BOOK III. OR, XAVIER. Preliminary SUCH are the leading facts in the life of Ignatius, hitherto the wandering preacher, as described by his own disciples, for the edification of the faithful. observations. Every fact has been either questioned or bitterly ridiculed. The enemies of the Jesuits have clapped their hands with merriment thereat; but the Jesuits and their friends have not ceased, on that account, to venerate their sainted founder. Ever convinced of his perfect integrity and holiness, they cease not to put up their prayers to Ignatius in Heaven for the protection and advancement of his cherished Society. His divine mission is believed; his miraculous powers are firmly asserted; and every Catholic is bound to reverence his name, since a festival has been appointed to him, and his name is invoked in the Mass. The historian must bear these facts in mind: he must give them some little weight in the judgment he labours to form of this remarkable man. There must have been some merit-some considerable merit in Ignatius, to effectuate or direct the achievements of his nascent Society. In the picture of the age which has been given, we RENOWN OF IGNATIUS AND HIS FOLLOWERS. 235 behold the field open to precisely such a man as Ignatius may be conceived to be, after making due allowance for the peculiar views of his biographers. In his career, up to the foundation of his Society, we see evidence of unflinching determination-a boundless passion for spiritual teaching-and we have no reason to believe that his morals were otherwise than pure, however strongly the whole narrative induces the thought that spiritual power was ever his object; hence the assertion of his visions and inspirations, all which, if not invented by his followers, must have been proclaimed by himself. Herein is the important feature of the founder's character. Success attended his efforts: the world applauded circumstances combined to cheer him on : he advanced as to the breach of Pampeluna; but his arms were now those of the spirit, and with these to conquer, or seem to conquer, is one and the same. God alone will finally decide what is or what is not, true victory. Renown of his followers. The Pope of Rome beheld Protestantism boldly advancing. Germany was almost totally Protestant. England was severed from papal allegiance. Switzerland, Piedmont, Savoy, and all the Ignatius and adjacent countries were "infected with heresy." France had caught the "distemper " from Geneva. The "venom" had penetrated into Italy. In such disastrous circumstances extraordinary succour was required. Paul III. thought well of Ignatius and his followers, whom he had dimissed to their probation, after the first interview and explanations. Rumour announced their deeds, their success. "Everywhere," said the thousandtongued, "they revive the spirit of Christianity; the most hardened sinners cannot resist the might of their words; they have even converted a libertine-priest— a man of scandal, who composed comedies, and acted himself a comedian at the altar, a priest on the stage! They have converted him he has been through the Spiritual Exercises, and has begged pardon of the people, with a rope round his neck, and has turned monk-a reformed Franciscan !" The Society Paul III., we are assured, was struck with astonishment at these brilliant achievements. He was "still more impelled by an interior movement."2 A is established. Cardinal, who had strongly objected to the new foundation, "felt himself changed on a sudden,” for Ignatius had "redoubled his prayers before the divine Majesty, for the foundation, with extreme confidence; and as if he had been assured of success, he promised, one day, to God, three thousand masses, in acknowledgment for the favour which he hoped to obtain."3 All very specious indeed but the result was, that the pope granted the Bull, Regimini militantis Ecclesiæ, and the Society of Jesus was founded.* The Bull went forth on the 27th of September, 1540. His Company being established, Ignatius deemed it necessary to begin with electing a Commander-in-Chief, or General, for he never totally resigned his martial 1 Bouhours. 2 Id. i. 286. 3 Ibid, p. 284. It is a curious "coincidence" (which is to be accounted for by the Jesuits), that the same fact is recorded concerning St. Dominic and his Order. The pope objected; but "he dreamed he saw the Lateran church in danger of falling, and that St. Dominic stept in, and supported it with his shoulders." Butler, St. Dom. The Jesuits have been determined that no founder should eclipse Ignatius, either in austerities, sanctity, miracles, or familiarity with the Almighty. 4 The Bulls and Breves take their titles from the first word or words. The present begins thus, "Raised to the government of the Church militant." notions his men were to bear "the standard of the Cross, to wield the arms of God, to serve the only Lord, and the Roman Pontiff, his Vicar on earth.1 Ignatius summoned his little troop to Rome-not all, for some of his men were already at important posts. True to its subsequent history, the Society The election was already in a position to influence the of a General. minds of kings. Xavier and Rodriguez were at the Court of Portugal; Faber at the Diet of Worms, and Bobadilla had express orders not to leave the kingdom of Naples before accomplishing the affairs committed to his management. The absent members left their votes ; the suffrages were collected; as a matter of course, Ignatius was elected. He was surprised and afflicted ; but had he reason to be so ? Was it not natural that his followers should elect a man who had been favoured with visions-who had been enlightened to see through the mysteries of faith--who had been placed-associated by God the Father with God the Son, as before related. Ignatius, as modestly as Julius Cæsar, refused the dignity-nobly, but gently, pushed away the proffered diadem. The refusal confirmed the electors in their choice; but, obedient to his request, they spent four days more in prayer and penance, before the next election. Ignatius was again elected. The Divine will seemed manifest. Ignatius was of a different opinion; he made another effort to escape. He said he would "put the matter into the hands of his confessor; and if the latter, who knew all his bad inclinations, should command him in the name of Jesus Christ to submit, he would obey blindly." 1 In the same Bull. It is needless to state that the confessor "told him plainly he was resisting the Holy Ghost in resisting the election; and commanded him on the part of God, to accept the appointment." A question arises here. For whom did Ignatius vote in the election? Surely, if he did not think himself perfectly qualified, he should have named the companion whom he deemed worthy of the high function, particularly as he had called the electors to Rome, for the express purpose of the election. But the sentimental votes recorded by the biographers lack that of Holy Father Ignatius. Xavier, Codure, Salmeron, have left their votes on the grateful page; we see one of them even now lithographed, doubtless every other was equally fervid; but we must remain uncertain as to the real sentiments of the modest saint on this interesting occasion. The "Institute." In due time Ignatius drew up the Constitutions of his Society. Subsequently, as years rolled on, Rules, Decrees, Canons, &c., were added to this groundwork; the whole body of legislation being termed "The Institute of the Society of Jesus." These books profess to describe the system of the Jesuits, but only for the inspection of the Jesuits themselves; and not even to the newly admitted members, or novices. For the use of the latter, and to be shown to the world, when thought proper, there was a compendium, or summary, exhibiting brief rules and universals. They were not to be printed without the General's permission, and then not to be published, nor shown to those who were not received into 1 See Crétineau Joly, Hist. de la Comp. de Jesus: t. i. P. 52. |