FACULTAD DE TEOLOGÍA INSTITUTO DE ESPIRITUALIDAD TRABAJO FIN DE MÁSTER JESUIT COMMUNITY LIFE Presentado por: P. ANIL PEREIRA, SJ Dirigido por: PROF. DR. D. JOSÉ GARCÍA DE CASTRO, S.J. MADRID - JUNIO 2016 FACULTAD DE TEOLOGÍA INSTITUTO DE ESPIRITUALIDAD JESUIT COMMUNITY LIFE Visto Bueno del Director Prof. Dr. D. José García de Castro, S.J. Fdo. Madrid-Junio 2016 Contents Acknowledgement .............................................................................................................. 5 Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... 7 General Introduction ......................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 1 The Origin of the First Community as Friends in the Lord ..................... 13 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 13 1.2 The origin of the first community in Paris ..................................................................... 15 1.3 Elements that formed the first community ..................................................................... 18 1.3.1 Sufficient time period and similar context .............................................................. 18 1.3.2 Conversation ........................................................................................................... 19 1.3.3 Spiritual Exercises .................................................................................................. 21 1.4 First commitment of Friends in the Lord at Montmartre ............................................... 23 1.5 Ignatius leaves Paris ....................................................................................................... 26 1.6 The three forgotten ......................................................................................................... 28 1.7 Two Unknown Companions........................................................................................... 29 1.8 Paris to Venice ............................................................................................................... 30 1.8.1 Works of mercy....................................................................................................... 31 1.8.2 Ordinations to priesthood ........................................................................................ 34 1.9 Vicenza ........................................................................................................................... 36 1.10 Deliberations 1539 ......................................................................................................... 39 1.11 The importance of the name ‘Society of Jesus’ ............................................................. 41 1.12 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 2 Means that Help the Union of Hearts .......................................................... 47 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 47 2.2 Need for the union of hearts ........................................................................................... 49 2.3 Means that help the union of hearts ............................................................................... 52 2.3.1 The love of God our Lord ....................................................................................... 53 1 2.3.2 Obedience and the exercise of authority ................................................................. 56 2.3.3 Mutual communication ........................................................................................... 60 2.3.4 Certain uniformity ................................................................................................... 62 2.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 64 Chapter 3 Community Life in Recent Documents ....................................................... 67 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 67 3.2 Letter of Fr. Kolvenbach on community life and complementary norms ...................... 69 3.2.1 Some of the aspects stressed by Fr. Kolvenbach in his letter are as follows: ......... 70 3.2.1.1 A witness to community and solidarity ............................................................... 70 3.2.1.2 In community or in dispersion, one body for mission......................................... 72 3.3 A triptych in GC 35 ........................................................................................................ 74 3.3.1 Identity and community .......................................................................................... 74 3.3.2 Identity, mission and community ............................................................................ 76 3.3.3 Community for mission or community is mission? ................................................ 77 3.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 79 Chapter 4 The Problems of Community Life ............................................................... 83 4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 83 4.2 Possible sources of discord and tension in our communities ......................................... 85 4.2.1 Spiritual ................................................................................................................... 85 4.2.1.1 Lack of spiritual depth......................................................................................... 85 4.2.1.2 Mediocrity ........................................................................................................... 86 4.2.1.3 Affective maturity and EQ .................................................................................. 87 4.2.1.4 Reservation to speak about the psychological health of community life ............ 88 4.2.2 Institutional ............................................................................................................. 89 4.2.2.1 Individualism ....................................................................................................... 89 4.2.2.2 Tension between community life and mission .................................................... 92 4.2.2.3 Relation between Superior-community ............................................................... 94 4.2.2.4 Utilitarian principle ............................................................................................. 95 4.2.3 Social....................................................................................................................... 96 4.2.3.1 Ethnicity .............................................................................................................. 96 2 4.2.3.2 Divisive elements ................................................................................................ 97 4.2.3.3 Gossip .................................................................................................................. 98 4.2.3.4 Excessive Socialization ....................................................................................... 99 4.2.3.5 Communication gap ............................................................................................ 99 4.2.4 Personal ................................................................................................................. 100 4.2.4.1 Personal crisis .................................................................................................... 101 4.2.4.2 Wounded and hurt ............................................................................................. 101 4.2.4.3 Obstacles to personal sharing ............................................................................ 102 4.2.4.4 Loneliness.......................................................................................................... 102 4.2.4.5 Addictions ......................................................................................................... 103 4.3 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 106 General Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 109 Bibliography ................................................................................................................... 115 3 4 Acknowledgement Firstly, I express my profound gratitude to God for the gift of my Jesuit vocation to the Society of Jesus and for His inspiration to write about Jesuit community life. My heartfelt gratitude to my guide, Prof. José García de Castro Valdés, SJ for his dedicated time, appropriate guidance, patience, encouragement, motivation and support. My sincere thanks to the other professors of Máster Ignatiana and the other staff of the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. I thank my Jesuit community at Cantoblanco, Madrid, for giving me all the necessary facilities to work and for their care and support. I also extend gratitude to my Jesuit companions of Máster Ignatiana for their friendship,