Bicentenary of the Restoration of the Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus was suppressed in 1773 by a Franciscan Pope
Clement XIV with is document “Dominus ac
Redemptor” and the it was restored in 1814 by “Sollicitudo Omnium Ecclesiarum” of Pope Pius VII, a Benedictine.
What happened between these two events? Why was there a prolonged silence? My
reflections are based on the article written by Fr. Freddy D’Silva of the
Karnataka Jesuit province titled, ‘a prolonged Holy Saturday.’
It was during the time of Fr Lorenzo Ricci, the then general of the
Society of Jesus, the papal suppression of the Society of Jesus was
promulgated. The document “Dominus ac
Redemptor” came into effect when the local Bishop or the delegate from the
Vatican read it out. The delegate from the Vatican read it at the Gesu; Fr
Lorenzo Ricci and his Assistants were first placed under house arrest. Then
they were taken to the Vatican prison where they were subject to unnecessary
and inhuman treatment. Fr Lorenzo was not allowed heat his room in the dead of
the cold, and his food ration was halved. He was kept in a solitary confinement
without any access to outside contact, not even the prison guards. He was not
allowed to say mass. The new Pope Pius VI was well disposed to Jesuits and
wanted to the release of Fr Lorenzo, but Fr Lorenzo died in the prison before
Pope Pius VI became Pope. The new Pope with his advisers decided to give a
solemn funeral for Fr Lorenzo and he be interred in the Church of Gesu.
Let us see what happened in that 41 years of suppression of the
Society of Jesus; for it was suppressed by Pope Cement XIV “for all eternity.”
What happened to 23,000 Jesuits all over the world, of which nearly 15,000 were
in the field of education and clergy formation while another 4,000 were in
distant missions? They were subject to suppression, poverty and persecution. In
some places after the document was implemented, the Jesuits were expelled,
communities were dispersed. On the whole most of them were succumbed to
suppression; indeed a painful end. Nevertheless some countries they were
treated with consideration, allowed to keep their missions and retain their
corporate ownership of some houses. About 25 ex-Jesuits died martyrs in the
French Revolution, 46 were made Bishops. One among them was first Archbishop of
Baltimore, John Carroll. Jesuit educational institutions were taken over by the
State system of education. The Jesuit libraries were handed over to other
Religious Orders or State libraries. Most of the thriving missions in Americas,
Africa, India and China suffered for want of missionaries.
The Prussian Lutheran monarch, Fredrick II and the Russian Orthodox
monarch Catherine II refused to let the promulgation of the papal document of
the suppression of the Society to be implemented in their kingdoms. Don’t think
they did that for the love of the Society but for their own self-interest. In
Prussia there were 400 Jesuits in 1773 and in Russia too there were 201 Jesuits
who were very much involved in education apostolate. The two monarchs did not
want to see the downfall of the education in their respective kingdoms. In the
course of the suppression period, the number of Jesuits decreased significantly
but as few as 2000 brave Jesuits constantly renewed their vows and remained
faithful to their Jesuits way of life in their consciences. Some of the
ex-Jesuits grouped themselves under the names like the ‘Fathers of the Heart of
Jesus’, ‘Fathers of the Holy Name of Jesus, and ‘Fathers of the Faith of
Jesus.’ Therefore, there was a simmering presence of Jesuits in the form of
underground presence in most part of Europe except in Russia where the
Clementine document was never permitted to promulgate and where the Jesuits
lived openly.
There was a chaotic situation in Russia where Jesuits who were
active began to dwindle and insisted that they too cease to be active Jesuits
because of the painful suppression of the Society all over the world. But Pope
Clement never insisted to suppress the Society in Russia because of the fear of
the Bourbon Princess.
After the death of Pope Clement XIV in September 1774, Pope Pius VI
succeeded. The new pope was subtly in favour to Jesuits and their work but he
did not approve of them formally because of the fear of antagonising of the
powerful princes and politicians. He gave a verbal approval to restart the
novitiate in Russia and convene General Congregation to elect a Superior
General who they named ‘Permanent Vicar General.’ Hearing the news about the
novitiate Russia many ex-Jesuits went to Russia to join the surviving Jesuits. One
of them was Fr Gruber who became later Superior General of the Society in
Russia. Another was Luigi Fortis who was a scholastic at the time of
suppression and became a diocesan priest. Now he joined the Society and was the
first General of the Society elected by the first General Congregation of the
restored Society. Many of the young men also joined the ‘Fathers of the Faith’
which had faithfully preserved the structure of Jesuit way of life. Thus many of
these men came to fulfil important responsibilities in the restored Society
after 1814.
The French Revolution and Napoleon’s depredations shook all of
Europe and its Princes. The Papacy too was profoundly shaken. Pope Pius VI was
taken prisoner by the French troops and died a prisoner in 1799. The same year
St Joseph Pignatelli renewed his vows as the member of the Russian Society.
Pope Pius VII was elected in 1800. He expressed publicly his desire to restore
the Society of Jesus. In 1801 he issued a document ‘Catholicae Fidei’ through which he approved the existing Society. He
encouraged the former Jesuits to re-join. Pignatelli became Provincial of Italy
in 1804. He became instrumental in restoring the Society in Italy thus
encouraging the Jesuits to re-join all over the world. Sadly he died 3 years
before the glorious restoration of the Society on 15 November 1811. The Society
continued to grow and with 600 Jesuits altogether in Italy and Russia the
universal restoration of the Society takes place on 07 August 1814.
During the 40 dark years between suppression and restoration, the
Society Ignatian Spirituality continue simmer like an undying flame. This
captured many young hearts who re-joined when the Society was restored. Most
important aspects that kept the flame of Ignatian spirit to simmer were Marian
Congregations, also called Sodalities, with their rule of life, devotional
practices and apostolic outreach. Jesuit authors were still read. The catechism
of Bellarmine and Peter Canisius continued to be used. These became tools to
keep the Society during suppression.
In the Bull of Restoration “Solicitudo
Omnium Ecclesiarum” of 07 August 1814, Pope Pius VII was in high praise of
Jesuits and called on the Jesuits to continue in the spirit of their founder
Ignatius and his charism. This was a milestone for the Society of Jesus and a
glorious day when the Society was reborn.
We know from the above reflection how the Society of Jesus kept its
flame simmering in a chaotic and painful silence. Many Jesuits of the restored
Society were jubilant because they were able to re-join and built their Jesuit
family again. We have to admire the sacrifice of Fr Lorenzo and Popes Pius VI
and VII whose contribution became corner stones to Restore the Society. Efforts
of the many Jesuits in Russia and Italy must be appreciated without whose
undying and relentless work the Restoration would not have been possible. It is
they who kept the Ignatian fire burning despite the persecution and oppression.
Therefore as we celebrate the Bicentenary of the Restoration the Society, we
shall reflect on these 40 silent simmering years and how the society passed
through a valley of darkness. God lead the Jesuits through the dark valley to a
green pasture with care and great love.
