Part 6

II. Scribatur quamprimum per collegia, quinam dimissi sint, exaggerenturque causæ dimissionis generales, immortificatio animi, inobedientia, parvus affectus erga exercitia spiritualia, proprium judicium, &c., deinde moneantur alii omnes ne cum illis ulla ratione correspondeant; et si ab externis de dimissis mentio fiat, loquantur omnes uniformiter, et passim dicant, societatem neminem dimittere sine gravibus causis, ejicere instar maris cadavera, &c., insinuentur etiam caute hujusmodi causæ, propter quas odio habemur, ut plausibilior sit dimissio.

III. In domesticis exhortationibus persuadeatur dimissos esse plane inquietos, et continuo societatem repetere, exaggerenturque infortunia eorum, qui post discessum à societate male perierunt.

IV. Obviandum etiam erit accusationibus, quas dimissi è societate facere possent, per auctoritatem virorum gravium, qui passim declarent societatem neminem sine gravi causa dimittere, neque præscindere sana membra; quod confirmari potest per zelum quem habet, et generatim ostendit societas erga animas externorum: quanto magis erga domesticos suos?

V. Deinde hujusmodi magnates aut prælati, apud quos dimissi aliquid auctoritatis aut fidei sibi conciliare cœperint, omni genere beneficiorum à societate præveniendi sunt, ac obstringendi; explicandum illis quomodo bonum commune unius religionis tam celebris, quam utilis ecclesiæ præponderare debeat bono privato qualiscumque personæ; quod si affectus erga dimissos perseveret, juvabit causas dimissionis exponere, et exaggerare etiam quæ non adeo certa sunt, modo per probabilem consequentiam deducantur.

VI. Omni modo præcavendum erit, ne præsertim ii, qui sua sponte societatem deseruerunt, promoveantur ad aliqua officia aut dignitates ecclesiæ, nisi se suaque omnia societati submiserint et addixerint, ita ut omnibus constare possit quod à societate omnino dependere velint.

VII. Procuretur tempori ut ab exercitio functionum celebrium in ecclesia, ut sunt conciones, confessiones, evulgationes librorum, &c., quantum fieri potest sint remoti, ne affectum et plausum vulgi sibi concilient; eo fine diligentissime in vitam ac mores illorum erit inquirendum, nec non in sodalitia, occupationes, &c., et intentiones dimissi; quocirca efficiendum erit, ut cum aliquo è familia illa, quam dimissi incolunt, nostri peculiarem correspondentiam habeant, quamprimum autem quidpiam minus laudabile, aut censura dignum deprehensum fuerit, per personas inferioris ordinis nobis addictas in vulgus dispergatur, deinde magnates vel prælati, qui dimissos fovent, futuræ infamiæ indiciis teneantur: quod si nihil committant reprehensione dignum, et laudabiliter se gerant, extenuentur argutis propositionibus, ambiguisque verbis eorum virtutes, operaque quæ commendantur; donec æstimatio et fides quæ antea illis adhibebatur, imminuatur; societatis enim plane interest, dimissos et præsertim eos, qui eam sua sponte deseruerunt, prorsus supprimi.

VIII. Infortunia et eventus sinistri, qui illis accidunt, quamprimum divulgandi sunt, imploratis tamen precibus personarum piarum, ut non credantur nostri ex passione procedere; domi vero omnibus modis exaggerentur, ut alii contineantur.

CHAP. XI.

_What we should all do against those dismissed from the society._

I. Since the dismissed, acquainted with at least a portion of our secrets, frequently do injury on that account, these efforts are to be obviated by the following methods:—before they may be dismissed from the society let them be induced to promise in writing, and swear, that they will never write nor speak any thing injuriously of the society; in the meantime let the superiors preserve in writing, the evil inclinations, defects and vices, which they may have at any time admitted for the clearing of their conscience, according to the constitution of the society, by which, if it shall be necessary, the society can strengthen itself with noblemen and prelates in preventing their promotion.

