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 JESUITS 625 natius and his associates might teach the ele- ments of Christian doctrine. At the same time a fearful famine in Rome afforded them the opportunity of displaying their charity. The pope would not have hesitated to recognize them at once as a religious order, had it not been that a commission appointed that very year to inquire into clerical abuses and scandals had presented to him a report discountenan- cing the establishment of new religious orders. Nevertheless, Ignatius and his companions be- gan their deliberations in the first days of April, 1539, and a sketch of the proposed constitu- tions in five chapters was subscribed by all on May 4, and presented to the pope. The master of the sacred palace having reported favorably on this sketch, it was approved orally Sept. 3. Meanwhile these outlines were committed for thorough examination to three cardinals, among whom Cardinal Guidiccioni was so opposed to the introduction of new orders that he would not at first even read the sketch. At length having done so, he changed his mind, won over his colleagues to his opinion, and the bull of confirmation, Regiminl militants ecclesioe, was signed Sept. 27, 1540, and promulgated in the spring of 1541. It restricted the number of " professed " members to 60 ; but this restric- tion was removed, March 14, 1543. A written promise of entering the company after its con- firmation by the pope had been signed by 11 of the members, including Ignatius, on April 15, 1539. After their deliberations closed on May 4, most of them were sent by the pope on various missions. Codure, Le Jay, Ignatius, and Francis Xavier remained in Rome, Xavier being secretary and keeping up the correspon- dence with the absent members. On March 15, 1540, Ignatius informed Xavier that he was to leave Rome the next day for Lisbon and the East Indies. At the same time the pope des- tined others for Ireland in order to counteract there the measures of Henry VIII. At the Easter of 1541 Ignatius was unanimously chosen general, those absent from Rome sending their votes in writing, and he entered on the office April 13. In conformity with the will of the pope and the wish of his companions, he now began to draw up constitutions for the new order. He had read previously the lives of the founders of religions orders, as well as the rules which they had framed for their followers ; but while engaged in framing the constitutions of the society, he shut himself up, with no books near him save the Bible and the " Imitation of Christ," preparing himself before he wrote by prayer and meditation, then placing what he had written upon the altar during mass, and only consulting with the other fathers when he had well considered each matter himself and come to some decision. These constitutions, drawn up in Spanish, and translated into Latin under the eyes of Ignatius, received high praise from Cardinal Richelieu. They are now ac- cessible to all (Institutum Societatis Jesu, 2 vols., Avignon, 1827-'38, a reprint from the official edition of Prague, 2 vols., 1757). It was only in 1550 that they were so far complete that Ignatius could communicate them to an assembly of the professed who had been sum- moned to Rome, including Laynez and Fran- cis Borgia. He wished his work to be suitable for all without distinction, so that the difference of countries and nations, of manners and dis- positions, should require neither exceptions nor dispensations. He also submitted the constitu- tions to the judgment of the absent. They were examined with the most minute atten- tion, and were only published when every cor- rection or addition suggested and deemed ne- cessary had been made. In 1553 they were sent upon trial to Spain, Portugal, and other coun- tries, in order that they should be approved by the whole body only when found everywhere to be in perfect accordance with the design of the society. This sanction of the whole body was not given to them till 1558, after the death of Ignatius, and in the congregation assembled to choose his successor. They were revised with the utmost care, and confirmed with unanimity. They were then presented to Pope Paul IV., who appointed a commission of four cardinals to examine them. These ap- proved the constitutions unanimously, and the pope confirmed them without changing a single word. Laynez added nothing to them, nor is it on record that he had any more to do with the framing of them than any other of the members consulted by Ignatius. The kernel or indestructible portion of these constitutions is found in the draft presented to Paul III. and first approved by him. In this it is said that " whoever wishes to enter the society of Jesus, to fight under the standard of the cross and of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, and to serve the church his spouse under his vicar the Ro- man pontiff, must keep in mind that this society has been established for the defence and prop- agation of the faith, for promoting the sal- vation of souls, by teaching Christian doctrine and Christian life, by explaining the word of God, by giving the 'Spiritual Exercises,' by teaching catechism to the young and ignorant, by the administration of the sacraments, and especially the sacrament of penance. He must keep also in mind that its object is to perform works of mercy, more particularly for the sick and the imprisoned ; and all this is to be done gratuitously and without any earthly compen- sation." The constitutions are divided into 10 parts. The 1st describes the qualities which allow or forbid the admission to novicesbip; the 2d, the causes and manner of rejection; the 3d and 4th relate to health, devotion, and study; the 5th explains the profession of the four vows and the inferior degrees; the 6th and 7th instruct the professed and spiritual coadjutors in their various offices ; the 8th and 9th concern the general, his election, authority, and duties ; the 10th gives general directions for the conservation and increase of the society. The greatest discrimination is used in the choice