Our final destination on our pilgrimage across Spain was to the birthplace of St Ignatius of Loyola.
He was also born to nobility, in a castle, in the little town of Azpeitia, not far from San Sebastian.
The castle is now encased by this large, and perhaps ugly, cathedral.....
Although the walls of the 14th century castle can still be seen inside...
There is a beautiful statue of St Ignatius being helped by his servants after he was seriously wounded by a cannonball in a battle at Pamplona.
(Now you just need to dodge bulls in Pamplona!)
While convalescing in the castle he decided leave the glamourous(?) life of a soldier and devote himself to God
He subsequently formed the Jesuits...
Of course, no family is complete without its own crest...
 |
| Two bears carved into the stone wall above the entrance to the castle |
or chapel..
The dome inside the cathedral was quite spectacular!
So with the trifecta of pilgrim destinations complete, my real holiday begins!
Happy days!
SUZ
7 comments:
Crikey, I wouldn't have thought anyone could survive being hit by a cannon ball. Obviously the Big Guy had plans for him!
I agree being hit by a cannonball and surviving would have been a miracle.
Can't wait to see what you call a real holiday!
OK if that wasn't the real holiday, I am even more jealous than ever!!
He was hit by a cannonball then canonized! I loved the stain glass window. And the dome looked amazing!!
Hahaha! I am still laughing over Rachael's comment! Being hit by a cannon ball cannot feel good. Ouch! Interesting that the castle is encased in the Cathedral. So now it is Katie-bar-the-door for holiday fun!!! Yee-haw!
Thanks for the religious history lesson as well as the virtual vacation. I should know this stuff since both my husband and youngest son attended Jesuit Universities!
Great hearing the story..... you are having such a wonderful time... I enjoyed the art in the previous post too... I don't always understand modern art but it is fun...
Hugz
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