Origin Of The Society Of Jesus

Origin of the Society of Jesus Community life in the Society of Jesus is based on the companionship of Ignatius of Loyola and the graduate students he befriended at the University of Paris. Seven students gathered in a chapel on Montmartre Hill in 1534 and vowed to continue their companionship after finishing their degrees. They would live in evangelical poverty and go on a mission to Jerusalem. They called themselves "amigos en el Senor" -- friends in the Lord. "It's always said that the Jesuits were founded by Ignatius of Loyola, but I like the thought that the Jesuits were founded by a committee, not by one man. And it's crucial because if the real mainspring of Jesuit spirituality is companionship, then our being together in a company is really right out of that reality, that we are together in a companionship." -Father Joseph Tetlow, S.J. Shared Vision: Jesuit Spirit in Education Inigo Lopez de Loyola, who later took the name Ignatius, was the youngest son of a nobleman of the mountainous Basque region of northern Spain. Trained in the courtly manner of the time of King Ferdinand, he dreamed of the glories of knighthood and wore his sword and breastplate with a proud arrogance. When Ignatius was born in 1491, the Middle Ages were just ending and Europe was entering into the Renaissance. So Ignatius was a man on the edge of two worlds. Europe of the late 15th Century was a world of discovery and invention. European explorers sailed west to the Americas and south to Africa, and scholars uncovered the buried civilizations of Greece and Rome. The printing press fed a new hunger for knowledge among a growing middle class. It was the end of chivalry and the rise of a new humanism. It was a time of radical change, social upheaval, and war. In a quixotic attempt in 1521 to defend the Spanish border fortress of Pamplona against the French artillery, Inigo's right leg was shattered by a cannon ball. His French captors, impressed by the Inigo's courage, carried him on a litter across Spain to his family home at Loyola where he began a long period of convalescence. During that time, he read several religious books, the only reading material readily available. These books and the isolation of the recovery period brought about a conversion which led to the founding of the Jesuits. Ignatius began to pray. He fasted, did penance and works of charity, dedicated himself to God and, after some troubles with the Spanish Inquisition, decided to study for the priesthood. As a student in Paris he drew a small band of friends to himself and directed them in extended prayer and meditation according to his Spiritual Exercises. After further studies, the first Jesuits were ordained to the Catholic priesthood in Venice and offered themselves in service to Pope Paul III. In 1540, Paul III approved the Institute of the Society of Jesus. Ignatius was elected General Superior and served in that post until his death in 1556 at the age of 65. A more detailed biography is found in The Life of St. Ignatius of Loyola by Fr. Norman O'Neal SJ on the web site of the University of San Francisco.

The Jesuits and the Holy Father The Society of Jesus has enjoyed a special relationship with the Supreme Pontiff dating back to our foundation as St. Ignatius and the first companions placed themselves at the disposal of the Holy Father. The Society is the only religious congregation that has a specific vow of obedience to the Pope in regards to mission.

How do I know God is calling me? Joining the Jesuits If you think God might be calling you to be a Jesuit priest or brother, or if you just want to learn more about the Jesuits, you've landed at the right place. Here you'll find information, support, and resources for your discernment process. Please visit often because the content and resources will change regularly. Who are we? Founded in 1540 by St. Ignatius of Loyola and commonly called the Jesuits, the Society of Jesus is the largest religious order of men in the Catholic Church. Serving in 112 nations on 6 continents, we number nearly 20,000 priests, brothers, and seminarians worldwide, all of whom observe vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Men who are called to the Society of Jesus desire to be "contemplatives in action" combining faith and the promotion of justice. After two years as a novice, a Jesuit pronounces his solemn vows and engages in six years of philosophy and theology studies. He also engages in teaching ministry for three years. Most Jesuits receive priestly ordination after the 11 year training, but others also serve as brothers in a variety of ministries. Jesuits are best known in the fields of education (schools, colleges, universities, seminaries, theological faculties), intellectual research, and cultural pursuits. They also engage in missionary work and direct evangelization to the poor, social justice and human rights activities, interreligious dialogue, and other 'frontier' ministries. Most importantly, Jesuits continue the tradition of providing Christian retreats, based on the foundational document of Ignatius: The Spiritual Exercises. Jesuits are inspired by their motto: All for the greater glory of God. Learn more by visiting one of our Province's vocation websites!

Process of Jesuit Vocation Discernment How do I know God is calling me to religious life? Discernment is a word that describes the process of coming to understand how the Lord is calling me and inviting me to serve Him. It is a spiritual and personal journey. It is a journey of understanding, of seeing, and acting. The necessary ingredients for discerning a vocation from the Lord are trust, patience, faith, and prayer. These four elements will be constantly challenged during your journey, and will need to be renewed daily. Ask the Lord for these gifts of the Spirit as you move through the process. 7 Stages of Vocation Discernment: 1. Attraction or Interest ...to serving God 2. Inquiry...taking the initiative 3. Information Gathering ... being pro-active

4. Discernment ... understanding the experience 5. Confirmation ... moving toward a decision 6. Application Process ... submitting the application 7. Entrance ... if accepted, becoming a Jesuit Novice

Science and Technologists From the early days of the founding of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits have been engaged in various intellectual enterprises. These have included teaching, research, and writing. The Jesuit thrust to "find God in all things" has had the result that these efforts were not solely confined to the more "ecclesiastical" disciplines (like philosophy and theology), but were extended to the more "mundane" or "secular" disciplines. In the areas of science and technology many Jesuits have made, and continue to make, contributions. These contributions range from astronomy and algebra to natural history and geography.

Seeing Stars! Over the years, the Jesuits have had a significant role to play in the running of the Vatican Observatory. This link provides a current view of those efforts, whether they be in Rome or in the state of Arizona in the United States. Inner space has had it share of Jesuit influence too! Since 1931 the Society of Jesuit has been entrusted with the management of the Vatican Radio. This modern technological means of communication continues to be a major interest of the Society. Jesuits and the Sciences: Trace the careers of various Jesuits involved in scientific research from the years 1540 to 1995. Jesuits in China: Vatican historical and art exhibit in text and pictures examining the relationship of Rome and China with a particular emphasis on the role of the Jesuits. A graphical interface is a must to view the exhibit pictures! A Description of Mozambique. The text and illustrations of a 17th-centry neo-Latin manuscript by the Jesuit Michal Boym now in the Jesuit Archives in Rome. It includes images of the original text, transcriptions of the Latin, and illustrations of flora and fauna. A noted Jesuit scientist-philosopher-theologian of this century was Teilhard de Chardin. There are numerous sites on the Web devoted to him. Here are some relevant links: Teilhard de Chardin. Leaping from the 17th century to the end of the 20th -- several teachers of mathematics have found a way to integrate issues of faith and justice with the teaching of secondarylevel mathematics. Math for a Change is the result of their effort. It consists of materials which can be used to supplement a standard mathematics course with examples which highlight societial issues. Wheeling Jesuit College in West Virginia is one of the many schools which have a chapter of the group devoted to Technology Transfer for Society. Jesuits in Science is an association of Jesuit scientists, priests and brothers, engaged in research, teaching, pastoral and humanitarian work in the physical and biological sciences in many countries worldwide. Athanasius Kircher Links, with a Geoscience Bias; Administrator: Klaus-Peter Kelber

Adventures of 30 Jesuit scientists: Contributions made by scientists such as Acosta, Aguilon, Boscovich, Clavius, Grimaldi, Kircher, Pozzo, Riccati, Saccheri, Secchi, Verbiest, Saint Vincent. Also the 35 Jesuit lunar craters and the origins of that "Jesuit science" seismology.