The General Congregations of the Society of Jesus a Brief Survey of Their History
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--" \ Bostowcoa UBRMM BKPST Of. 91 BHHHH # mfflk ^ h |^H| M I I jiK. BRitS mm HI m m HHH ESS HP V STUDIES in the Spirituality of Jesuits The General Congregations of the Society of Jesus A Brief Survey of Their History John W. Padberg, S. J. Published by the American Assistance Seminar on Jesuit Spirituality, especially for American Jesuits working out their aggiornamento in the spirit of Vatican Council II Vol. VI January and March, 1974 Nos. 1 and 2 75 cents THE AMERICAN ASSISTANCY SEMINAR ON JESUIT SPIRITUALITY consists of a group of Jesuits from various provinces who are listed below. The members were appointed by the Fathers Frovincial of the United States. The purpose of the Seminar is to study topics pertaining to the spiritual doctrine and practice of Jesuits, especially American Jesuits, and to com- municate the results to the members of the Assistancy. The hope is that this will lead to further discussion among all American Jesuits — in pri- vate, or in small groups, or in community meetings. All this is done in the spirit of Vatican Council II f s recommendation to religious institutes to recapture the original charismatic inspiration of their founders and to adapt it to the changed circumstances of modern times. The members of the Seminar welcome reactions or comments in regard to the topics they publish. To achieve these purposes, especially amid today's pluralistic cultures, the Seminar must focus its direct attention sharply, frankly, and specifi- cally on the problems, interests, and opportunities of the Jesuits of the United States. However, many of these interests are common also to Jesuits of other regions, or to other priests, religious men or women, or lay men or women. Hence the studies of the Seminar, while meant especially for American Jesuits, are not exclusively for them. Others who may find them helpful are cordially welcome to read them. THE MEMBERS OF THE SEMINAR ARE: Thomas E. Clarke, S.J., Gonzaga Renewal Center, Box 150, R.D. 2, Monroe, New York 10950 William J. Connolly, S.J., Center for Religious Development, 42 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 David L. Fleming, S.J., School of Divinity, St. Louis University, 3634 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63108 William J. Fulco, S.J., Jesuit School of Theology, 1735 Le Roy Street, Berkeley, California 94709 George E. Ganss, S.J., School of Divinity, St. Louis University. (Chairman of the Assistancy Seminar and Editor of its Studies) His address is: The Institute of Jesuit Sources, Fusz Memorial 3700 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63108. James J. Gill, S.J., 1575 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 James E. O'Hearn, S.J., Secretary of the American Assistancy Seminar, Fusz Memorial, 3700 West Pine Blvd, St. Louis, Missouri 63108 Charles E. O'Neill, S.J., Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 Ladislas Orsy, S.J., Department of Theology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York 10458 John H. Wright, S.J., Jesuit School of Theology, 1735 Le Roy Street, Berkeley, California 94709 Copyright, 1974, by the American Assistancy Seminar on Jesuit Spirituality Fusz Memorial, St. Louis University 3700 West Pine Boulevard St. Louis, Missouri 63108 STUDIES in the Spirituality of Jesuits The General Congregations of the Society of Jesus A Brief Survey of Their History John W. Padberg, S. J. Published by the American Assistancy Seminar on Jesuit Spirituality, especially for American Jesuits working out their aggiornamento in the spirit of Vatican Council II Vol. VI January and March, 1974 Nos. 1 and 2 75 cents Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/generalcongregat612padb CONTENTS THE GENERAL CONGREGATIONS OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS A Brief Survey of Their History by John W. Padberg, S.J. Page Editor ' s Foreword iv A Reference List of the Generals and General Congregations vi Introduction 1 PART I. FROM GENERAL CONGREGATION I TO THE SUPPRESSION IN 1773 5 Congregations I (1558) through XIX (1758), Chapters 1 through 19 5 PART II. THE INTERIM CONGREGATIONS, 1773-1814 36 Interim Congregations I (1782) through V (1805), Chapters 20 through 24 37 PART III. FROM THE RESTORATION TO CONGREGATION XXXI, 1814-1966 40 Congregations XX (1820) through XXX (1957), Chapters 25 through 30 42 Congregation XXXI (1965-1966) A. Introduction 73 B. The Opening 75 C. The Procedures 78 D. The First Session (May 7-July 15, 1965) 80 E. The Second Session (September 8-November 17, 1966) 82 F. On the Institute in General 83 G. On the Formation