Renewal Movement

Introduction

By the 16th century, Europe was in the midst of a great religious upheaval. The once Catholic continent had been shattered by religious and political division, and the Reformation had grown. The once Catholic King Henry VIII had been given the title the Defender of the Faith by the Popebut after being barred from obtaining an annulment and refusing to accept the Vaticans position, Henry placed himself at the head of the Church of England.[footnoteRef:2] He was excommunicated in 1538. The Jesuit Order (Society of Jesus) would be officially founded two years later, and its main objective would be to defend and propagate the Christian faith. At a time when many were fighting over what this faith should be, the Jesuits stood apart as highly-trained and educated men willing to go anywhere to help bring clarity and light to peoples lives, whether in Europe, India, the Far East or the New World. Their order was a breath of fresh air in the Catholic. This paper will describe the Orders history, its theology, practices, mission, impact and how this understand has application for my local church. [2: John Laux, Church History (Benzinger Brothers, 1933), 321.]

History

The Society of Jesus was the brainchild of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a Spanish military man of noble birth. His career in the military was derailed after a severe leg injury. During his recuperation he spent many months reading Scripture and becoming inspired to take a new path in life that would allow him to devote himself to God. St. Ignatius wanted the best and brightest of Europe to serve with Him. As a military man, he respected the idea that without training a soldier is worthless to an army. Thus, he believed that if his Order would have any utility to the Church at this time of crisis, the Order would need to have the sharpest minds and most virtuous men. He organized a small group of half a dozen followers, included Francis Xavier (who would later be a missionary in India and the Far East) and Peter Faber. These men came from the University of Paris. Together they went to the Pope to ask for permission to establish their Order and put themselves at the direct service of the Pope. Because of their high educational training and standing, the Pope saw that these young men were exactly what could help the Church as the Reformation was tearing communities apart, new lands were being discovered that would require teaching, and missions were still needed in the East so as to bring the Gospel to people who had not yet heard it. Ignatius and his fellow men wanted precisely this opportunity. They took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and thus became the Churchs elite squad of missionaries.

The mission of the Jesuits was simply this: St. Ignatius wrote in the Formula for the Order that his groups should:

Strive especially for the defence and propagation of the faith and for the progress of souls in Christian life and doctrine, by means of public preaching, lectures and any other ministration whatsoever of the Word of God, and further by means of retreats, the education of children and unlettered persons in Christianity, and the spiritual consolation of Christ's faithful through hearing confessions and administering the other sacraments. Moreover, he should show himself ready to reconcile the estranged, compassionately assist and serve those who are in prisons or hospitals, and indeed, to perform any other works of charity, according to what will seem expedient for the glory of God and the common good.[footnoteRef:3] [3: Ignatius Loyola, Formula of the Institute...

…not given a good example in which they can believe in. It is the same today as it was when the first Jesuits were in Germany: people were confused, tired of fighting, and yet remained of good will. If only there were a few good leaders who could demonstrate the simplicity and love of God that the Jesuits demonstrated, our community would be full of spiritual life. I think that the application of the Spiritual Exercises would probably also help, and it would be interesting to see if we could have a retreat similar to what Ignatius did with his Spiritual Exercises. There is probably a great deal that can be done with a retreat of this nature that will help others in their spiritual lives. Todays world is so fast-paced that people find it difficult to set aside time for prayer, meditation or contemplation. A retreat of this sort could help people get the time for clarity and reflection, so that they could work to grow in the grace that God provides.

Conclusion

The Jesuit movement began at a time when Europe was coming apart at the seams. People within the Church were fighting and arguing over doctrine. People were leaving the Church in droves. Corruption was high, and the Church itself seemed to be losing authority. The Jesuits were the most well-educated in the land. They dedicated themselves to sering the pope, so that if he wanted to send them to Asia, they would go without refusal. Some were sent to help confront the Reformation. Others were sent to be missionaries in foreign lands. Over time, they created schools and became synonymous with the highest level of learning. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius remain the most famous of their practices and can be a good tool for giving retreats, even…