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The miracle of the loaves and the fishes is a true, genuine miracle--not some mere lesson on sharing in disguise. To treat it as less than miraculous goes against the divine and holy nature of Jesus' role on earth, and the transformative power of His ministry. Mr. Healey explains it all in this latest Lesson from Loyola Hall.

"If you want peace, prepare for war." Does this 1,700-year-old axiom still hold water? What kind of peace do we want, and how are we to really achieve it? The Jesuits' Universal Apostolic Preferences ask us to accompany young people in creating a hope-filled future. Today, Mr. Healey explains where--rather, to Whom--they should look for a future that is hope-filled and peaceful.

One of the great biblical images is that of the relationship between sheep and shepherds. The history of the Church is filled with the continuous movements of people away from good shepherds. The Old Testament is a continual ebb and flow of the Chosen People following a good shepherd, then being led astray, then brought back by a new good shepherd. For God never tires of sending shepherds to His sheep.

In its obsession with “progress” the world we inhabit forgets that there needs to be a finish line, a terminal point, otherwise the progress is illusory. If life has meaning, then accompaniment means more than just “traveling with” - it implies certain responsibilities. Not only must we ride the train with those we love, but we must do all we can to help them to find the right train.

Learning to depend upon God through a direct experience of vulnerability unites young Jesuits with the mass of humanity through the Pilgrimage Experiment. In this Lessons from Loyola Hall, Theology teacher Tom Healey '77 explains that journey and why it can be so challenging.

One of the most keen insights into the human person that St. Ignatius of Loyola developed in his Spiritual Exercises is that of our divided existence. We are divided internally, as well as from one another. The Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus focus on this very issue as it ties together the mission to bring about justice as well as reconciliation.

To be a prophet is never an easy task. The often bring, not good news, but a warning to be heeded. And, often, following the words of the prophet may be unpopular. But for whom is the prophet speaking? Is it Christ? If so, are we able to see past the unpopular or challenging words being offered and truly follow Him?

This summer, Mr. Healey has been teaching a Summer Enrichment Program course about Saint Ignatius--both the school and the man himself. His final lesson includes a walking tour that includes anecdotes about four of the true titans of our famed Alma Mater--men whose lives left a legacy and also were closely tied to Christ.