- Venice
As the ship sailed back to Venice, Ignatius had much time to ponder what he was to do with his life, now that his dream of serving his Lord and King in the Holy Land had been thwarted. By the time they landed in Venice, his mind was clear that his earlier plan of helping souls, preaching Christ to unbelievers in the spirit of poverty, and searching for companions was still important, but some ecclesiastical training was necessary and for this purpose; he would have to study. Back to school he must go - and to the school bench and to the books!
- Port of Genoa - 16th century
Leaving Venice, Ignatius traveled across northern Italy during the winter being delayed briefly, first by the Spanish and then by the French, as a spy since Charles V and Francis I (as brothers-in-law) were at war with one another. Arriving in Genoa, looking for passage to Barcelona, he ran into a former associate of the Spanish court from the days at Arévalo, Admiral Rodrigo Portuondo (Portirondo) in the Spanish navy, who offered him free passage.
- Ignatius in the classroom at Barcelona
Enrolling in one of Barcelona's first public free school, Ignatius began studying Latin grammar and other basics to prepare him for entrance into the university. At age 33 he found himself studying with 10-14 year olds which must have had its tensions, but Ignatius mentions that his teacher, Jerónimo Ardevoll was one of the most beloved teachers of his entire career.
- Barcelona- 16th century
In this city of Barcelona, he had the good fortune of living with the family of Señora Pasqual with Isabel Roser providing the money for his lodging. Besides his usual fasting, prayer and penances now mixed with school work, Ignatius continued to beg food for the poor as well as for himself that won the honor of several admiring families who assisted him. The reform of a nearby convent became the object of his attention and this reforming zeal brought him into physical confrontation with those that opposed him. It was here in Barcelona that he gathered his first three companions formed from the Spiritual Exercises who shared his enthusiasm for charitable work. After two years of study on March 1526, two examiners declared Ignatius qualified to follow lectures at the University of Alcalá de Henares (25 miles from Madrid).
- University of Alcalá de Henares - 16th century
Ignatius, accompanied by his three companions, enrolled at the University of Alcalá de Henares. The school, recently founded by Cardinal Cisneros in 1498, was full of enthusiasm for the renaissance. The latest printing presses were turning out the great classics of literature, philosophy and theology attracting scholars from around Europe. Ignatius began classes in the Sentences of Peter Lombard, the Natural Philosophy of St. Albert and Logic, but his zeal went more for apostolic work rather than for lofty academic goals.
- Ignatius works in the hospital
He and his companions dressed in rough greycoat cassocks and continued to help the poor ...... , catechize and work in a small hospital, just down the street from the classrooms of the university.
- Hospital in Alcalá
The public free hospital became a center for their activities, but a secret whisper about them began to develop questioning: Were not these students in disguise some kind of heretical sect alumbrados (illuminati who thought God's grace came directly and the Church and sacraments were not important or necessary)? Should they not be carefully watched by the Inquisition?
- Method of the Inquisition
Now began for Ignatius an experience at once cruel and glorious for his student years. To accuse one of heresy only a formal written complaint was necessary to be deposited at the office of the local inquisitor or his vicar and the complaints would be followed by a formal inquiry. On November 19, 1526 the commissioner from the office of the Archbishop of Toledo came to Alcalá for the inquiry.
- Formal inquiry by the Inquisition
An official from the hospital, a Franciscan friar and a pious woman gave testimony in behalf of Ignatius' defense. The judges discovered nothing incriminating and the case was handed over to the local vicar general who ordered the companions to "give up their suspect habit and wear ordinary clothes." By Christmas, a later warning stated they must stop their secret meetings and by April a strange twist of events took place: A wealthy woman and her daughter had disappeared and Ignatius as a suspect was put in prison for 42 days without formal charges. Upon the sudden return of the woman and her daughter, they made it clear that a pilgrimage to southern Spain had taken place and Ignatius "had advised against it." Final judgment came June 1st: The companions must desist from all spiritual direction of souls until proper education has been completed.
- Alonso de Fonseca y Acebedo, Archbishop of Toledo
There was no question of remaining in Alcalá and continuing with their education under such a censure so Ignatius, with filial loyalty, sought out his earlier contact at the Spanish court, none other than the Archbishop of Toledo, Alonso de Fonseca (center). Ignatius walked all the way ...... to Valladolid to find him (he was baptizing the future Philip II). Staying as a guest with the archbishop for a week, the archbishop encouraged Ignatius to attend the University of Salamanca for continuing his studies.
