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Handout #157 |
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The Jesuits |
| The extraordinary development of the Society of Jesus was
the result of the personality of its founder, Ignatius of Loyola, who left
his followers two 'instruments' of great effectiveness: the Spiritual
Exercises and the Constitution. The Exercises have
contributed to the training not only of Jesuits but also of a large number
of other Christians. The Constitutions organize the order into a
centralized and authoritarian monarchial structure around the Master
General and the pope. The Jesuits sought to be the servants of the church
par excellence.
Spiritual Exercises 1. The name 'Spiritual Exercises' means every form of examination of conscience, of meditation, contemplation, prayer (vocal and mental) and the spiritual activities mentioned later. Going for long and short walks and running are physical exercises; so we give the name of spiritual exercises to any process which makes the soul ready and able to rid itself of all irregular attachments, so that, once rid of them, it may look for and discover how God wills it to regulate its life to secure its salvation. 365. To arrive at complete certainly, this is the attitude of mind we should maintain: I will believe that the white object I see is black if that should be the decision of the hierarchical Church, for I believe that linking Christ our Lord the Bridegroom and His Bride the Church, there is one and the same Spirit, ruling and guiding us for our souls' good. |
