" : ~~] I- Coforobm ZBrnbetsttp LIBRARY ESS && k&ttQaftj&m *& <\ szg/st This book is due two weeks from the last date stamped below, and if not returned or renewed at or before that time a fine of five cents a day will be incurred. THE JESUITS: THEIE CONSTITUTION AND TEACHING. %\\ pstorintl §>hk\, By W. C. CARTWRIGHT, M.P. LONDON: JOHN MUIUtAY, ALBEMARLE STKEET. 1876. The right oj Translation is reterved PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREKT AND CHARIKG CROSS. TO EAWDON BROWN, Tl his Volume is Inscribed, IN GRATEFUL RECOLLECTION OF MUCH KINDNESS RECEIVED, AND OF MANY PLEASANT HOURS ENJOYED IN CASA DELLA VIDA, BY THE AUTHOR. 65645 a2 PREFACE. This Volume is in substance a republication of two articles, that appeared in No. 274 and No. 275 of the ' Quarterly Eeview,' with some additions and corrections. The additions are in the first section, which treats of the Constitution of the Society of Jesus. They consist of historical matter calculated to illustrate more amply this branch of the subject. The corrections are in both sections —the most important one, however, being in the second, which relates to points of Doctrine. In reference to these corrections the Author would say a few words of general explanation. On appearance in the 'Quarterly Eeview,' the articles were fortunate enough to attract the attention of a well-known Koman Catholic periodical, the 'Month.' They were subjected to incisive criticisms in a series of papers in its pages, which have been ascribed to a competent master of the matter. These have been issued in a reprint, prefaced by observations, complaining that no notice had been taken by the present writer of the strictures passed on his state- ments, and charging him, on ground of this silence, with want of candour. It is desired here to assure the Critic in the 'Month-' that never has there been any wish to evade ; vi PEEFACE. the acknowledgment due to his valuable criticisms, and that the reason why no earlier response has been made to them is simply that soon after publication it was contemplated to re-issue the articles with emendations. To this re-issue the acknowledgment due to the Critic was postponed, and now here it is freely tendered. Several modifications have been made in the text, which have been in part suggested by ; ' what was stated in the Month ' and the Author is anxious to express his admission of the charge that he allowed himself to fall into a grave blunder in his remarks regarding two kinds of Mental Reservation, all the more blameable as arising from carelessness in the interpretation of a text that is perfectly plain. The Author is specially desirous to make this admission, as on many points he has been unable to concur in the views of the Critic, and has combated these in the additions to his original narrative. The points in question are closely connected with what is most charac- teristic of the Society as an active Institution. The Author is not sanguine enough to fancy that this new matter will ' induce the Critic in the Month ' to abandon his opinions but as he has been accused in print of having shown want of fairness, by wilfully abstaining " to avail himself of the many opportunities open to him of setting himself right with the public," he has deemed it proper to make these preliminary explanations. There is but one word more which it is desired to add. In the account given of the circumstances connected with the doings of the Jesuit Fathers in China, allusion is made to doubts expressed by the writer in the ' Month,' as to the PREFACE. vi 1 correctness of the allegation that certain Memoires cle la Congregation, after having been put in type, have been wholly suppressed in deference to stringent commands from Rome. It should be mentioned that the doubts have been withdrawn in the reprint ; not, indeed, in the text, but in a note affixed as an Appendix. The excuse for not having taken notice of this in the body of this Volume is that the reprint never came under the Author's eye until after this portion of the book was already in type. In conclusion, the Author desires to record, as he has already done elsewhere, his lively thanks to Mr. Rawdon Brown, for the liberality with which he has allowed him to make use of his manuscript collection, some transcripts from which will be found in the Appendix. September, 1876. — CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. —nr Introductory observations—Present interest in the character of the Society of Jesus—Problem which bespeaks general attention—Scope of this publication Page 1 CHAPTER II. Foundation of the Society—Names of Founders—Their original engage- ¥ ment—Proceed to Venice, and then to Rome—Paul III. by Bull con- firms the Society—Formidable opposition amongst Eoman Ecclesiastics to the Society-—Paul Ill.'s