Seminar on the Spiritual Exercises
By Nino Alvarez @ 9:14 PM :: 423 Views
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Ignatius of Loyola: A Spiritual Experience is the title of a seminar on the Autograph Manual of the “Spiritual Exercises” that Fr. Juan José Santiago, S.J. has been conducting on an on-going monthly basis in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico.  The monthly sessions, which began last August, present a structured analysis of St. Ignatius’ Manual Autógrafo and the Inspired Spiritual Exercises.  This “Autograph” version is known as such because it includes 32 revisions personally scribed by the Saint.

Fr. Santiago began the seminar with a geopolitical and ecclesiastical background of the world in Ignatius’ time.  For example, during the period, Gutenberg invents the printing press, the Protestant Reform erupts, and Spain discovers the “New World”. In today’s terms, Gutenberg’s press and the Columbus’ discovery were compared to the diffusion of the Internet or the potential discovery of life in Mars.  After painting a brilliant global historical setting, Fr. Santiago plunged into the Saint of Loyola’s biography.

Currently, the group is currently studying the “first week” of the Exercises using copies of the Autograph edition written in antique-Spanish.  Fr. Santiago’s domain of the old-Spaniards’ language translates the embedded depth of thought that lies within the document’s message.  By studying the Exercises in its original “español antiguo,” emphasis is placed on the fact that the text was conceived during the first half of the 16th century.  Nonetheless, the course carefully uncovers spiritual thoughts, psychology, concerns, and worries that are perfectly relevant in the 21st century.

The seminar sessions take place at the “Centro Universitario Católico,” located at 10 María Bracetti, a couple of blocks from the “Universidad de Puerto Rico” in Río Piedras.  The seminar begins at 5:00pm on the fourth Saturday of the month and includes a talk followed by a period of Q&A.  While originally scheduled to run through May 2006, Fr. Santiago anticipates the need for additional dates.  Each session is followed by a celebration of the Holy Mass for those who wish to participate.  This course is sponsored by the ACU in San Juan, Puerto Rico and is open to persons of all religious denominations.  Autograph Manuals are available.  An optional donation is suggested to cover costs.  For further information, kindly contact the ACU’s San Juan chapter at sanjuan.support@estovir.org.

Padre Sean
By Ramon Dominguez @ 7:17 PM :: 443 Views
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Today the press either praises or criticizes him for the challenging situation he is dealing with, as he has been called upon to resolve issues that were ignored for many years in the Archdiocese of Boston.  For us, the agrupados of Washington, he continues to be our dear Padre Sean.  This is the most typical way in which we in the ACU’s Washington house recognize the current Archbishop of Boston, now on his way to becoming a cardinal of the Holy Church.  If anyone deserves this distinction, it is this humble capuchin.

During more than 12 years, he dedicated countless days to cultivating agrupados.  His weekly mass, always a bit late, was the core of our weekly guardia.  We still recall with fondness his Lenten retreats and his homilies that inspired us to give more and follow his example. As agrupados, we were like his hands and arms, like our hymn says.  It was through his work that we were able to participate in and see Christ’s call to unite ourselves with the poor.

In fact, Padre Sean’s work in the Spanish Catholic Center was the driver of our ACU apostolic efforts.  It was in the Centro Católico that we shared his austere life that was dedicated so integrally to helping the poor and forgotten immigrant.  It was he that, like a supersonic jet, propelled the night classes, medical clinics, dental consultations, Spanish-language newspaper, weekly radio program, and all types of social services for new immigrants.  His merit was also in organizing the unemployed and homeless, while preparing them with education and hope.  This he did without worrying about the hours required nor where he would rest, and sometimes not even what he would eat or wear.

We can truly say that Padre Sean is an example of an agrupado since he fully lives our motto of Esto Vir with great love for the Blessed Virgin and Christ.  His example is a legacy that the Washington house will never forget.