SHRINE OF
OUR LADY OF OLATZ
& GARDEN STATUE
Beneath the quiet canopy of the garden, the bronze statue of Ignatius captures a moment of profound vulnerability and transition. He is not depicted here in the triumph of the Basilica, but as the limping pilgrim, weary from the road yet driven by an interior fire. For pastoral coordinators navigating the complexities of European secularization, this garden offers a vital reminder: our mission is a journey, not a destination. As you stand beside this image of a man "walking in the Spirit," consider the students in your care who feel lost or burdened. Like Ignatius in this garden, they are in a state of becoming. May this space inspire you to embrace the "pedagogy of the journey," walking patiently alongside your youth as they learn to read the movements of their own hearts.
A short walk away, the Shrine of Our Lady of Olatz offers a different kind of strength—one of rootedness and maternal tenderness. It was here that Iñigo came to pray as a young man, and later as a pilgrim, finding in Mary a steady guide for his conversion. In the simplicity of this chapel, far from the grandeur of the rotunda, we find the "home" of the Jesuit charism. As you look upon the image of Our Lady, reflect on your role as a source of spiritual accompaniment in your schools. Just as Olatz was a sanctuary for Ignatius during his moments of doubt, your pastoral offices and chapels serve as harbors of grace. May this shrine renew your commitment to fostering a culture of care and "cura personalis," ensuring that every student feels known, loved, and held by the same Providence that guided Ignatius from this valley to the world.
“part of the time he spent in writing and part in prayer”
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Our Lady was a reference and source of inspiration and support for Ignatius throughout his whole life. Who, in heaven and on earth, are the persons in whom I most find love, support, inspiration, the guidance for my journey today? I spend some time recalling some of the blessings I received from them, giving thanks, and pondering how they bless and invite me at this point in my life.
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When Ignatius left Loyola, and then during his time in Manresa, he embraced a path of gradual detachment from all the things (material, psychological, relational, etc.) that held him back from the freedom to be the most free and loving he could be. As you look at the statue of the pilgrim, have a conversation with him and with yourself asking: “what in my life or in me is hindering me from greater freedom, greater joy, and greater love today”?
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As you allow these things to surface and as you name them honestly, tell God about them and let God look at you with patient love. Wait in silence, listening to see if some invitation or insight is given you about these things.
“the pilgrim wished to go to see the house”
The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Olaz (Olatz) is located about a kilometer from the Sanctuary. It predates Ignatius and was a site of local devotion for centuries.
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Historical Connection: As a young man, Iñigo often walked to this small chapel to pray before the 13th-century wooden carving of the Virgin. It was his "neighborhood" shrine, and one of his favorite places to pray. As he lost his mother when he was young, we can imagine Our Lady being a source of motherly affection and support for him since an early age.
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The Pilgrim Statue: In the nearby gardens, a bronze statue portrays Ignatius as he looked when he left Loyola in 1522: dressed in simple clothes, leaning on a staff, and looking toward the road to Montserrat. It captures the moment he transitioned from a stationary patient to an active seeker. This site emphasizes the "way of the pilgrim"—the idea that conversion is not a destination but a continuous journey. It serves as a space for reflection on how we, like Ignatius, are called to be "on the road," constantly seeking God’s will in the changing landscapes of our lives.