Two items, quickly.
First, at CNA there is a must read article about the thoughts of a Jesuit priest in Uruguay about the state of the Society of Jesus. Realistic about their profound decline and grim future. HERE
Next, there is a new book by Karen Hall about one particular Jesuit, the late and lamented Fr. Paul Mankowski, whom I knew. He was treated horribly by his confreres. One of their most brilliant lights, and they snuffed him out. There are a couple books about him. Here is the latest.
The Sound of Silence: The Life and Cancelling of a Heroic Jesuit Priest
Also available…
Jesuit at Large: Essays and Reviews by Paul Mankowski, SJ edited by George Weigel
and
Diogenes Unveiled: A Paul Mankowski SJ Collection edited by Phil Lawler
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Fr. Fernández Techera’s essay is entitled “Ad Usum Nostrorum III” – is there a reason that the last word is in the genitive plural there? It seems clunky t0 me – “For the Use of Our…” Our what?
Perhaps there’s a Latin colloquialism of which I am not familiar and will happily be informed of by our illustrious host.
By the end of this decade, if current trends continue, the Jesuits will mark two milestones. They will lose the title of the largest religious order (to the Salesians of Saint John Bosco). The 2nd is they will fall below 10,000 priests (down from over 21,000 in 1969).
Perhaps those events will wake up the leadership of the order!
Thank you, Fr. Z!!! Let me know when you are on this side of the world. We need to have Lebanese food to celebrate!
Thank you for the recommendation. I just ordered The Sound of Silence, the Kindle version, via your link. All the best.
Fr. Ferguson:
It’s “for the use of our guys”.
It sounds very similar to what that same Jesuit order did to Fr. John Hardon. Because he taught the truth, they nudged him aside (read any of his books and you’ll be pleased; also the Marian Catechist program). He landed in the Archdiocese of Detroit, but even there he was barely tolerated by the diocesan curia. He died in 2000. Although recognized by the Church as a Servant of God, don’t expect his cause to go anywhere under the current pontificate.