New book by global leader of the Jesuits

Father Arturo Sosa SJ

Source: Jesuit Communications

A new book about the Jesuits celebrates 500 years of the Society of Jesus, as seen through the eyes of its first Latin American Father General, Father Arturo Sosa SJ: Walking with Ignatius: A Celebration of the Society of Jesus.

Consisting of a series of interviews with Spanish journalist Dario Menor, they engage in a spiritual conversation that covers such topics as the life of Ignatius, the challenges of the unsettling 21st century, and the future of the Church.

The book also revisits different stages of Fr Sosa's life in which he reflects on what it means to lead the Society of Jesus, the situation in his native Venezuela, his relationship with Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope in history, and the world revealed by the pandemic.

The book has been launched for the Ignatian Year, which marks 500 years since the founder's conversion experience at Pamplona and which runs from 20th May 2021 to 31st July 2022. The Ignatian Year is being seen by the Society as a period of spiritual reflection and renewal.

Fr Arturo Sosa said: "The story of St. Ignatius has been paradigmatic in my own life. Initially, he was determined to be successful at court and had a road map ready made for himself. A wound sustained in battle changed all of that, gave him time to reflect and to see that God had different dreams for him. Similar processes of change have happened in my own life in different ways and at different times as I have learned to listen to how God is speaking to me. In fact, in this time of Covid, it is happening in the lives of so many people around us as they come face to face with limits of their own life plans. Conversion is being on the path to becoming fuller human beings."

'Walking with Ignatius: A Celebration of the Society of Jesus' can be obtained from the publishing organisation of the Jesuits in Ireland, Messenger Publications. Price £18.95. For more information see: www.messenger.ie/product/walking-with-ignatius/