Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/647

 JESUITS 627 entire year spent in a special establishment and under a master thoroughly versed in asceticism and a knowledge of the constitutions of the society. Their exercises are substantially those of noviceship or second probation, a full month being devoted to the " Spiritual Exercises," an- other to pilgrimage, and a third to giving re- treats or missions. This year St. Ignatius called the "school of the heart." When the special informations sent to the general con- cerning the probationists assure him that they possess that superiority in virtue and science required by the constitutions, he awards them their degree of professed of the four vows. Throughout this protracted course of studies and probation, every precaution is taken that the mind shall not be diverted from the object of study, that the bodily health shall not be injured by intense mental application, and that the springs of piety in the soul shall not be dried up by the exclusive culture of the intel- lect. The establishments in which the young Jesuits are trained are allowed by Ignatius to receive endowments, or they are supported by taxes levied on all the houses of the prov- ince, or, in some instances, wealthy novices are allowed to retain the possession of their prop- erty, but not the disposal of their revenues, until their studies and probation are ended, and thus to pay their own expenses. But in no case are they allowed to seek outside of the house for alms, or to be turned away in any manner from their studies. The members of the society who have taken their final vows, so- ciiformati, are distinguished into three classes, the professed, the spiritual coadjutors, and lay brothers, or temporal coadjutors. The degree of professed of three vows is an honorary dis- tinction bestowed for some signal service or great quality on priests who do not possess the regular theological or scientific attainments required for the profession of the four vows ; this distinction enables its subject to rank with the latter, but not to hold the offices re- served to them, such as those of general, pro- vincial, and elector in a general congregation. The " professed society " (societas professa) constitutes the core of the whole body ; the coadjutors, both spiritual and temporal, are only auxiliaries or helpers. To the professed society belong the colleges, seminaries, houses, and residences of the order, together with all other property whatsoever, movable and im- movable ; and it is in its name that this prop- erty is held and administered by the coadjutors. In ordinary life the professed are not distin- guished from the spiritual coadjutors. The latter are appointed in preference to the gov- ernment of lay colleges and seminaries, to su- periorships in residences, &c. ; while the pro- fessed are left free to preach, or to teach the higher branches of sacred and profane science, and it is only by certain reserved occupations and functions that their rank is known to the majority of their brethren. The whole order is divided into assistancies, of which there are at present five, distributed according to the foremost European races or languages, namely, those of Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and England. The original assistancy of Portugal has been abolished since the total extinction of the society in that country, and that of Eng- land has been recently created. Each assis- tancy embraces several provinces and missions. A province comprises one or more colleges, a novitiate, scholasticate, and residences with a stated number of professed. It has a certain autonomy, and depends on the general only in the measure prescribed by the constitutions. At the head of the order is a general (prapositw generalis), who is elected for life in a general congregation composed of the provincials and two delegates from each province. They elect at the same time the five assistants who form his council, the secretary of the society, and an admonitor, whose duty it is to observe the conduct and actions of the general and to ad- monish him when necessary. If they see in his conduct anything censurable, they must lay their observations before him ; and in a case of great urgency or visible scandal, the assis- tants can summon without his assent a general congregation, or even depose him themselves, after obtaining by letter the suffrages of the provinces. The power of the general, so long as he acts within the limits of the constitu- tions, is very great. He appoints the provin- cials, rectors of colleges, scholasticates, and novitiates, the superiors of professed houses and residences, together with the executive officer in each house, called minister ; these are properly denominated superiors, and have a right to command. The inferior officers are nominated by the provincial with the approba- tion of the general. Every provincial, rector, and superior has his council of four consultors and his admonitor. The provincial is required to report every month to the general ; the other superiors report every three months. The con- suitors, both provincial and local, are bound to report separately at stated times. Every three years deputies elected by the provincial con- gregations meet in Rome or wherever the gen- eral resides. They compose what is called the "congregation of procurators," and one of their chief functions is to decide on the neces- sity of convening a general congregation. They also bear to the general from each province a complete catalogue of its members, detailing the conduct and capacity of each. In the gen- eral congregation resides the supreme legisla- tive power. The provincial congregation is composed of the provincial, rectors, and senior professed members. The term of office for all superiors below the general is three years. Provincials visit every house in their jurisdiction once a year, to see that the constitutions are exactly observed by all. During this visitation rigorous inquiry is made into the temporal and spiritual welfare of each house. Every mem- ber, beginning with the rector or superior, has to render to the provincial a full account of