The Jesuits

 
The Jesuits, or Society of Jesus, are the largest single order of priests in the Roman Catholic church. The formation process to become a Jesuit lasts for more than thirteen years. The order was founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1540. Born in the Basque region of Spain to a land-owning family, Ignatius was a courtier and soldier. Fighting in the battle of Pamplona in 1521, both his legs were smashed by a cannonball. During a long and boring convalescence, Ignatius read to pass the time, though the only books available to him were courtly romances and lives of the saints. Gradually, he noticed a pattern of thoughts: after long hours pondering romances he felt empty and disillusioned, but when he aspired to the great feats of the saints, he felt uplifted and content. This honest listening to his own thoughts was the beginning of a journey which many would say culminated in his writing of the Spiritual Exercises. Ignatian Spirituality Key features of Ignatian spirituality which are influential in JVC include finding God in all things, in ordinary daily life and in in the difficult and ugly things we face; being “contemplatives in action”, not just one or the other; behaving with real generosity, as men and women for others; living a faith that does justice; learning and practicing discernment and sound decision-making. Ignatian spirituality is not a series of formulas, or prayers. It affects the way we react to people, they way we tackle situations, the way we are inside. Please visit www.jesuit.org.uk if you want to know more about the Jesuits. If you think you may be called to become a Jesuit priest or brother, visit the vocations website.http://www.jesuit.org.uk/http://www.jesuitvocations.org.uk/http://livepage.apple.com/shapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1