Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio, Rome, 06/14/2019
Plans to visit the monasteries in Europe started from remarks of my mother, “Call Loyola” the days before her death. I'm not sure if that's exactly what she said but Loyola might have just come to my mind as a word. Later I got to know that Loyola is related with Saint Ignatius. At that times I was studying early Buddhism and looked down on institutionalized religion at current.
Martin Luther's Reformation completely changed the whole framework in catholic tradition of that times. On the contrary Saint Ignatius implemented reforms within the system. In that respect, he was both a conservative and a reformer. Reform does not lie in looks or system, but it should come first within. Software(individual transformation) is the first. After that, spiritual growth of individuality should be spread to system. Institutional reform is only a necessary condition not a prerequisite. The interior of the cathedral is of course beautiful and grand, but...
grouchy smurf peter