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What is the Jesuit Order?

Wanda Albano
Wanda Albano

The Jesuit order is a Roman Catholic religious order. A man in this order has taken the requisite steps to belong to the Society of Jesus, which may include vows of poverty and obedience. It is the largest male religious order in the world.

Founded in 1534, the order was started by a company of graduate students in Paris as headed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, originally Inigo Lopez de Loyola, a Spaniard from Basque. Ignatius was the son of an aristocrat who dreamed of a knighthood. He felt called by a greater power, however, and was instead ordained as a priest through a commendation given by Pope Paul III in 1537. In 1540, the religious order of the Society of Jesus was approved.

Jesuit Church of St. Ignatius in Dubrovnik Croatia.
Jesuit Church of St. Ignatius in Dubrovnik Croatia.

In 1552, Ignatius' Constitutions were adopted by the order, creating an efficient and, at times, influential organization. The Jesuit's motto became Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (AMDG), or "For the Greater Glory of God", so that everything is offered up to God. Interestingly, the ideology is such that it has tangled with Rome on not a few occasions. Sometimes called the "papal elite troops" for their effectiveness as well as their intellect, they were also sometimes suppressed by the Vatican for the same reasons.

Jesuits are a religious order that worship Jesus.
Jesuits are a religious order that worship Jesus.

As the Jesuit order developed, a tri-fold mission began to emerge: the founding of schools, the conversion of non-Christians, and the halt of the spread of protestantism in the western world. It is perhaps due to its members' zeal that not more European nations have left the influence of Rome. Currently, the Jesuits are active in ministries in 112 different nations on six continents. They are most known for the excellence of their schools, although they also play their roles in the fights against war, poverty, social injustice, and violence. In fact, they shun no work, and like the the Renaissance men that their founder idolized, they are well-versed in multiple disciplines.

The Jesuit order was founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola.
The Jesuit order was founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Unfortunately, the order is also well-versed in controversies, being the target of many itself, both in and out of the Catholic Church. Its detractors claim that its members are part of various conspiracies and secret organizations, while conservative Catholics chastise them for their modern views, especially on such issues as abortion, priestly celibacy, homosexuality, and liberation theology.

In spite of all this, the Jesuits have developed a reputation for being strong, as well as open-hearted, men of faith. During the Holocaust, for instance, many members risked their lives to help the Jews. In fact, the Yad Vashem, Jerusalem's Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority, has even seen fit to give recognition to nine Jesuit priests for risking their lives to save Jews. In Rockhurst University, a Jesuit institution, a commemoration plaque to honor 152 members who gave up their lives for their fellowmen was inaugurated in 2007; it is the first plaque of its kind in the world. It is also common to find centers dedicated to different religions in a Jesuit campus.

The order is headed by a superior general who is elected for life, although he is allowed to step down. It may take up to 14 years to be ordained as a Jesuit priest.

Discussion Comments

anon991484

To understand Jesuits, their cause and purpose you must study and look for their history, at least that which can be found.

Their goal today is the same as it was in the 1600s and beyond. It is to fight Protestantism and bring high offices of authority under their control.

At one point, a couple of Jesuits were commissioned by the church to come up a solution to the teachings of the reformers. One such man, Ribera, proposed a teaching which is today called Futurism, which detaches scriptural principals from historic relationships. Rather it's a feel good methodology that allows pastors and priests to literally make up theology with little tie to Bible principles.

Futurism is what is taught in most Bible universities and seminaries today. Most of our leading "Protestant" teachers today have been duped into following these methods of learning and presenting the scriptures. Ribera the Jesuit and the Church are successful in killing the Reformers messages and keeping them from the masses.

If you can find a true protestant church that teaches the Reformers -- teachings which described the universal church as the seat of the anti-Christ and the Pope as the anti-Christ, then now you know what the Jesuits have been busy doing. They have been altering history, infiltrating churches and pressing their mission.

These are the informational facts born out in the written records of the Jesuits and in our history books.

Wish it weren't so.

anon991482

A very clear record of the activities of the Jesuits was written in 1881. It contains copies of documents captured that record the insidious activities of their order.

This order of militarized priests goes through a very intense training before ever being ordained. By the time they have been ordained, they have so invested their bodies, minds and lives that they effectively are mindless machines hell bent on the purposes of the church.

