What are the Charisms of the Jesuits and the Augustinians?

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Hi, I’m currently discerning my vocation and studying at University. I really like science and research but I also like the idea of being a priest or a religious theologian…

Anyway, I am interested in the Domininicans, the Jesuits and the Agustinians. My Spiritual Director told me not to look at their presence/wealth/members but at their Charism. So, I know that the Dominican’s Charism is to preach (that’s why they put more effort in education and writing books), but how could be the Charism of the Jesuits and Agustinians be described? I know that Jesuits make a Fourth Vow to the Pope, but this doesn’t gave them any special Charism… another option is that the Jesuit’s Charism is a focus in discerment and, logically, Spiritual Direction and Retreats. I am totally clueless about the Agustinians.
 
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First and foremost, thank you for your response to grace!

The Dominicans follow the Rule of St. Augustine, just as the Augustinians do. The Dominicans were founded to preach, yes, but St. Dominic was a Canon Regular before founding the Order of Preachers. The Canons Regular follow the Rule of St. Augustine, also.

The Augustinians, and one of their branches, the Assumptionists, are concerned with education.

The Jesuits, OTOH, learn to see God in everything, and to follow St. Ignatius’ extensive writings. Aside from spiritual direction, they also conduct the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. By extension, Salesian spirituality is very similar because de Sales had a Jesuit education. I like to think that de Sales’ writings for the laity were giving “hands and feet” to Ignatius’ Nineteenth Annotation regarding the same. The Spiritual Exercises and the Introduction to the Devout Life are very, very similar.

I’m not sure if that answered your questions, so feel free to ask more.

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
 
Thank you very much Cloisters. You gave me some useful details, but what I’m asking more specifically is how is Jesuit/Augustinian “philosophy” or spirituality and its relation to prayer and their Apostolate. I’m trying to look at the most spiritual side of the orders (their Charism), as in the past I’ve looked at their locations/properties/numbers/thought of their members (more secular aspects) and my Spiritual Director said it was not the way to discern.
 
Thank you for the information! I really liked both approaches, it’s going to be very difficult to determine to which one (or others, or other Vocation) God is calling me, but now I understand better.
 
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The Jesuits also have a mission of teaching. There are many Jesuit schools from basic education to university level. Many work in science and research. There are parish priests. Some are involved in writing magazines and books.

Since they have a focus on discernment it would be very good to do the Spiritual Exercises in preparation. You don’t have to enter the Jesuits for that.

You will know “when the time has come”.
 
Thanks, I’ve been thinking about doing the actual Spiritual Exercises, i will talk about it with my SD. As you say, I don’t want to directly communicate with any order yet because I’m not even sure what my real Vocation is.
 
YYour spiritual director has some good advice. And thank you for following God’s call, wherever it may take you.

Generally their Charism includes both the Spirituality and their ministries. It’s essentially the lens through with the Order sees the world, and how they operate. I would argue that the two are inseparable.

I’m no expert on the Jesuits or Augustinians, but I did discern with both of them before ultimately going with a different order. Jesuit spirituality in particular is everywhere, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a priest or religious who hasn’t been influenced by them in some way.

The best way to get a feel for them and their charism is to spend time with them. And read the writings of the founders saints. Read their Rule and constitutions, as well.

Augustinians were not founded by St. Augustine, but he did write their rule. He wrote their rule in an attempt to model the community life of the Apostles, as a more ideal way to model gospel/Christian life. Folks took his rule, began to follow it, and from those people the Augustinians developed. It is largely focused on Community, and a gospel life in Community. They have parish ministries and colleges/universities, and to each of these they bring their unique vision of Community. They model this Gospel Community in their order, but they also work to promote a strong sense of community with the people they minister to, regardless of where it is. With such a community focused spirituality, they naturally will have all sorts of ministries, and bring this spirit to them. If You’re familiar with St. Augustine’s life story, you’ll also notice this spirit of conversion is strong, and the “restless heart” is central to their spirituality as well.