- City of Salamanca - 16th century
The city of Salamanca had grown under the patronage of the monarchs of Castile and was known as a university city of splendid buildings, rich facades, a city of domes and spires, of wealth and a long tradition of learning, always youthful. The university, founded in the 13th century had attracted many scholars over the intervening generations.
- University of Salamanca
By the 16th century, the university numbered 70 professors of studies and some 12,000 students. Ignatius, preceded by his companions, arrived here July 10, 1527. During these very summer months the Inquisition was holding sessions and violent arguments were heard concerning the scholar, writer and philosopher Erasmus and the dangers of other northern reformers and humanists.
- Classroom at University of Salamanca
The Dominican priests and religious, at the University of Salamanca, were among the most distinguished as professors, teachers and preachers but they were of a different attitude than the ones Ignatius had encountered earlier in his days at Manresa. They were more intellectual, more protective of the purity of the faith. With fond memories of the Dominicans at Manresa, he went regularly for spiritual direction and confession to their monastery of San Esteban (St. Stephen).
- Ignatius and the companions in the street
Within days Ignatius and his companions were known by professors and distinguished people and mention was made of their apostolic work. But suspicion was also elicited and with the discursive atmosphere. of the city, subsequent events were leading to a strange social judgment.
- Monastery of San Esteban (now convent of San Esteban)
On a Sunday evening, 12 days after Ignatius' arrival, the sub-prior of the Dominican monastery at San Esteban invited Ignatius and his companion Calixto de Sa to dinner. After dinner the host and the house confessor engaged Ignatius in a searching investigation of his beliefs and his educational background. At the end of the discussion, Ignatius and his companion were placed under house arrest. Being suspect, they were held there until the notary came with the order to put them in jail.
- Ignatius in jail
Ignatius and his companion were bound together with the same chain in the jail and news about their imprisonment spread quickly in the city with sympathizers coming by to bring them what food or personal items they needed, as visitors had access to the cell. The inquisitor arrived and interrogated them separately, examing the papers of the Spiritual Exercises, inquiring of the other companions and having them jailed with the common prisoners. A few days later Ignatius had to explain himself before four judges. The sentence was communicated: There was nothing reprehensible in their life or doctrine but they should not try to explain venial or mortal sin without four years of formal study and then were released.
- Map of Ignatius' journey from Salamanca to Paris
With this event, Ignatius felt that the door to helping souls in Salamanca was now closed to further opportunities, so he decided to study where a different language would keep him from the temptation of engaging so many people in religious conversation, to minimize his distractions from studies and to keep him away from the nagging association of the Inquisition by so many people who knew him in Spain. Arriving back in Barcelona by himself, he sought out his friend and benefactress, Isabel Roser who gave him 25 gold coins for his continued studies at the University of Paris. With that he left for Paris the fall of 1527.
- City of Paris - 16th century
Ignatius was 37 years old when he arrived at Paris on February 2, 1528. The city had a population of some 300,000 residents still within its medieval walls and a moat, formed from the diverted waters of the Seine River. Off in the distance over the spires of the Notre Dame cathedral you can glimpse the open hills of Montmartre (now site of Sacre Coeur Church) and just below, the ancient chapel of Martyrs of St. Denis, bishop of the third century, and place of Christian pilgrimage since the 6th century.
- Map of Paris - 1615
With this map of the city of Paris you see the the sweep of the left bank, known for its Latin quarter because the population of the students speaking Latin in the streets distinguished itself from other sections of the city. (Point out St. Germain de Pres, lower right; Abbey St. Victor, upper left and the Chartreuse, Carthusian monastery just outside the walls beyond the gate of St. Jacques and others from map supplement.) The University of Paris consisted of some 50 different colleges with a number of students conservatively put at 4,000 but possibly much higher than that. The Latin quarter was a veritable student republic with its own laws, officials and jealously guarded principles.
