Are The Jesuits a Viable Option for a Faithful Catholic???

  • Thread starter Thread starter Antonius_Lupus
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Antonius_Lupus

Guest
Dear brethren,

After being led to the understanding that Diocesan priesthood is probably not my vocation, I have tentatively started looking at religious priestly orders.

One of the Orders I am looking at is the Society of Jesus. I was raised Baptist and came home to Rome as a teenager. During that time I became fascinated by Jesuit history. All my studies of their order bespoke of a group of priests dedicated to the Pope of Rome and to the advancement of Catholic Orthodoxy.

Yet, my own spiritual director (though supportive of my considerations) has remarked that if I were to become a Jesuit, then I would be an anomaly. This is because I am fanatically loyal to the Magisterium. I consider my faith to be whatever Rome says it is. I am neither a traditionalist nor a progressive (and I intend to oppose both). I consider myself simply an orthodox Catholic.

Rumor has it that the Society of Jesus has long abandoned (in practice anyway) the strict Orthodoxy and obedience of the past and have now become a voice of dissent and heterodoxy. Tragic as that is in-and-of-itself, it’s really tragic for me because much of the original charism of the Order really seems to fit me well.

Anyway, I wanted to get some opinions about the Jesuits and Jesuit vocations. The main thing I am wondering is whether it is possible to be a Jesuit in good standing while at the same time being completely faithful to Catholic Orthodoxy and the Magisterium. It’s sad that I feel I need to ask that question, but…yeah.

So, any thoughts?
 
In my country (Poland) Jesuits are loyal to the teachings of the Church. The rest - well you should go wherever the Lord is calling you. Jesuits or not - you might not discover that at once. Maybe only in the novitiate? Just trust the Lord.
As for Jesuits - here is a testimony of one Jesuit priest Father Robert Faricy SJ
robertfaricy.org/cgi/library.php
Just sharing 😉

Oh, and in my own personal conversion story Jesuits sort of played the central role. I attended at the time a church run by Jesuits, they had one really good preacher - very orthodox and on fire for the Lord. The rest of the priests were also wonderful. And a couple of writers (one of them Fr Faricy) helped me a lot. And if I think about it, one of the spiritual directors of St Faustina was also a Jesuit.
Heard some bad things about Jesuits in the US but well… does it change anything? I do not think that being going against the teachings of the Church is part of their program, though there might be some bad apples here and there. We are not supposed to look to go where things are easy…
 
The simple answer is that of course the Jesuits are a viable option for a faithful Catholic. The same can be said about any religious order.

But I think you’re asking the wrong question.

Are you drawn to Ignatian spirituality? Is it the type of prayer/spirituality that nourishes your soul?

Are you drawn to the type of work Jesuits do? Since the other option you mention is the diocesan priesthood, are you aware that most Jesuits do not work as parish priests? There are some Jesuit parishes, but also many Jesuit high schools, colleges, retreat centers, campus ministries, etc.

My experience with Jesuits is that first they are Jesuits, then they are priests or brothers. I see the same thing with Benedictines, Franciscans, and others. Their first level of identity is with their brothers, their founders, their way of life.
 
Antonius_Lupus said:
Dear brethren,

After being led to the understanding that Diocesan priesthood is probably not my vocation, I have tentatively started looking at religious priestly orders.

One of the Orders I am looking at is the Society of Jesus. I was raised Baptist and came home to Rome as a teenager. During that time I became fascinated by Jesuit history. All my studies of their order bespoke of a group of priests dedicated to the Pope of Rome and to the advancement of Catholic Orthodoxy.

Yet, my own spiritual director (though supportive of my considerations) has remarked that if I were to become a Jesuit, then I would be an anomaly. This is because I am fanatically loyal to the Magisterium. I consider my faith to be whatever Rome says it is. I am neither a traditionalist nor a progressive (and I intend to oppose both). I consider myself simply an orthodox Catholic.

Rumor has it that the Society of Jesus has long abandoned (in practice anyway) the strict Orthodoxy and obedience of the past and have now become a voice of dissent and heterodoxy. Tragic as that is in-and-of-itself, it’s really tragic for me because much of the original charism of the Order really seems to fit me well.

