Secreta Monita Societatis Jesu. The Secret Counsels of the Society of Jesus, in Latin and English
History
Secreta Monita Societatis Jesu. The Secret Counsels of the Society of Jesus, in Latin and English
Jesuits -- Controversial Literature
VIII. If it happen that widows, or rich married persons who are attached
to us, have only daughters, let our members direct them kindly to the
state of a devotee, or to religious seclusion; but if they have sons
who may be fit for our society—let such be enticed to it, and let the
others be encouraged by some small inducement to go to other orders.
But if there should be an only son, by all means let him be drawn to
the society, and all fear of his parents removed from his mind, and
that the vocation is of Christ is to be shown by proving that the
sacrifice would be acceptable to God although it required him to leave
his parents without their knowledge and against their will; then let
him be sent to some remote noviciate, having first given notice to the
general: but if they have sons and daughters, let the daughters be first
sent to a monastery or state of devotion, and then let the sons with the
inheritance of the estates be drawn into the society.
IX. Let the superiors gently but firmly admonish the confessors of widows
and married persons of this description that they may usefully employ
themselves in behalf of the society according to these counsels: which if
they do not, let them be removed and others substituted in their place,
so that they cannot maintain any correspondence with the family.
X. The widows and other devout persons who appear to strive with great
earnestness after perfection are to be induced as the most efficient
method of rising to the pinnacle of excellence, to give all their
possessions to the society, and to live upon the annuity which the
society will regularly appoint them according to their need, so that
without any care or solicitude, they may more freely serve God.
XI. To manifest more effectually the poverty of the society, let the
superiors borrow money on bond from rich persons attached to the society
of which the payment should be deferred; and then in time of dangerous
disease especially, let such person be constantly visited, and by every
method be prevailed on until he is persuaded to surrender the bond;
for so we shall not be known in the _will_, and in the meantime will
nevertheless obtain something without incurring the hatred of the heirs
to the estate of the deceased person.
XII. It will also be proper to borrow money from some persons, at a
yearly interest, and to dispose of it somewhere else at a higher rate,
that the excess may cover the expense; for in the meantime it may happen,
that the friends who have lent us the money, moved by compassion for us
may give the society the interest, and at length even the principal,
either by will or by donation during their life, when colleges are to be
built or temples raised.
XIII. The society can also usefully trade, under the name of rich
merchants attached to us; but certain and abundant gain is to be looked
at, as in the Indies, which have furnished the society not only souls but
thus far also much wealth through the favor of God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account