American Jesuits

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Hi everyone,
I know that the American Jesuits are mentioned sporadically in many of these forums, and there was a very good extended thread posted in September. I don’t want to be redundant, but I was wondering whether anyone has any new thoughts about the Jesuits that they would like to share…general impressions or intimate acquaintance, both.

A little background for those who are interested: I am discerning a vocation and Ignatian spirituality has always been central to my prayer life. I feel drawn to education as a ministry, admire the Jesuits’ mobility and vocational flexibility, and find their stated allegiance to the Pope deeply desirable. (I adore our Popes! …I know that all priests do, but my vocation has been directly inspired by Pope Benedict in a number of ways, and I feel a devotion to the Papacy to be really important to me personally.) So in a word, I feel very much drawn to the Jesuits.

Thing is, it worries me that I am sort of afraid to admit to anyone Catholic that I am discerning a Jesuit vocation since I fear their impression of me would immediately be that I’m some sort of dissident Catholic who thinks contraception and gay marriage are ok and is just looking for the most lenient order possible as a front for doing secular social justice…and wants to go around wearing a stole decorated with rainbows and smiley-face sheep or something during the Liturgy…haha.

Anyway…I know that I shouldn’t let fear hinder me. And I will be talking to someone in Jesuit vocations very soon. But I thought I’d pose the question here in the meantime. I am especially interested in knowing whether people have had experiences with Jesuits that defy the stereotype or highlight positive aspects of the beautiful work they do. Or are there any Jesuits in formation out there?

Thank you for reading this long post, and for responding…God bless you all!
AMDG
 
tuviskazinai said:
Hi everyone,
I know that the American Jesuits are mentioned sporadically in many of these forums, and there was a very good extended thread posted in September. I don’t want to be redundant, but I was wondering whether anyone has any new thoughts about the Jesuits that they would like to share…general impressions or intimate acquaintance, both.

A little background for those who are interested: I am discerning a vocation and Ignatian spirituality has always been central to my prayer life. I feel drawn to education as a ministry, admire the Jesuits’ mobility and vocational flexibility, and find their stated allegiance to the Pope deeply desirable. (I adore our Popes! …I know that all priests do, but my vocation has been directly inspired by Pope Benedict in a number of ways, and I feel a devotion to the Papacy to be really important to me personally.) So in a word, I feel very much drawn to the Jesuits.

Thing is, it worries me that I am sort of afraid to admit to anyone Catholic that I am discerning a Jesuit vocation since I fear their impression of me would immediately be that I’m some sort of dissident Catholic who thinks contraception and gay marriage are ok and is just looking for the most lenient order possible as a front for doing secular social justice…and wants to go around wearing a stole decorated with rainbows and smiley-face sheep or something during the Liturgy…haha.

Anyway…I know that I shouldn’t let fear hinder me. And I will be talking to someone in Jesuit vocations very soon. But I thought I’d pose the question here in the meantime. I am especially interested in knowing whether people have had experiences with Jesuits that defy the stereotype or highlight positive aspects of the beautiful work they do. Or are there any Jesuits in formation out there?

Thank you for reading this long post, and for responding…God bless you all!
AMDG
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If you’re an orthodox, devout Catholic, discerning for the Jesuits, there is no reason they should look down upon you.

If anything, they’ll probably be thinking in the back of their heads, “Hey, finally we can get some orthodox guys to clean house!”

Best wishes for your vocation!
 
It all depends on which province you enter. There are about twenty five Jesuit provinces in the U.S. Discern, and choose wisely. God bless.
 
Avoid the Jesuits and the papacy at all costs. The Jesuits were expelled 80 times during their history, and they are now banned in Switzerland. They have caused many many wars all over Europe (for example spearheading the bloody counter Reformation in Hungary in the 1600’s), and even extremist Catholic groups dislike them. They have killed several popes (Clement XIV) for trying to dissolve them even (I Settembre Sara Sede Vacante… ominous…). If they are so leniant morally then wgy would you join such an order? These folks allow anything to go… mental reservations… mammary theologians, even saying that is acceptable to kill someone if they dishonor a priest.
 
I do not know where the above poster gets his or her information, but I would like to know what sources he or she uses, and challenge them to substantiate the charges made.
I know from personal experience, having had them as teachers, that they do train the mind and heart; that they have contributed not a few martyrs to the Church; that they have contributed cardinals such as Bellarmine; that they have always been renowned as spiritual directors, and that they once were suppressed for several decades.
 
csmatyi said:
Avoid the Jesuits and the papacy at all costs. The Jesuits were expelled 80 times during their history, and they are now banned in Switzerland. They have caused many many wars all over Europe (for example spearheading the bloody counter Reformation in Hungary in the 1600’s), and even extremist Catholic groups dislike them. They have killed several popes (Clement XIV) for trying to dissolve them even (I Settembre Sara Sede Vacante… ominous…). If they are so leniant morally then wgy would you join such an order? These folks allow anything to go… mental reservations… mammary theologians, even saying that is acceptable to kill someone if they dishonor a priest.
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I would advise anyone reading this thread to report csmatyi. This post has no redemptive value and is completely unsubstantiated in its claims. The Jesuit order is a very active visual order in the United States which is why some of its members who get away from the teachings of the church appear more often than those of other orders. I have known many Jesuit priests and in my experience they are all good, orthodox members of the clergy. To the original poster, please ignore what csmatyi is saying. If you are discerning a vocation to the Jesuits try and get in contact with the province you are discerning for. God Bless and good luck with your discernment. You will be in my prayers!
 
Participants in the Vocations forum should not need to be warned about making uncharitable comments either about each other or about established orders within the Church.
 
Patrick_Eastin said:
Participants in the Vocations forum should not need to be warned about making uncharitable comments either about each other or about established orders within the Church.
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But the Jebbies today are usually quite a different sort from Charles Boyer S.J.
 
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