of Jesuits 85 H. On Religious Life 87 I. On the Apostolate 92 J. On the Congregations 97 K. On Government 100 L. On the Decrees in the Appendix 102 M. Comment 105 PART IV. TOWARD GENERAL CONGREGATION XXXII 108 Footnotes 112 Abbreviations 126 Editor's Note about an Index 127 Announcement: I. Iparraguirre, S.J., Contemporary Trends in Studies 128 on the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus in Editor's Foreword The lack of a comprehensive history of all the general congregations of the Society was found to be an unfortunate handicap by many members of General Congre- gation XXXI in 1965 and 1966. The decrees which resulted from past congregations were readily available. But of- ten it was hard or impossibe to learn the historical back- ground which issued in some given decree, or the reasons pro and con which had been alleged about it, or whether or not those reasons Still hold good for today. Fortu- nately, awareness of this handicap has led the Historical Institute of the Society in Rome to undertake the produc- tion of a thorough history to meet these needs. But much time will be required to complete it; and it is not likely to be in English. Nearly a year ago Father John W. Padberg observed that even a brief history of the congregations, composed in Eng- ligh, would be very helpful to many American Jesuits, es- pecially to those who are members of provincial congrega- tions or are engaged in writing postulata for General Con- gregation XXXII, which is scheduled to begin December 31, 1974. He suggested this as a topic for our Studies. The members of the Assistancy Seminar agreed with him on its importance and invited him to undertake the project him- self as an associate member of the Seminar. He graciously consented; and despite the pressure of many other tasks, he completed the work in time for this issue. We are deeply grateful to him. A native of St. Louis and a Jesuit since 1944, Father Padberg did doctoral work in history at Harvard University and postgraduate work in theology at the Institute Catholique iv . in Paris. From 1964 onward he taught history and his- torical theology at Saint Louis University, where in 1969 he received the $10,000 Harbison Award, given na- tionally by the Danforth Foundation, for excellence in teaching. He was Academic Vice-President of Saint Louis University, 1969-1972, and Acting Executive Vice-President, 1972-1973. He is the author of Colleges in Controversy: The Jesuit Schools in France from Revival to Suppression, 1815-1880 (Harvard University Press, 1968), and of many articles in various periodicals. At present he is Pro- fessor of History at Saint Louis University. But he is on academic leave and is serving as one of the research associates at the Jesuit Conference in Washington, D.C. With several Jesuit colleagues he is working on a study of the Jesuit apostolate of education in the United States George E. Ganss, S.J. Chairman and Editor The American Assistancy Seminar v A REFERENCE LIST of the Generals and General Congregations 1. Ignatius of Loyola, Apr 19, 1541 - July 31, 1556 2. Diego Laynez, July 2, 1558 - Jan 19, 1565 1. June 19 -Sept 10, 1558 3. Saint Francis Borgia, July 2, 1565 - Oct 1, 1572 2. June 21 - Sept 3, 1565 4. Everard Mercurian, Apr 23, 1573 - Aug 1, 1580 3. Apr 12 - June 16, 1573 5. Claudio Aquaviva, Feb 19, 1581 - Jan 31, 1615 4. Feb 7 -Apr 22, 1581 5. Nov 3, 1593 - Jan 18, 1594 6. Feb 21 - Mar 29, 1608 6. Muzio Vitelleschi, Nov 15, 1615 - Feb 9, 1645 7. Nov 5, 1615 - Jan 26, 1616 7. Vincenzo Carafa, Jan 7, 1646 - June 8, 1649 8. Nov 21, 1645 - Apr 14, 1646 8. Francesco Piccolomini, Dec 21, 1649 - June 17, 1651 9. Dec 13, 1649 - Feb 23, 1650 9. Luigi Gottifredi, Jan 21, 1652 - March 12, 1652 10. Jan 7 - Mar 20, 1652 10. Goswin Nickel, Mar 17, 1652 - July 31, 1664 11. Giovanni Paolo Oliva, Vicar June 7, 1661 11. May 9 -July 27, 1661 General, July 31, 1664 - Nov 26, 1681 12. Charles de Noyelle, July 5, 1682 - Dec 12, 1686 12. June 22 - Sept 6, 1682 13. Tirso Gonzalez, July 6, 1687 - Oct 27, 1705 13. June 22 - Sept 7, 1687 14. Nov 19, 1696 - Jan 16, 1697 14. Michelangelo Tamburini, Jan 31, 1706 - Feb 28, 1730 15. Jan 20- Apr 3, 1706 15. Frantisek Retz, Nov 30, 1730 - Nov 19, 1750 16. Nov 19, 1730 - Feb 13, 1731 16. Ignazio Visconti, July 4, 1751 - May 4, 1755 17. June 22 - Sept 5, 1751 17. Luigi Centurione, Nov 30, 1755 - Oct 2, 1757 18. Nov 18, 1755 - Jan 28, 1756 18. Lorenzo Ricci, May 21, 1758 - Aug 16, 1773 19. May 9- June 18, 1758 19. Tadeusz Brzozowski, Aug 7, 1814 - Feb 5, 1820 20. Luigi Fortis, Oct 18, 1820 - Jan 27, 1829 20. Oct 9 - Dec 10, 1820 21. Jan Roothaan, July 9, 1829 - May 8, 1853 21. June 30 - Aug 17, 1829 22. Pieter Beckx, July 2, 1853 - Mar 4, 1887 22.