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The Society of Jesus |
| The Jesuits are a world-wide order of priests and brothers belonging to the Catholic Church. Presently numbering over 21,000 and living in 121 different countries, Jesuits seek to dedicate their lives to accompany people to a personal encounter with the living God. Jesuit life centres on companionship with Jesus (hence the name "Company (Society) of Jesus"). |
| The Jesuit. The Jesuit seeks to make Christ's way of being his own: his desire to mould his mind, heart, values and loves on those of his Lord and Companion - and let himself be thus transformed in his daily journey beside Jesus - nourishes his loving, serving and staying with other men and women. |
| Ministry. Since the foundation of the Society, Jesuits have exercised their ministry most particularly where the needs are greatest, where there are not others to minister to these needs and where the more universal good may be found. This spirit continues to shape what Jesuit priests and brothers do in our times. Our ministry is particularly directed towards those who have not yet heard the Gospel; those who are at the margins of the Church or of society; those who have been denied their dignity; those who are voiceless and powerless; those weak in faith or alienated from it; those whose values are undermined by contemporary culture; those whose needs are greater than they can bear. |
| Community. Jesuits live in community. Our community is marked by Jesuits' readiness to be sent wherever the need may arise as well as by the coming together in a sharing of life and goods with the Eucharist at the centre. At any one moment, the Jesuit belongs to a local community, which is an expression of our world-wide brotherhood in Christ. Our mission may also require that a Jesuit live by himself; then, in a special way, he is maintained by his union with the whole Society in Christ. |
| Among the lay. The Society of Jesus recognises the participation of lay people in the mission of the Church as a characteristic aspect of our time and of the future. We seek to encourage this by our cooperation with lay people in their works, as well as by cooperating with them in works of the Society. Furthermore, we are currently exploring ways in which certain lay people may live in closer bonds with the Society. |
Ubiquity. Jesuits seek to be present where the Gospel of Jesus Christ meets cultures. Their willingness to find God at work in the world is expressed through the service they give as spiritual directors, teachers, parish priests, writers, theologians, scientists, artists, prison chaplains and organisers of all sorts.
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The Origins
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| Inigo. The Society of Jesus traces its origins to the unique experience of Inigo Lopez de Loyola, a sixteenth century nobleman from the Basque country of Spain. In 1521, a cannonball shattered Inigo's right leg during the defence of the city of Pamplona against French invaders, as well as his dreams for a future of fame and romance. During his convalescence, Inigo bean to undergo a radical conversion. Jesus Christ became the focus of his life. For Christ's sake, Inigo was willing to dedicate his life to help others come to a deep personal relationship with God. |
| A Group of Friends. Before long, Ignatius, - as he later began to call himself - went to Paris as a student. There he gathered around him a group of friends, who, inspired by his giudance and their own spiritual experience, joined him in his intent to go to the Holy Land and stay. When it became clear to all that this could not be possible, the group went to Rome to present themselves to the Pope, leaving it to the latter's judgement where they could be of the greatest service to God. |
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The Society. Pope Paul III formally approved the Society of Jesus (the name chosen by the group) on 7 September 1540. Already in Ignatius' lifetime, many others joined the small group and made themselves available for the farthest assignments at the shortest notice. Just over two centuries later in the second half of the eighteenth century, political situations in Europe led to a worldwide ban on the Jesuits. Many went into hiding, while others survived the ordeal in Russia - where the suppression was not carried out - until the Society was restored in 1814 |
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News
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Pope Thanks Cardinal Vanhoye for Spiritual Exercises |
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"It is necessary to rediscover the humility and the solidarity of the priesthood of Jesus so as to participate deeply in it", Benedict XVI says. The Pope made these remarks at the end of the Lenten spiritual exercises in which he and the Roman Curia participated. The retreat was preached by Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, former secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. |
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