frjack Loc: Boston, MA

OK. forgot to attach

Ignatius of Loyola

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frjack Loc: Boston, MA

I've got a small series of windows from here in Europe. Thanks for commenting.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

I bet my parish priest and I don't know how many others would love to have your priestly life.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

There is a lot of work and at times sorrow no matter what type of priest a man is. I do most of my ministerial work (Mass, confessions, etc) with the elderly to extreme elderly. In my life as a physician (internal medicine and geriatric psychiatry, recently retired) I worked only with the elderly. Jesuits do travel a lot. I was invited to this conference to present two talks. It went well. Ran into men from all over the world with whom I studied or lived in the past or with whom I shared a friend. Life may be six degrees of separation in the world but in the Society of Jesus, especially after twenty-two years, it is one or two degrees, rarely as many as three.

Once I return to Boston it is back to the routine of two nursing homes, periodic teaching, occasional consultation, a retreats. It is a good life though definitely not for everyone. Priests in religious orders live very different lives from parish priests. Rarely would one want to move to the other. I could never do what a parish priest does. I admire them because I could never do what they do. Nor would I want to no matter how annoyed (or worse) I get with a superior. For their part the restrictions on our lives, especially the vow of obedience, is more than they would want to endure.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Very good shot, Frjack.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks. I'm in Loyola until tomorrow. Am going to wander over there to see how it is in less brilliant light.

Old_Chief

Keeping someone out? or Someone in? Seeing the beauty in the ordinary is a great talent. Thanks for sharing.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

That is quite a compliment, thank you.

Zario Loc: sacramento, CA

I love that shot. What is the story behind the window? What subjects do you present to lecture?
Thanks for all the photos you have posted of your Spain trip. Have a safe journey home.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for looking and commenting. I have no idea what the story is behind the window except what I, or any other observer, might project. That is the joy of a photo such as that. Looking at it today is a different experience than it will be tomorrow or when I get back to the U.S.

It is impossible that the house was standing when Ignatius lived (born in 1491 died in 1556). In another shot there is an electrical wire leading into the house. It is akin to a non-threatening Rorschach test. I went back late this afternoon. No sun. And an SUV parked in front of the window. Didn't even try.

The conference was the first in a long time to deal with psychology and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. I gave talks on Ignatius and the impact of his experiences in Manresa on the Society and a second talk on depression and desolation (this last is a technical term for Jesuits). It was a fascinating conference that was at times more intriguing in the private conversations over meals. And the food was good.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

I guess some priests travel others to serve. Safe travels.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Very good image frjack. Looks like it would make a great B&W conversion.


Don

woodweasel Loc: bellingham Wa

Very intriguing

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

I already converted it to black and white and it works well with some increase in contrast but I prefer the color. I do a lot of black and white but the subtle bleached color and patina is one of the things that drew me to it in the first place. Soft light today. May wander over to the house again to see what it looks like out of direct sunlight.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

We were founded as a missionary society. Francis Xavier, one of the "nine companions" who founded the Society with Ignatius, went first to Goa, then Japan, and died awaiting passage to China. I've worked on four different continents for periods ranging from a few months to a year over the past 22 years. By contrast the priest who taught me to be an altar boy decades ago spent 44 years in the same small-town parish. Two different vocations within the vocation to religious life or the priesthood.