History of the Jesuits: Their origin, progress, doctrines, and designsNicolini, G. B. (Giovanni Battista)
History
History of the Jesuits: Their origin, progress, doctrines, and designs
Nicolini, G. B. (Giovanni Battista)
Jesuits -- History
“3. They must wander during a third month without money, begging from
door to door, that they may be accustomed to inconvenience in eating and
sleeping, or else they may serve in an hospital for another month, at the
discretion of the Superior.
“4. They must submit to be employed in the most servile offices of the
house into which they have entered, for the sake of shewing a good
example in all things.
“5. They are to give instruction in Christian learning to boys, or to
their untaught elders, either publicly, privately, or as occasion may be
offered.
“6. When sufficient proof has been given of improvement in probation, the
Novice may proceed to preach, to hear confessions, or to any exercise in
which circumstances may direct him to engage.”[41]
“While a Jesuit is thus fulfilling the several trials of his fitness, he
may not presume to say that he is one of the Society.[42] He must only
describe himself as wishing to be admitted into it; _indifferent_ to the
station which may be assigned to him, and waiting in patient expectation
until it be determined how his services may be most advantageously
employed.”
At the expiry of the _biennium_, if he has gone through all his trials
satisfactorily, he takes the vows, of which the following is the formula:—
“Almighty, everlasting God, I, N., albeit every way most unworthy in
Thy holy sight, yet relying on Thine infinite pity and compassion, and
impelled by the desire of serving Thee, in the presence of the most
holy Virgin Mary, and before all Thine heavenly host, vow to Thy divine
Majesty perpetual poverty, chastity, and obedience in the Society of
Jesus, and promise that I will enter the same Society, to live in it
perpetually, _understanding all things according to the Constitutions of
the Society_. Of Thy boundless goodness and mercy, through the blood of
Jesus Christ, I humbly pray that Thou wilt deign to accept this sacrifice
in the odour of sweetness, and, as Thou hast granted Thine abundant grace
to desire and offer, so Thou wilt enable me to fulfil the same. At Rome,
or elsewhere, in such a place, day, month, and year.”
“Then shall they take, as the others, the most holy body of Christ, and
the rest of the ceremony shall proceed as before.”[43]
After the Novice has taken the vows, he must remain in an undeterminate
state until the General has decided in what capacity he can best serve
the Society. To this he must be wholly indifferent, and on no account
endeavour to obtain, either directly or indirectly, any particular
employment, but must await in silence the General’s decision.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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