21 May 2019
Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter
In the fall of 1537, Ignatius of Loyola approached the city of Rome. He had started out from Paris three years earlier, with his companions, having taken a collective vow to travel to the Holy Land. But, for some reason, the boat to the Holy Land never arrived and when plan A proved to be impossible, they decided to go to Rome. Ignatius’ heart was troubled, as he knew that it was a critical moment for him and his companions. They determined to put themselves in the hands of the Pope, but they did not know how the Pope would respond. With only a few miles from Rome, Ignatius paused to pray in the Chapel of La Storta. In the midst of his prayer, he felt his heart change and God the Father appeared to him, together with his Son, who carried the Cross upon his shoulders. Jesus with his Cross, turned to Ignatius and with a loving and mild countenance said unto him: ‘Ego vobis Romae propitious ero’ (‘I will be favorable to you at Rome’).
Ignatius’ vision at La Storta is a like repetition of the farewell discourse that we hear in the Gospel reading today, in which Jesus opened his statement with words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” The disciples are deeply troubled by the departure of Jesus. But Jesus assured them by explaining that His peace, instead of the peace of the world, will guide them in their journey. Similarly, the vision of La Storta provided Christ’s peace to Ignatius in his journey. Ignatius himself, referring to the miracle over six years later, tells us, “I recalled the day when the Father placed me with His Son [. . .] (I only had) this in mind: to carry deeply the name of Jesus [. . .] seemingly confirmed for the future.”
You might be crippled by fear, anxiety, or agitation that can make your heart troubled. Pause for a moment and listen to Jesus or ask Jesus to give His peace to your troubled hearts. Speak to God in your own words. Tell him about your troubled heart needing to be freed from anxiety and distress which only His peace can heal. Or, if your heart is not troubled, perhaps you can ask Jesus how you might be an instrument of peace for others whose heart is troubled.