Second Bull in favour of the Society—Its importance in respect to the Constitution of the Society—Great success which immediately attended the Society—Its special character symbolised in its title—Loyola's intention in this title of his own invention—Re- presentations against it's adoption—Observations from Father Michel Torres—Loyola's reply—Jesuit Fathers not Members of a Monastic Order—Technical meaning of term Compania—Loyola's design that the should become the embodiment of the Church Militant— Protest * Society by Sorbonne against assumption of the name of Jesus—French clergy at Assembly in Poissy demand change in title as conditional for admis- sion of the Society into France—Sixtus V. determined on exacting such change—Congregation of Ecclesiastics appointed in Rome to consider modifications required by the Pope in the Society—Decree submitted by Acquaviva to Sixtus V.—His death—Accession of Gregory XIV. 5 CHAPTER III. General character of Organisation elaborated by Loyola—Unparalleled Faculties vested in General—System of self-acting checks and counter- checks Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam—Supreme importance of obedience in Loyola's estimation—Respective Symbolisms represented by Jesus and the Pope—Singular Faculties with view of making the General a o —— x CONTENTS. independent of the Pope—Curious combination of elements in the system : Despotism, Monarchy, Oligarchy, Democracy—Various Grades in Order—Their general character—Novices—Their Probation—Their position in the Order one of absolute dependence—Moral worth declared by Loyola no sufficient qualification—Rebuke given by him to Rod- riguez—Unhesitating obedience to Superior the paramount object of Probationship—All direct intercourse with the world outside the Society forbidden to Novices—Condition of Fathers who have professed three vows —Apparent improvement—Eeal value thereof—Bull of Gregory XIV. empowering General to dismiss without trial—Conditions for attainment of Grade of Fathers who have professed four vows laid down in Consti- tutions—Incalculable Faculties of Dispensation in General which may lighten them—Nature of fourth vow—Estimate of proportion amongst Fathers admitted to this supreme grade—Stringent injunctions to ensure constant communication to the General of reports on all matters—These expressly ordered to extend also to dealings with those not of the Society —Precise instructions for periodical reports to be sent in, for employment of ciphers, and the incessant exercise of spying inspection .. Page 13 CHAPTER IV. Mechanism regulating action of the System—General Congregations—How constituted—They appoint particular officers independently of General Functions of these officers—Limitation of residence imposed on General He cannot abdicate—In specified cases Order can depose him—Practical unimportance of checks on his authority—General virtually autocratic —The real spirit of the Society embodied in the General's Faculties of Dispensation, and not in the Regulations—Characteristic formula for engagement taken by every member of Order—General alone decides on admission and rejection—Quite irrespective of provisoes in the Statutes System framed with view of facilitating enlistment of every force that might seem useful—At discretion General can promote rapidly or keep in life-long drudgery, expel with ignominy or dismiss in secrecy—Early perception of possible results from this system—Observations by St. Francis Borgia—Perversion of his words—Noteworthy persons refused admission to the Order 26 CHAPTER V. Originally all professions to be made in Rome alone—Paul III. rejects this condition—General enabled to delegate power for receiving professions to persons not professed members of the Order—Extraordinary immunities — — CONTENTS. xi secured by Pontifical Charters—Jesuits exempted from ritual observances —Obligation of poverty—Trading faculties granted by Gregory XIII. —Lavalette's failure—That of Coadjutor in Seville—Other instances of trading operations—Papal Brief empowering Order to modify according to expediency its Statutes independently of Papal sanction—Pius V. by Bull declares Privileges of the Society in perpetuity irrevocable by Holy See Oracula vivos, vocis—Their force as stated by Order—Instances of their action Page 33 CHAPTEE VI. Allegations as to clandestine affiliation —The practice is stoutly denied by Jesuits—Definition of what is comprised within the pale of the Society, given in a Declaratory Gloss to the Constitutions—Important passage in Statutes—Evidence indicating that clandestine affiliation may have been sometimes practised—Francis Borgia—His secret admission into the Order—Synchronism between this and the Bull Licet debitum—Corre- spondence between a Venetian Nobleman and Oliva, General of the Order —Case of a Cardinal,