Sunday, September 27, 2009

Sp. Exx.: Formula of the Institute

September 27, 1540 is the date in which Ignatius and his early companions received formal approval by the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, to be instituted as a new religious Order called the Society of Jesus.

The Formula of the Institute is the basic original expression of the way of life envisioned for the Society by Ignatius and his companions. It laid down the fundamental structure of the new Jesuit religious order, providing for its general to write, with the advice of his companions, the fuller statutes which became known as the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus. The Formula captures the fundamental, original inspiration of the Society.

The Formula arose out of the deliberations of Ignatius of Loyola and his companions in 1539 as a ‘First Sketch of the Institute of the Society of Jesus.’ That sketch consisted of five ‘chapters,’ or paragraphs, which, with some minor revisions, became the substance of the two papal documents which formally approved the Society Regimini militantis (1540) of Pope Paul III and Exposcit debitum (1550) of Pope Julius III.

The Formula of the Institute

"Whoever desires to serve as a soldier of God beneath the banner of the cross in our society,
which we desire to be designated by the name of Jesus, and to serve the Lord alone and the Church, his spouse, under the Roman pontiff, the vicar of Christ on earth, should, after a solemn vow of perpetual chastity, poverty and obedience, keep what follows in mind. He is a member of a Society founded chiefly for this purpose:

to strive especially for the defense and propagation of the faith and for the progress of souls in Christian life and doctrine, by means of public preaching, lectures, and any other ministration whatsoever of the word of God and further by means of the Spiritual Exercises, the education of children and unlettered persons in Christianity and the spiritual consolation of Christ's faithful through hearing confessions and administering the other sacraments.

Moreover, he should show himself ready to reconcile the estranged, compassionately assist and serve those who are in prisons or hospitals and, indeed, to perform any other works of charity, according to what will seem expedient for the glory of God and the common good."

So if you run into a Jesuit on September 27th, wish him a Happy Birthday!

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