Anyway, I wanted to get some opinions about the Jesuits and Jesuit vocations. The main thing I am wondering is whether it is possible to be a Jesuit in good standing while at the same time being completely faithful to Catholic Orthodoxy and the Magisterium. It’s sad that I feel I need to ask that question, but…yeah.

So, any thoughts?
Click to expand...
something i would check out if the Jesuits dont work out is the knights of St.John just watched something about them last nite on ewtn i thought they were gone but i was wrong idk if they are the same or similar to the jesuits just something to keep in mind
 
I agree a bit with your spiritual director. In Spain the Jesuits (and other orders, as well) has long abandoned (in practice anyway) the strict Orthodoxy and obedience of the past, in general (I know a couple of exceptional saint Jesuits). But your vocation doesn’t have to depend on how lowsy are the others, but to keep up with the spirit of the founder. For example, St. Therese of Lisieux, when entered in the convent of Nevers (I think was there), the nuns were in factions, like politic people, and it was difficult to be friends with both parties, but she is a saint.
I would also ask Fr. Mitch Patwa.
Or ask to the Fathers in this place: CAL (Catholic Answers Live)
Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance in your way of discernment.
God bless you
 
The Jesuits are in good standing with the Church.

If you feel a call to their spirituality then go for it.

You should contact their vocations director and at least do a vocation retreat with them.

Also, you are under spiritual direction. You must decide whether or not you will follow your spiritual directors advice. If you chose not to then I suggest that you talk to him about that. You may wish to get a new spiritual director if you feel that you can not follow what your current one it telling you.
 
The Jesuits are a wonderful religious order and you would have nothing to fear by looking further into joining them. What your spiritual director may have been indirectly referencing is the Liberation Theology movement that took place in Latin America during the latter half of the 20th century. A good number of Jesuits were involved in this movement, which was later condemned by the Vatican. However, just because a handful of Jesuits for a brief time were involved in a movement that was later condemned does not mean that all Jesuits are somehow unorthodox. Many of the Jesuits who were involved in that movement sincerely felt they were following the Church’s teachings and doing good for God’s flock and once they were corrected by Rome most of them adjusted their behavior accordingly.

I agree with other posters who have said that what you should be looking into more than anything else is Ignatian spirituality. If this form of prayer and contemplation seems to work for you then you may have a calling to join the Jesuits. I would advise that if you have the time making a retreat with the Jesuits who will be able to help guide you through the Spiritual Exercises of their founder Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
 
Antonius_Lupus said:
Rumor has it that the Society of Jesus has long abandoned (in practice anyway) the strict Orthodoxy and obedience of the past and have now become a voice of dissent and heterodoxy. Tragic as that is in-and-of-itself, it’s really tragic for me because much of the original charism of the Order really seems to fit me well.
Click to expand...
They are what they are… just rumors. Jesuits have a special vow of obedience to the Pope. How can the Jesuits abandon Orthodoxy and obedience if they have this vow?

newadvent.org/cathen/14103a.htm

As posted above, if you can find the time, go on a retreat with the Jesuits. 👍

I admit I’m a little biased because I owe the deepening of my faith and spirituality to the Jesuits.
 
Archbishop Terence Prendergast of Ottawa is a Jesuit, and he’s on Facebook! He will definitely respond if you contact him.
 
I’d say go for it. One thing I’ve also learned is that when it comes down to generalizations about orders especially with “liberal” and “conservative” or “orthodox” and “heterodox,” it’s best to remember that every order varies, province by province.
 