…To Be Continued…
 
… continuing…

Jesuits also have a strong heart-based, or “affective” spirituality. St. Ignatius of Loyola was an avid reader of the lives of the saints, and no doubt many influenced him,. What he did was more or less figure out a more methodical way to develop a spiritual life and to hear and find God in daily life than had been done before him. He was also an expert teacher, and taught his early companions these “Spiritual Exercises” They became famous for the Spiritual Exercises and adept spiritual directors. Most spiritual directors are heavily influenced by St. Ignatius. Chances are you’ve been exposed to this spirituality through your spiritual director and not realized it. If he’s talked you through feeling where God may be leading you (“Discernment of Spirits”), or helped you see God’s hand in events in your life or in your feelings, and distinguishing your thoughts from your heart, this comes from Ignatius and as such is central to the Jesuit charism. Jesuits run many retreat centers around the world.
Ignatius was also a soldier. Most of his conversion took place while recovering from battle wounds. When he founded the Jesuits, he also brought a fair bit of military influence. He looked at them as “soldiers” to be sent out on missions; the Popes “soldier”, hence the fourth vow. So they deleoped a strong missionary tradition as well early on. Around this time, the reformation was also taking place, and before he founded the order Ignatius has been jailed for accidentally preaching some unorthodox teachings. So he saw the value in education and promoted education within his order, and that carries on Today with so many incredibly well educated Jesuits. I believe he met most of the people who would become the first Jesuits while studying at the University of Paris. Many jesuits are in academia today, pushing the boundaries of theology. Sometimes they’re ideas are approved by Rome, and sometimes they’re not. Jesuits saw educating youth in a solid Catholic environment as a powerful tool in the counter-reformation. So they developed high schools, universities, and other educational institutions, which also became central to their ministry and charism. Jesuits are not as focused on Community as most of the monastic and mendicant orders. If I remember right, Ignatius actually didn’t want them chanting the LOTH in choir, which was different than monks and many of the mendicant orders up until that point in history. I believe the idea came out of the “missionary” spirit, and not being tied down to a monastary/priory/friary, and having the ability to be more nimble. Of course there are Jesuit communities, but they are different, and have a different feel than those of Augustinians, Dominicans, or Franciscans…all also Orders with an apostolic charism.

I think understanding the order’s history a bit also helps in understanding their charism, but understanding it’s development.

Hopefully this is somewhat helpful. And I invite anyone else to jump in if o got something wrong.
 
The Rule of St Augustine is actually his Letter 221 addressed to women wishing to live as a religious community.
 
I think it’s also worth discussion that the Dominicans & Augustinian are both Mendicant Order, and the priests are for both (like Franciscans) are considered friars.

All though there are some Augustinians (Canon Regulars, Augustinian Canons) who are Cannon Regulars.

The Jesuits on the other hand are an order of Cleric Regulars. Therefore, they do not have a habit - they just wear whatever is typical of priests in that area.

Also, i thought this was funny & helpful at the same time

aleteia.org

This cow explains Catholic religious orders and congregations better than most textbooks

Well, not exactly. But you’ll get the funny idea.
aleteia.org
 
Thank you a lot for your in-depth response! It really helps me.
 
with the Jesuits , you will be very highly educated, so if you don’t like studying, thats a consideration too. Our recent Jesuit Priest in training said they are all educated to PhD level desirably.
 
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Well, that isn’t a problem because I’m very nerdy and I like studying lol. I think the problem is the contrary, as a priest I don’t know if I could work as a professor/scientist (my original career idea) but the Jesuits make it more likely.
 
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You would be doing what your order wants you to do. What country are you in
 
I agree with the suggestion to look at the heritage - the charism of the founders, the saints, the Rule, and so on. But keep in mind many religious orders changed drastically in recent decades. In every case the changes were labelled an improvement by the order, a renewal, an adjustment to address the needs of modern times.

Maybe an improvement, maybe not, but in any event it is the charism of the 2018 Order you will be dealing with, not just the “heritage” charism. You won’t be meeting the founder or saints.

Some communities founded in recent years are currently responding to historic charisms more than the famous orders currently are.
 
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Is there a Jesuit seminary and school there? We have a big one in Sydney. The seminarians get dropped several hundred km away from the seminary and have to walk back home. They take nothing and are required to conceal their status as prospective priests. They ask random strangers on the way for food and shelter. If the answer is yes to shelter they are allowed to reveal they are in the Jesuit seminary. People might then ring ahead to the following town and warn them the hungry cold, sometimes smelly, and tired seminarian is about to turn up.
 
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If you’re in the US be careful with the Jesuits. A good friend of mine son became a Jesuit priest after many years. Because he believed what the Church taught about various moral matters, of marriage, sexuality, he was encouraged to get counseling by his superiors!! He said that the homosexual culture is pervasive, almost dominant in the US, at least in the seminaries. We must pray this changes.
 
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