By Princess E. Tolentino
July 29, 2011, 4:00 pm
Classes were suspended for the University holiday that was a celebration of two parts: the wreath-laying ceremony at the grounds of the Lucas Hall, and the special Eucharistic Celebration at the Immaculate Concepcion Chapel.
The wreath-laying ceremony, which started at eight in the morning, was a symbolic offering of respects to the Society of Jesus founder.
To provide a solemn and prayerful atmosphere, the Prayer for Generosity, the prayer composed by St. Ignatius himself, was rendered by the Xavier University Glee Club as the opening invocation. It was followed by the wreath-laying proper by University staff accompanied by the ROTC Marching Band.
Fr. Calvin Poulin, the University Chaplain, led the blessing of the statue of St. Ignatius. This was followed by the symbolic placing of the sword on the hands of St. Ignatius, performed for the first time by the new University President, Fr. Roberto C. Yap. A gun salute was then rendered by the ROTC.
In the special Mass, Fr. Rodolfo Fernandez’s homily presented a brief history of the celebration. He also talked about the strong symbolism of the act of placing the sword in the hands of the statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola. He said it represents the stand he holds “No mas” which he meant no more wars. Fr. Fernandez mentioned his experience as a missionary in Japan for more than 40 years taught him the truth in the Ignatian principle that “peace is stronger than war; [that] love is stronger than death.”
In the same homily, Fr. Fernandez added that the hands of the statue of St. Ignatius were positioned such that it embodies the idea of offering one’s life to God.
After the Mass, a small buffet was prepared in the Covered Courts.
For the students who could not make it on the Saturday commemoration, an earlier Mass was held at the Covered Courts on the afternoon of July 29. Similar Masses were also being held at the other XU campuses for the Xavier University Grade School and High School levels.
The Feast of St. Ignatius was celebrated in advance due to the actual date, July 31, having fallen on a Sunday. Ignacio López de Loyola was a former soldier of Spain before a wounded leg forced him to stop. While recovering from his injuries, he was drawn closer to the Lord to whom he then offered his sword in an act of surrender.
Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Father-General. Years after his death in Rome on July 31, 1556, he was canonized and became the patron saint of soldiers and of the Society.
