Five hundred years ago, a wound altered the entire trajectory of the life of Iñigo López de Loyola – a proud soldier who used to be engulfed in tremendous desire for winning vainglory. On 20 May 1521, a cannonball crippled his leg at the Battle of Pamplona.

From vanity to despair, it was precisely this fateful wound that invoked the conversion of this proud soldier – venerated as St. Ignatius of Loyola, and subsequently gave birth to the Society of Jesus, the sponsoring body of Wah Yan.

20 May 2021 marked the commencement of the Ignatian Year.  Five hundred years have passed, and the life story of St. Ignatius sinks in on this momentous occasion; let us be inspired again with reflection, discernment and conscience.  No matter how challenging or hurtful the situation is, or how dark or murky the future may seem, we shall keep marching on by rowing deep into our hearts – with faith, and serve the greater good of the world – for the glory of God.

“The Wound”, the theme song commemorating the Ignatian Year, is available for review: