The 1979 General Assembly of the National Federations of Christian Life Communities took place in outside of Rome, organized on the theme of “Towards a World Community at Service of One World.” Pedro Arrupe, as superior general of the Society of Jesus, addressed the group, largely of laymen, which took its inspiration from the Jesuits’
“A World Community,” Pedro Arrupe (1979) Read More »
After delivering prepared remarks to the 1979 General Assembly of delegates of the National Federations of the Christian Life Communities, Pedro Arrupe answered questions from the audience. An edited transcript of that exchange appears below. The audience members offered questions on how to integrate role of a Christian as a professional man and a member
“Laymen in the Christian Life Communities,” Pedro Arrupe (1979) Read More »
Pedro Arrupe had the following interview with the director of the Jesuit Central Social Secretariat in the summer of 1979. Questions focus on the need for exposure to and experience with the poor and why Arrupe believes it to be so important for Jesuits to identify with the poor. Arrupe provides details of how Jesuits
“Exposure to Poverty,” Pedro Arrupe (1979) Read More »
The Ignatian Center for Spirituality in Rome closed a five-week conference on Ignatian Spirituality on February 18, 1978, with Pedro Arrupe delivering the following remarks. The Superior General of the Society of Jesus based his remarks on a phrase from the Jesuits’ Formula, approved by Pope Julius III in 1550. For Arrupe, the phrase “To
“Ecclesial Service,” Pedro Arrupe (1978) Read More »
The following is a partial transcript—as translated by Jerome Aixala and published by Jesuit Sources—of an interview Pedro Arrupe had an Italian television program “Encounter” in September 1975. Among the interviewer’s admittedly “provocative questions” to the Jesuits’ superior general are those on Arrupe’s own personal history (he provides a vivid account of the bombings and
“An Hour with Father Arrupe” (1975) Read More »
Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus on July 21, 1773. In the preceding decades, the Jesuits had suffered expulsions from the Catholic empires of Portugal (1759), France (1764), and Spain (1767), where they had become handy scapegoats for kings or princes under civic pressure. In Portugal, for example, charges against the Society included
Dominus ac Redemptor (1773) Read More »
The 132nd annual meeting of the American Historical Association (January 4–7 in Washington, D.C.) is centered on the themes of “Race, Ethnicity, and Nationalism in Global Perspective.” The conference features the following academic panels and presentations, among others, related to the field of Jesuit Studies: Thursday, January 4, 1:30PM Panel: “The Digital
January 2018: Presentations on Jesuit Studies at the AHA Conference 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