- Latin Quarter - close up
On closer observation, the tall Church of St. Genevieve (staffed by the exempt order of the canons of St. Augustine) was the place of burial of Clovis, first king of the Franks and St. Genevieve, founder of the church and patron saint of the city (now site of Pantheon) and catty-corner across the street to the north was the College of Montaigu (where Ignatius first enrolled as a student) and directly across the street, the College of Sainte Barbe (St. Barbara) where Ignatius will take his course of studies. Down the street at the College of Beauvais (toward the river) was the place where Francis Xavier had his first teaching position. Just inside the gate of St. Jacques to the left was the Dominican Church and monastery (where Thomas Aquinas and St. Albert had taught in the middle ages) where Ignatius will take courses in writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. Also point out the College of Sorbonne, and the Church of the Mathurins, run by the Trinitarian fathers, where all the records were kept and all student and faculty assemblies took place.
- 1. St. Genevieve's
- 2. C. Montaigu
- 3. C. St. Barbe
- 4. C. Beauvais
- 5. C. Sorbonne
- 6. Les Jacobins (Dominicans)
- 7. Cordeliers (Franciscans)
- 8. Mathurins
- 9. Gate: St. Jacques
- College of Montaigu
The strict College of Montaigu followed the curriculum and tradition of the middle ages under their director Jean Hejon. Distinguished alumni, such as Erasmus ...... (and Rabelais and John Calvin ...
... ) remember it for its "bad food, hard beds and harsh blows". For Ignatius it was the ideal place to brush up on the classical languages so he enrolled here as an extern student (finding his own lodging) with the purpose of starting a full course of philosophy at the beginning of the following school year, October 1, 1529.
- Hospice, St. Jacques - 16th century
A room was soon found, but with his habitual unconcern for money, Ignatius had entrusted his 25 gold coins to his Spanish roommate who squandered it in a matter of days so that by Easter time, Ignatius was once again a beggar on the streets where he sought lodging at the hospice (almshouse) of St. Jacques ......
... (next to the cemetery of Les Innocents right of chapel) intended for pilgrims to Santiago de Compostella run by the fraternity of the Pilgrims of St. Jacques. It seems he offered assistance at the nearby Hospital St. Jacques operated by the same fraternity. His progress in studies was somewhat delayed by the long distances and restraint on the time of leaving and returning to the hospice and the necessity to beg for food.
- Bruges, Flanders (Belgium) - 16th century
Following the advice of a Franciscan friar, Ignatius was recommended that he spend his summer vacation by going to Flanders which was under Spanish rule, to beg money from wealthy Spanish merchants residing at Bruges and who could help him with enough money to see him through the school year.
- Bruges - Entrance to Rue Espanole
The rich businessmen were a group down the street still known today as the Rue Espanole (seen here) along with the consulates of Aragón and Castile. Here Ignatius visited Gonsalvo de Aguilera, a wealthy merchant, gentleman and earnest Catholic - and returned the following summers.
- Juan Luis Vives Valentinus (the Valentian)
During this first begging tour at Bruges, Ignatius was introduced to and later invited to dinner with the celebrated Spanish scholar (University of Louvain), humanist and reformer by the name of Juan Luis Vives originally from Valencia. He was a good friend of Erasmus ...... and had been councilor to King Henry VIII and the private secretary to Catherine of Aragón, wife of King Henry until that famous marriage began to fall apart, initiating the split in the Church between England and Rome. Testimony years later Juan Vives said: "This man Ignatius is a saint and he will be a founder of a religious order."
- Antwerp, Flanders (Belgium) - 16th century
Antwerp, the rival commercial city of Bruges, also received a visit from Ignatius that summer. History has given us the name of this man, Juan de Cuéllar, who received the poor student from Paris, giving him the hospitality of his home, providing him with money and soliciting support from his fellow merchants on his behalf. Until 1530, he regularly sent to Paris a letter of monetary exchange which saved Ignatius further trips to that city. (The house of Cuéllar was located opposite the south entrance of the Church of St. Jacques - lower center marked with an + sign).
- College of Sainte Barbe
Now returning to the university studies followed by Ignatius, in the fall of 1529, he entered the College of Sainte Barbe as a paying student, taking up the course of Bachelor of Arts. The day began at 4:00 am. Classes began at 5:00 am. An hour later the chaplain celebrated Mass followed by a breakfast of a bread roll and some watered wine. From 8-10 am. classes were held followed by questions and disputations. After the noon break, classes went from 3-5 pm. followed by supper. There was still another review of the day's material concluding with the night prayers in the chapel and the usual singing of the Salve Regina. Latin was required to be spoken in and out of class.
