Ignatian Hero:Soldier, Sinner and Saint!

Over the week, I had the privilege to watch the premiere of the movie Ignacio de Loyola at Ayala Center Cebu. The movie was about the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola,  who founded and formed the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

All through my grade school and high school days, I have been reading and listening to the stories about the life of St. Ignatius but never realized how hard it really was for this guy until I watched the movie. Íñigo was his name before he became a saint and had a bright future as he was a Spanish knight. During his younger years, he was very passionate to become famous and was a typical chicks magnet. He also idolizes and was inspired by the stories of the adventures of El Cid and the Knights of Camelot. He lived a life full of dreams and ambition that in one day he has forseen that he would die in a battle, fighting for honor  and that he would come home a hero. But during the battle in Pamplona on March 1512, a cannonball wounded one of his legs and broke the other. Heavily injured, Íñigo returned to the castle of his father full of disappointment, why he was kept alive and that he should have been left to die! He seemed lost in his own ambition. Moreover, he felt like he is an incomplete person, a sense of emptiness fills within him. Concerned about the injuries, he had several surgical operations, which must have been very painful in the days before anaesthetics. Actually, it was one of my best moments in the movie because it was through that injury that brought Íñigo closer to God.

During this recovery period, Ignatius read a series of religious books on the life of Jesus and on the lives of the Saints which was the only books available in the Castle. His life then made a complete U-turn and became fired with an ambition to emulate and follow the heroic deeds of the likes of Francis of Assisi. So upon his recovery, he gave up his lavish lifestyle and gave up all his military garments, money and his expensive cane in exchange for rubbish fabric what looks like used rice sacks and traveled on foot to live the life of a beggar. He gave up what he collected during the day as beggar and feed to the needy in the hospital where eventually he volunteered and helped. It was during this time also where he spent several months in a cave nearby and practiced rigorous praying (hinulsol sa mga sala). This is where Ignatius began experiencing a series of visions which eventually became what he calls “Spiritual Exercises,” where one may experience a silent and peaceful moment in your life try to open a communication line with Jesus.

What makes this movie special it is that it is written and directed by a Filipino and a Cebuano in the Name Paolo Dy, an alumnus of Sacred Heart School for Boys Batch '95. In an interview with ABS-CBN, Paolo mentioned the challenges of the production team to make this movie. It was a historic and epic movie to make and trying to make sure that they didn't make any mistakes with regards to details. They had to make almost all the props manufactured and made in the Philippines from the clothes, costumes, shield and helmets and ship it out in a container to Spain. More than 400 period costumes and almost five tons of sets and props were produced. And when in Spain, you then have to find a warehouse to safe keep the equipment plus transporting it to the location back and forth every single day. Add that to the challenges with working in a different country, the cultures, different working condition, different policies and the language barrier plus working on a limited resources and time. 

It was a very inspiring movie that show us the that people can change from a soldier, a sinner then to a saint. A must watch movie. it's motivational, inspirational and it gives you a sense of purpose in your life. In sports, business or any personal endeavor, you will succeed when you put God first just like the famous Jesuit motto, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (For the greater glory of God).