Tomorrow I have the honor of experiecing the "Solemn Profession in the Society of Jesus" for the masters advisor of a certain lady-friend of mine. It should prove to be an interesting experience to say the least. For those unaware of the rigorus Jesuit formation here is the email that Father sent:
This Saturday, April 22, at 3 p.m. in Dahlgren Chapel I will be
taking my Final Vows in the Society of Jesus. As for what this is
all about, the text below explains the formation process for Jesuits.
What is Solemn Profession in the Society of Jesus?
The training of Jesuits has from the time of Saint Ignatius been a
long road. Each man begins with two years of novitiate before taking
first vows. At this time the man vows perpetual poverty, chastity,
and obedience and promises to enter the Society of Jesus at a later
time. This last promise seems odd, as the man has been a Jesuit for
over two years by the end of the novitiate. What is meant by this
promise is that the Jesuit promises to continue training or formation
until such a time that the Superior General of the Order invites the
man to enter fully into the order with Solemn Profession. And so,
after the novitiate the training continues for many years. Between
first vows and final vows, or between novitiate and final vows, the
man prepares for a life as a priest and as a teacher (whether in a
traditional school setting or elsewhere).
A Jesuit's training includes three years of philosophy and four years
of theology, years of languages, and numerous instances of field
education (usually called experiments) in a variety of locales and
works (often teaching high school for several years). After
ordination (a minimum nine years after novitiate) the man may be
asked to go on for further studies in a chosen field. Only after
completing any post-ordination studies and after working for at least
three years after studies is the training almost but not quite
complete. One final year of formation occurs in which the man re-does
the first year of the novitiate, including the famous Spiritual
Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola (also known as the 30 Day
Retreat). At this point the Society of Jesus evaluates the man to see
if the formation stuck and, if so, the General invites the man to
final vows. All told, the timeline is a minimum 16 years and often
exceeds 25 years! For example, Fr. Zimmer's timeline stretches back
23 years.
The Jesuits are often asked what is different about their final vows.
One famous difference is that there are not three, but four vows. All
religious orders take the three primary vows of poverty, chastity and
obedience; Jesuits take a fourth one of obedience to the Pope for
mission. So, when the Supreme Pontiff needs well-trained priests to
do things that others cannot or will not do, he asks the Society of
Jesus to send men to work in the area. Only professed Jesuits may be
named to certain positions within the order; solemn profession being
the mark of one who is both properly trained and fully available for
any work for the Church within the Society of Jesus.
This Saturday, April 22, at 3 p.m. in Dahlgren Chapel I will be
taking my Final Vows in the Society of Jesus. As for what this is
all about, the text below explains the formation process for Jesuits.
What is Solemn Profession in the Society of Jesus?
The training of Jesuits has from the time of Saint Ignatius been a
long road. Each man begins with two years of novitiate before taking
first vows. At this time the man vows perpetual poverty, chastity,
and obedience and promises to enter the Society of Jesus at a later
time. This last promise seems odd, as the man has been a Jesuit for
over two years by the end of the novitiate. What is meant by this
promise is that the Jesuit promises to continue training or formation
until such a time that the Superior General of the Order invites the
man to enter fully into the order with Solemn Profession. And so,
after the novitiate the training continues for many years. Between
first vows and final vows, or between novitiate and final vows, the
man prepares for a life as a priest and as a teacher (whether in a
traditional school setting or elsewhere).
A Jesuit's training includes three years of philosophy and four years
of theology, years of languages, and numerous instances of field
education (usually called experiments) in a variety of locales and
works (often teaching high school for several years). After
ordination (a minimum nine years after novitiate) the man may be
asked to go on for further studies in a chosen field. Only after
completing any post-ordination studies and after working for at least
three years after studies is the training almost but not quite
complete. One final year of formation occurs in which the man re-does
the first year of the novitiate, including the famous Spiritual
Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola (also known as the 30 Day
Retreat). At this point the Society of Jesus evaluates the man to see
if the formation stuck and, if so, the General invites the man to
final vows. All told, the timeline is a minimum 16 years and often
exceeds 25 years! For example, Fr. Zimmer's timeline stretches back
23 years.
The Jesuits are often asked what is different about their final vows.
One famous difference is that there are not three, but four vows. All
religious orders take the three primary vows of poverty, chastity and
obedience; Jesuits take a fourth one of obedience to the Pope for
mission. So, when the Supreme Pontiff needs well-trained priests to
do things that others cannot or will not do, he asks the Society of
Jesus to send men to work in the area. Only professed Jesuits may be
named to certain positions within the order; solemn profession being
the mark of one who is both properly trained and fully available for
any work for the Church within the Society of Jesus.