After the Mass at the basilica and the tour of the Loyola tower house, my travel amigas and I explored the sanctuary grounds. Within the compound also lie a retreat house, a library, a hostel, a museum, a small café, and a park.
The Loyola Spirituality Center, also known as Arrupe Center, has served as the formation house for the Society of Jesus for decades since 1972. It also functions as a retreat centre and adjacent to it is a guest house. The building contains accommodation rooms, conference rooms, classrooms, a living room, a work room, several dining rooms, chapels, and a private garden. It really exemplifies an ideal place for an encounter with God - austere, yet comfortable, one that inspires an atmosphere of silence and reverence. Not too far is a youth hostel that offers affordable but quality accommodation for visiting groups.
In the north wing of the sanctuary lies the library that houses ancient and modern collections totaling 150,000 volumes published since the 16th century. This includes collections of the solar house, Spanish civil history, the lineage of Oñaz y Loyola, and the Society of Jesus. The said collections are both in physical and digital forms.
Also located in the north wing is the Sacred Art Museum that consists of two rooms filled with liturgical objects, books, ornaments, and the altar and door of the original chapel.
The sprawling gardens and the surrounding mountains lush with bright green vegetation provided a peaceful backdrop for a contemplative stroll. A row of sycamore trees lined the front of the church yard providing a beautiful canopy for a meditative walk. There were flowerbeds teeming with summer blooms and a flowing river nearby. What a beautiful place!
We bought some religious souvenirs at the shop housed in a quaint pergola directly across the church. I practiced my elementary Spanish and managed to purchase Saint Ignatius miniature altar pieces and some handcrafted Spanish cards without speaking a word of English to the shopkeeper. Then we leisurely strolled around the gardens and took photos among the sycamore trees.
We also explored the area outside the sanctuary, crossed the bridge across the Urola River, and followed the path along its banks. There was not much to see aside from small business establishments and residential buildings. But we had a relaxing walk under the shade of trees with the gurgling waters of the river in the background.
It was then that we realized we were actually famished and were more-that-ready for lunch, so we made it our mission to find a place to eat.
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