Just Call Me Lopez: Getting to the Heart of Ignatius Loyola

Would your world be changed if you had regular coffee (and wine) dates with the 16th-century Spaniard Ignatius Loyola? That’s the implicit question posed in this intriguing time travel experiment by Silf, whose previous book, Inner Compass, explored the fundamentals of Ignatian spirituality in a modern context. In a series of fictional encounters between her narrator, Rachel, and the Jesuit founder (never mind the initial premise, which is a bit awkward), the writer introduces readers to the biography of a Christian mystic whose writings and methods continue to have an outsize influence on contemporary Christian spiritual practices. Using accessible language and inviting vignettes, she also explores topics that include praying with the Scriptures, the use of the imagination, and suggestions for how to follow in the footsteps of Christ. Though Silf asserts that her heroine Rachel is a work of fiction, there’s a fascinating and persistent critique of ecclesiastical hierarchy that raises its own questions. Come have a drink with Ignatius. You won’t be disappointed. (Aug.)