The Jesuits have two qualities about them that are inseparable, much like a teenager and a cell phone. The Ignatian charism and the priesthood. The Society was founded as a military company of priests. By most standards, they are a very strange religious order for two reasons.

a) They are the last religious order that was ever founded. At the time, the Church had not yet conceived of the idea of a religious congregation. The Jesuits live and work more like priests in a religious congregation than as members of a religious order such as the mendicants and the monks. They don’t have a real conventual life, which is atypical of religious orders. The term “order” comes from the Latin term structured. St. Ignatius deliberately avoided the structures that governed the conventual orders of monks and friars to liberate these priests. If they had been bound to the rigors of conventual life, as are friars and monks, they would have had to sacrifice some of the freedom and independence needed to be the kind of missionaries, preachers and teachers that the Holy Spirit was calling them to be. Theirs is a different style from that of the friars who were engaged in the same ministries.

b) The second thing that makes them a little different and hard for many people to understand and accept is that they are not bound to obey the pope the way that people want the to obey. They are bound to go where the pope sends them. This vow, of course, implies fidelity to the Holy Father and a willingness to serve the needs of the Church where ever the Holy Father feels they are needed and in the manner that the he feels. Recently, the Holy Father had strong words with them on this point. He reminded them that like every religious order, they are at the disposal of the Church. Unlike other religious orders, they deliberately make a fourth vow to be at the disposal of the Church. They are bound, by a solemn vow, to set the example of availability to serve the Church. The rest of us do not have that vow. We are bound to obey . . . that’s hard enough.

People often misjudge them, believing that they should be demure, which is silly. They are not Franciscans. If God had wanted Ignatius and his sons to obey without questioning, he would have called Ignatius into the Franciscans. If he had wanted Ignatius to obey and question later, he would have called him into the Dominicans. What God called Ignatius to do was to correct the errors of the time through careful study in order to preach and teach Truth. Scholarship always involves a degree of critical thinking. Often, the only way to arrive at the meaning of the Truth is to throw a falsehood on the table and then try to refute it. The Society was not called into existence to be catechists who simply learn and memorize what the Church teaches so that they can pass it on. It was called into existence to be counteract errors in the Church’s thinking and in the thinking of Protestants. This required that one identify the errors on both sides. The errors on the side of the Church were not doctrinal errors. They were disciplinary and legal errors. The Church had weighed itself down with a lot of baggage that only led to confusion and abuse. The error of the Protestants was to confuse the excess baggage with the doctrine. They threw out the entire set of luggage, instead of throwing out the unnecessary gear and keeping the rest.

I truly believe that today is a very exciting time to be a Jesuit, because once again we need a military company of priests who will challenge Catholics and non-Catholics. The Society is darn good at that. Ignatius was a genius. Freud had nothing on him when it came to understanding human behavior and the mind. The best part is that Ignatian spirituality integrates the soul into the study of the person. It’s looking at man holistically.

If you can identify with the mission and vision of Ignatius and see yourself as a brother to these other men, go for it. I always tell people who are thinking about the priesthood or about religious life the same thing. You are joining them. They are not joining you. Therefore, they do not have to meet your expectations or accommodate to you. You have to accept them where they are and be willing to be a brother who walks the journey with them. I hope that you will bring gifts to the table that will strengthen your brothers and they will have gifts that will strengthen you. If you are thinking that you can go in and do your thing or that they have to meet your expectations, then you’re not called to the religious life or to the priesthood. We are not who we are because we’re entitled to anything. We are who we are, religious or priests, or both, because the Church is entitled to our gifts.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
Another option might be considering ordination in the Priesthood via the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei. From reading the charter and some of the writings of St. Josemaria Escriva, it appears to me at least that there are some similarities between how the Jesuit order and members of Opus Dei approach spirituality and the call to personal holiness. Plus, they go out of their way to state their absolute fidelity to the magesterium of the Church which is something you expressed concern about earlier in the OP.

I’m sure God will guide you towards whatever decision is the right one and if you do feel a call to vocation, I hope you will listen to it. We need great priests!

Peace,
 
For many years I have attending retreats given by Jesuits - LOVE 'EM!

Love the Ignatian Teachings.

I say GO FOR IT!

I’ll keep you in my prayers.
 
jwinch2 said:
Another option might be considering ordination in the Priesthood via the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei. From reading the charter and some of the writings of St. Josemaria Escriva, it appears to me at least that there are some similarities between how the Jesuit order and members of Opus Dei approach spirituality and the call to personal holiness. Plus, they go out of their way to state their absolute fidelity to the magesterium of the Church which is something you expressed concern about earlier in the OP.

