventured to Manresa which was a near by town.  He lived there for about one year.  While he was in Manresa he begged for his basic needs and spent the bulk of his time in prayer.  This is when he could feel Gods grace deeply penetrating within him.  This is the time when he started to write The Spiritual Exercises.

   Ignatius finally made it to the Holy Land but he was unable to stay.  There was a lot of religious and political problems.  He decided to go to school and study.