The following letter to Filippo Leerno, the rector of the Jesuit college at Modena, was written on behalf of Ignatius by Juan Alfonso de Polanco. It deals with day-to-day matters in the life of the Society, first with an internal matter of governance, and then with real estate and with several of the apostolates of […]
Ignatius on the Importance of the Spiritual Exercises (1554) Read More »
In 16th century Spain, many Catholics believed that long hours of prayer and rigorous asceticism were required to grow in holiness. At first, Ignatius shared this mentality, but when he saw how it harmed his health, and therefore his ability to pray and to serve others, he began to preach moderation, and it remained a
Ignatius on Moderation in Prayer (1536) Read More »
Sr. Teresa Rejadell was a Benedictine nun of the convent of Santa Clara in Barcelona. In this letter, Ignatius gives her detailed advice on the discernment of spirits, including the distinction between true and false humility (a favorite theme of Ignatius), evil under the appearance of good, and the proper treatment for scruples. His remarks
Ignatius on the Discernment of Spirits (1536) Read More »
Bellarmine Hall Galleries at the Fairfield University Art Museum will host the exhibit “The Holy Name: Art of the Gesù: Bernini and his Age.” The loan exhibition runs from February 1 until May 19. According to the museum, the exhibit assembled “together for the first time an important group of dazzling and historically important works
February 2018: Art of the Gesù exhibit at Fairfield University Read More »
The Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies calls for applications for its in-residence fellowships to facilitate the completion and/or publication of academic work related to the Society of Jesus. Applications are now welcomed from scholars in the fields of history, spirituality, and pedagogy, among others. The submission deadline is January 15, 2018. The Institute
December 2017: Call for Fellowship Applications Read More »
The last decree issued by the 35th General Congregation concerned the “dynamism” begun by the previous congregation of Jesuit delegates in 1995. The decree below contains the delegates’ call for renewal by the members of the Society of Jesus of “our commitment to apostolic collaboration and to a profound sharing of labor of the life
Decree 6: “Collaboration at the Heart of Mission,” General Congregation 35 (2008) Read More »
The fifth of six decrees promulgated by the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus concerned the order’s “governance structures and ways of proceeding.” The decree, appearing below, is a highly technical and internally focused document. Among its measures, the decree directs the new superior general “to undertake a comprehensive review of the central
The delegates at the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus address the topic of Jesuit obedience in the following decree. They define “obedience” in the context of the vow the members of the Society of Jesus make to the pope as a vow “grounded in the desire to be sent effectively, to serve
The third of six decrees promulgated by the delegates at the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus articulated some of the main challenges facing the Jesuits and their works. The decree, appearing below, reaffirms the Society’s mission in the face of challenges, places that mission the new context of the dawn of the
Decree 3: “Challenges to Our Mission Today,” General Congregation 35 (2008) Read More »
On February 2, 2006, Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, having reached an agreement with Pope Benedict XVI to allow for his resignation as the Jesuits’ superior general, dispatched a letter to the Society of Jesus indicating that “it had become more and more clear that the Society has arrived at a situation…which required a General Congregation.” That gathering—the
Decree 1: “With Renewed Vigor and Zeal,” General Congregation 35 (2008) Read More »