I’m sure God will guide you towards whatever decision is the right one and if you do feel a call to vocation, I hope you will listen to it. We need great priests!

Peace,
Click to expand...
Opus Dei is a good option, for those who are not called to live a consecrated life. The priests of Opus Dei are secular. The Society of Jesus are consecrated religious in solemn vows. Solemn vow is the special privilege only allowed to religious who belong to orders, not even to relgious who belong to cngregations. Pirests who belong to societies such as Opus Dei are not allowed to make solemn vows

This raises the question of the grace that comes from the vowed life and the desire to live according to a charism as part of a brotherhood, which the Opus Dei is not. They certainly have a charis. It’s a beautiful charism for those who work and live in the secular world, including their priests.

But if a man is called to leave the secular world, then such societies are not for him. However, you’re right about the ministry. It’s very similar, but also very different in mindset and goals. The Society’s goal is to preach the Gospel in the manner of St. Ignatius.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
Antonius_Lupus said:
Rumor has it that the Society of Jesus has long abandoned (in practice anyway) the strict Orthodoxy and obedience of the past and have now become a voice of dissent and heterodoxy…So, any thoughts?
Click to expand...
The Jesuits have been accused of that more or less continuously from the order’s inception.

Some would say that such suspicions indicate that they must be doing something right!

My parish priest once referred to the order (not the Jesuits, nor will I name it) at my high school as ‘a bunch of heretics’.

I would only add that a list of Jesuit universities reads like a virtual Who’s Who of educational excellence in the USA and throughout the world.

If you are concerned only with the religious aspects, you might consider the Trappists.
 
mariamar said:
I agree a bit with your spiritual director. In Spain the Jesuits (and other orders, as well) has long abandoned (in practice anyway) the strict Orthodoxy and obedience of the past, in general (I know a couple of exceptional saint Jesuits). But your vocation doesn’t have to depend on how lowsy are the others, but to keep up with the spirit of the founder. For example, St. Therese of Lisieux, when entered in the convent of Nevers (I think was there), the nuns were in factions, like politic people, and it was difficult to be friends with both parties, but she is a saint.
I would also ask Fr. Mitch Patwa.
Or ask to the Fathers in this place: CAL (Catholic Answers Live)
Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance in your way of discernment.
God bless you
Click to expand...
Just a few things. I am living in a situation in which Jesuits are saying Mass (they call it “liturgy”) for us. Their homilies are less than Catholic. I cringe every time I have to listen to them. I pray for them during the Mass. I’m sure there are saintly Jesuits here and there, but for the most part, at least in this part of the world, they have literally lost the Faith.

Also, St. Therese of Lisieux entered the convent of Lisieux–not Nevers–that was St. Bernadette. The nuns were not in factions at Lisieux–you are confusing St. Therese with St. Teresa of Avila–her order WAS in factions.

I hope this clarifies some things for you.

God bless you.

Sister Terese Peter
 
beeliner said:
I would only add that a list of Jesuit universities reads like a virtual Who’s Who of educational excellence in the USA and throughout the world.
Click to expand...
There have been a great deal of issues in recent times with just how catholic some of those Jesuit universities actually are. The Cardinal Newman Society has some decent information on some of the crazy things that have gone on at many universities labeled as catholic. Furthermore, there was actually a government report not that long ago stating that most catholic universities were not identifiably catholic at all and were actually in danger of losing their government exemptions as a result.
 
jwinch2 said:
There have been a great deal of issues in recent times with just how catholic some of those Jesuit universities actually are. The Cardinal Newman Society has some decent information on some of the crazy things that have gone on at many universities labeled as catholic. Furthermore, there was actually a government report not that long ago stating that most catholic universities were not identifiably catholic at all and were actually in danger of losing their government exemptions as a result.
Click to expand...
It’s a little off the topic of the thread, which is making the choice of a religious order to join, but if you could supply a link to the Newman Society’s ‘decent information’ and also the government report to which you referred, I’d like to peruse them, also I’m not sure what sort of ‘exemptions’ you mean, perhaps you could be more specific.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top