Ponme Con Tu Hijo (Place me with your Son)

W

hy is it important for us who will begin the Spiritual Exercises to understand the role of Mary in the life of St Ignatius of Loyola? Because all graces of the 30-day retreat would be channeled, to a great extent, through the mediating gift of the Blessed Mother.

Long before Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, Mary was constantly working in the background of Ignatius's life. From the age of seven, he was exposed to Marian devotion. As a young boy, Iñigo regularly saw a painting of the Annunciation that had been brought to their home as a wedding gift from Queen Isabella to his brother Martín and his bride. The painting was so precious to the family that a chapel was built in Loyola Castle to house it.

Despite this early Marian presence, Ignatius grew up worldly and vain—captivated by stories of chivalry and driven by ambition. Yet Mary never gave up on him. In time, a deeper and more genuine encounter with Mary began to take shape. During his stay in Manresa, still in the early stages of his conversion, Ignatius moved from a life of waywardness into a new period of spiritual growth. He spent long hours in prayer, in a cave. It was there, under a strong Marian influence, that he prayed, reflected, and began to write the Spiritual Exercises that you will experience in the next 30 days.

Secondly, did you know how the Jesuits received the name Society of Jesus? In the beginning, the first companions had no official name. Some people called them Iñiguistas, after St Ignatius’s Spanish baptismal name, Iñigo. This name was neither of their choosing nor to their liking.

Because of this, Ignatius and his companions met. Among the practical questions they faced was a simple but important one: When people ask us who we are, what name shall we give them? Ignatius suggested that they pray—but it matters how he prayed. Again and again—mil veces, a thousand times—he turned to Our Lady, asking her to place him beside her Son. One might ask: if God is the goal of every prayer, why not go directly to God?

Of course, that is possible. But for many of us—especially when we were still young—it was our mother we instinctively ran to in moments of difficulty. When we were confused, afraid, or struggling with a decision, it was often our mother who first came to our aid. She would calm us down, offer comfort, and help us see the situation more clearly. Only then could we face the real issue at hand.

Even now, as an adult and as a priest, facing more serious responsibilities and deeper choices, it is consoling to know that the Mother of our Lord is there in the same way—to comfort, to console, and to help bring clarity when discernment is needed. This is how Mary was for Ignatius.

When the companions returned to their discussion after prayer, a quiet clarity emerged. They realized that none of them was the head—only Jesus Christ. And since it was Jesus whom they desired to serve, they chose to carry His name. Thus, they called themselves the Society of Jesus.

Seen in this light, the name of the Society is an answered Marian prayer. Through Mary, Ignatius and his companions were placed beside her Son. To carry the name of Jesus was not simply to adopt a title; it was to express their deepest desire—to belong to Him, to serve Him alone, and to follow Him wherever He might lead. It is Mary’s desire, too, that we be placed with Jesus. This makes Mary the safest person to be with, just look at many of her icons, you will see her pointing to her son always. Closeness to Mary is closeness to Jesus, closeness to God.

The moment in Ignatius’s life when he felt so close to Jesus and God the Father was in the presence of Mary whose intercession he asked a thousand times. This is beautifully captured in a life size painting called The Vision of La Storta by the late Fr Timoteo Ofrasio SJ. Would you like to be placed with her son in the next 30-days, go to Mary like Ignatius did.

Third, GK Chesterton tells a striking story. A man careless about spiritual things dies and goes to hell, and his friends on earth long to bring him back. First, his business agent goes down to the gates of hell and pleads, but the iron bars do not move. Then his priest argues that the man was not truly bad and deserved another chance—but the iron bars remain firmly shut. Finally, his mother arrives. She does not beg for his release; she simply says, with quiet resolve, “Let me in.” And at once, the great iron gates swing open—because love can pass through the gates of hell to bring the dead back home.

There will be moments in prayer when it feels as if you are speaking to a wall—when nothing seems to happen, when you cannot enter, and the door of prayer remains firmly shut. I have been accompanying 30-day retreatants for six years now, and many times—even with guidance—the door simply does not open for them. There came a point when I had to face my own helplessness as a director. And almost instinctively, I sensed a quiet word from Mary: Bring them to me so I can place them with my son. From that moment on, I began to rely on her each time I guided retreatants. And every time, she has never failed me.

Let us ask the intercession of Maria della Strada, Our Lady of the Way. She is the way that calms us, reassures us, and gently leads us back to trust—especially when the way forward seems closed. Amen. Fr JM Manzano SJ