Even when the Popes go off point they will murder them. Thus one must ask who is running the church's organization. Was it the Pope or the Jesuit Commander. And what happens when the Pope is a Jesuit?

Before anyone says I'm trashing the Catholic Church, know many in my family are Catholic, so don't make that claim. It wouldn't be true. What I have shared is just a very small portion of what is written about this order. If you truly knew their full role in world activities you would be stunned. I know I am.

Jesuits, as of 1881, were removed from 50-plus nations because of their activities and trouble making. I have had others in the last few years tell me that number is up to about 86.

France, once a home to the order, finally removed all religion and burned all bibles over a three-year period from within their borders sometime between 1793 and 1814. In 1793 the order was removed from France. I used to believe France was just a godless country back then, but the truth seems to be that they were fed up with the activities of the Catholic Jesuits and came to view Christian activity as subversive and destructive. Their view from their perspective was of Jesuit Catholicism and not true Christianity.

What one must understand is that the order of the Jesuits has a mission. They were shut down by the church itself at one time due to their intense activities. Even the church feared them. The Pope who intended to issue the Bull to end the order is recorded as knowing he signed his own death warrant, and in fact, he was murdered before doing so. Then his replacement felt it necessary to finish the task. He issued the Bull. Afterward, a message was posted about him dying by September and in fact he did. He had been poisoned and it's reported he smelled of the stench.

Good resources if you can get a copy's is a book set written by J. A. Wylie. Title "The reformation and Jesuitism" Other works are "The Papacy" and "The Jesuits". Some of the dates I have mentioned are from memory and may need some correction, but the basic information is correct as best I recall.

Be careful as you research the information online. There are always those with an agenda to injure due to prejudice. This information I have written is of historic documents.

As I understand it, the Jesuit Order is still active as the Militarized Order of Priests with sworn loyalty to the Church with the mission to put as many nations under their control as possible using any method necessary to accomplish their goals. I was amazed to learn there were Jesuits who were servants who were cozy with their wealthy masters. They would gather information and send it to their commander weekly or even monthly. Jesuits can be found in any capacity or work and all are working towards the same goal. The Goals of the Church as perceived by them or the Commander. (The Commander, a man, is not the Pope).

They have a special Constitution that allows them to violate the inviolate Laws of God. "The motto" it's almost humorous today, "The end justifies the means". IF in their minds they are serving the churches/God’s greater purpose they can murder, steal, lie, marry, then ultimately, there is nothing they can't do to accomplish their purpose. This is an evil creature.

anon325109

Were not the Jesuits a military order set up to counter Reformed Churches and convert heathens?

SarahGen

@fify-- Yea, I hear this a lot too. It's all based on the the claim that the Jesuit order is a secret society. Some people say that some members of the order are also members of the Illuminati or that the Illuminati is part of the Jesuit order and that they are trying to rule the world.

I don't think there is any basis for any of this. Even if the Jesuit order had a secret society component early in their formation, I don't think it exists any longer.

Plus, the ideas and goals of the Illuminati have nothing to do with the ideals of Catholicism or Jesuits.

fify

Jesuits are often mentioned alongside the Illuminati. What is the connection between them?

serenesurface

@anon22514-- Do you know any Jesuits, or can you get in touch with Jesuit colleges or churches nearby?

This will be the best way to learn more about the order and the requirements to join them.

I have several friends who belong to the order. I'm not Catholic, nor am I interested in the order, so I've never asked them about it.

But I can tell you one thing, these friends are some of the smartest, funniest, most knowledgeable and faithful people I have met. If the order is anything like them, it must be amazing.

tigers88

How does one become a Jesuit? Does it take training beyond what is required of a regular priest? Would I have to get a seminary degree? Thanks for any info!

BAU79

I went to a Jesuit high school and I have a lot of respect for the work that they do. My feelings about Catholicism and religion in general are pretty complicated, but I cannot look at the Jesuits with anything but respect.

In my experience they were good men with open minds who had made firm commitments to live principled lives. And their focus is on education. That seems like a pretty noble calling to me.

anon166927

what is the primary plan of the Jesuits for 2011?

anon22514

how do you become a member of the Jesuits order?

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