iards advised him not to do this, as the rest thought of
abandoning him on an island. But the wind quickly conveyed them to
Cyprus. From Cyprus they went to another port called Salinae, ten
leagues distant. Here he went on board the ship of the pilgrims, with
no other provision than his hope in Providence. During all that
voyage, the Lord often appeared to him, and gave him great
consolation. The visions seemed to take the form of something large,
round, and golden. The travelers reached Joppa, and seated on asses,
after the custom of that region, they journeyed to Jerusalem. A noble
Spanish gentleman, named Didacus Minez, as the pilgrims came in sight
of the city, recommended silence and recollection.

All followed his suggestion, and when they saw a monk approaching with
a crucifix, dismounted. On beholding the city, Ignatius was deeply
affected, and the rest affirmed that they experienced a sort of
heavenly joy. He always felt this same devotion whenever he visited
the holy places. He decided to remain in Jerusalem, in order to visit
the holy places often. For this purpose he had taken with him letters
of recommendation to the Father Guardian. On presenting them, he said
that he intended to remain there to satisfy his own devotion, but said
nothing of his purpose of helping others. The Father Guardian told him
he did not see how this could be possible, as his house was not even
capable of providing for his own Religious, and he intended to send
some away from the Holy Land. Ignatius said he wished him merely to
hear his confession, since he had come to make it. The Father Guardian
said this could be done, but he should wait for the arrival of the
Provincial, who was then at Bethlehem. Relying on this promise,
Ignatius began to write letters to spiritual persons at Barcelona. He
had written some on the day before he was to depart, when he was
summoned in the name of the Father Guardian and the Provincial. Then
the Provincial, addressing him kindly, said he had heard of his pious
determination to remain in the holy places, and had given it serious
thought. Many others had the same desire, some had died, others had
been taken prisoners, and to his Order was left the work of ransoming
captives, wherefore he should prepare himself to resume his journey
with the pilgrims on the following day. To this Ignatius answered that
his resolution was very fixed, and he did not think that anything
would keep him from executing it. I