I am currently reading Father Ralph by Gerald O'Donovan, written in 1913, and it contains the following descriptions of the Jesuits and Carmelites, uttered by two Carmelites and a Jesuit respectively.
She kept Ralph supplied with religious books from the Carmelite library, "to keep his thought from the bad books he has to read at that Jesuit school." She consulted Father Eusebius on the subject. He shook his head and looked grave.
"Personally, I think the Jesuits go too far," he said. "A good Catholic has no need of pagan learning. All a priest really wants to know of the classics is to be able to read the missal and the breviary. The Jesuits, no doubt, are very good men, very good indeed. A very old order, that is, as years go. Four hundred years or so. Quite young, of course, in comparison with our own order. Blessed Elias founded the Carmelites thousands of years ago. Like all young people the Jesuits are - shall I say it? - a little vain, and ape the ways of the world. In a few hundred years they will have settled down to steady ways."
"Ah, these Jesuits," Fr. David said, shaking his head sadly. "Of course they are an ornament to the Church, no doubt of that ... in the eyes of heretics and infidels at least. They have learning - pagan learning mostly, I'm afraid. One cannot handle pitch too much and not be defiled. I did some classics myself, but thank God, I've forgotten them, Arma virumque cano, I'm afraid I remember very little now. But some of these Jesuits meditate on Virgil and Horace all through their lives. Poor St. Ignatius never intended it. He must have many a sad hour in heaven. Fighting the world with the weapons of the world sounds well, but believe me, Ralph, it makes men worldly too."
Hilda blushed. "Ralph doesn't like teaching, " she said hesitatingly.
"A horrid profession! I don't know why I like it. So many of our own men don't," Father Best said, taking another scone. "But the Society of Jesus spreads it nets very wide - teachers, preachers, students, administrators, social workers, contemplatives, we have them all. Whatever a man has a special aptitude or taste for - there lies his work with us, provided, of course, it is good for him. It is a great resource, Mrs. O'Brien, even in the spiritual life, to have many strings to one's bow. It's a restless age, and men never get tired of harping on the one theme, or get worried over their work. That chocolate cake is very tempting. May I have some? Thanks. Variety has its advantages in the spiritual life just as in food. The Carmelites now! Preaching, the confessional, and the singing of the office sums up their energies. Their round of spiritual duties is almost as monotonous as their meals. The order suits many men undoubtedly. Many Carmelites are holy men, as you say. A certain type of man likes the food and the life."
She kept Ralph supplied with religious books from the Carmelite library, "to keep his thought from the bad books he has to read at that Jesuit school." She consulted Father Eusebius on the subject. He shook his head and looked grave.
"Personally, I think the Jesuits go too far," he said. "A good Catholic has no need of pagan learning. All a priest really wants to know of the classics is to be able to read the missal and the breviary. The Jesuits, no doubt, are very good men, very good indeed. A very old order, that is, as years go. Four hundred years or so. Quite young, of course, in comparison with our own order. Blessed Elias founded the Carmelites thousands of years ago. Like all young people the Jesuits are - shall I say it? - a little vain, and ape the ways of the world. In a few hundred years they will have settled down to steady ways."
"Ah, these Jesuits," Fr. David said, shaking his head sadly. "Of course they are an ornament to the Church, no doubt of that ... in the eyes of heretics and infidels at least. They have learning - pagan learning mostly, I'm afraid. One cannot handle pitch too much and not be defiled. I did some classics myself, but thank God, I've forgotten them, Arma virumque cano, I'm afraid I remember very little now. But some of these Jesuits meditate on Virgil and Horace all through their lives. Poor St. Ignatius never intended it. He must have many a sad hour in heaven. Fighting the world with the weapons of the world sounds well, but believe me, Ralph, it makes men worldly too."
Hilda blushed. "Ralph doesn't like teaching, " she said hesitatingly.
"A horrid profession! I don't know why I like it. So many of our own men don't," Father Best said, taking another scone. "But the Society of Jesus spreads it nets very wide - teachers, preachers, students, administrators, social workers, contemplatives, we have them all. Whatever a man has a special aptitude or taste for - there lies his work with us, provided, of course, it is good for him. It is a great resource, Mrs. O'Brien, even in the spiritual life, to have many strings to one's bow. It's a restless age, and men never get tired of harping on the one theme, or get worried over their work. That chocolate cake is very tempting. May I have some? Thanks. Variety has its advantages in the spiritual life just as in food. The Carmelites now! Preaching, the confessional, and the singing of the office sums up their energies. Their round of spiritual duties is almost as monotonous as their meals. The order suits many men undoubtedly. Many Carmelites are holy men, as you say. A certain type of man likes the food and the life."
posted by Lactantius at
8:45 pm
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