II. Those who are dismissed, should be published immediately, through our colleges, and the general reasons of their discharge, such as an unmortified mind, disobedience, an indisposition for spiritual exercises, obstinacy, &c. should be accumulated; then let all others be admonished, on no account to associate with them; and if strangers speak of the dismissed, let all uniformly say, and every where declare that the society discharges none but for weighty causes, even as the sea casts up only the dead, &c.; especially let such cases, as have caused us odium, be managed with such caution, as will give plausibility to the dismission.

III. In private exhortations it should be urged that the dismissed are exceedingly unhappy, and constantly soliciting re-admission: and the misfortunes of any, who may have perished miserably, after their departure from the society, should be aggravated.

IV. Whatever accusations those dismissed from the society may bring, are to be opposed by the influence of important men, who should every where declare that the society dismisses no one without strong reasons, and never cuts off sound members: which is proven by the zeal which the society feels and commonly exhibits, for the souls of those without: how much more then for her own members?

V. Again, such noblemen or prelates as the dismissed may have begun to obtain any influence or credit with, should be drawn and bound to the society by every kind of benefit; it should be urged upon them, that the common good of an order, whose fame equals its utility to the church, ought to predominate over the private advantage of any individual; but if their regard for the dismissed should continue, it will be profitable, besides urging the real causes of their dismission, to add other things, which although not certain, may be made to appear probable.

VI. We must by all means, prevent those, especially who have voluntarily deserted the society, from being promoted to any office or dignity in the church, until they shall have submitted and devoted themselves, and their all to the society; and that in such a way, as to make it obvious to all that they are willing to depend entirely upon it.

VII. Timely care should be taken, as much as possible, to prevent their exercising the more distinguished functions of the church, such as preaching, hearing confessions, publishing books, &c., lest they should conciliate the affection and applause of the people; therefore, let the most diligent inquiry be made into their life and conduct, as well as their associations, occupations, &c.; and as it regards the dismissed, even their intentions; for which purpose it will be useful for us to hold confidential intercourse with some one in the families, where the dismissed reside, that the moment any thing equivocal, or censurable, shall be discovered, it may be noised about by persons of inferior condition, devoted to us, and thus noblemen and prelates who might favor them, may be restrained by these indications of future infamy; but if they commit nothing blameworthy, and conduct themselves laudibly, their virtues and commendable actions, are to be depreciated by subtle suggestions, and ambiguous expressions, until the esteem and confidence which they before enjoyed is diminished; for it is the plain interest of the society, that the dismissed, and still more deserters, should be wholly crushed.

VIII. The misfortunes and disastrous events which befall them, ought to be immediately published, but at the same time solicit for them the prayers of the righteous, lest we should be suspected of malevolence; but, amongst ourselves, in every way exaggerate them, thus to retain others.

CAP. XII.

_Quinam conservari ac foveri in societate debeant._

I. Primum locum tenere debent strenui operarii, qui scilicet non minus temporale quam spirituale societatis bonum promovent, quales sunt plerumque confessarii principum ac magnatum, viduarum et devotarum opulentarum, concionatores et professores, et quicumque horum secretorum sunt conscii.

II. Corruentes viribus et defecti ætate, secundum quod talenta sua pro bono societatis temporali impenderunt, adeo ut habeatur decens ratio messis præteritæ; preterquam quod adhuc apta instrumenta sint ad deferendos superioribus defectus ordinarios quos in reliquis domesticis, cum perpetuo domi sint, animadvertunt.

III. Dimittendi illi nunquam erunt, quantum fieri poterit, ne societas male audiat.

IV. Præterea fovendi quicumque ingenio, nobilitate, aut divitiis excellunt; præsertim si amicos et consanguineos societati addictos habeant et potentes, et revera ipsi sincero affectu erga societatem sint, secundum explicationem supra datam; mittendi illi _Romam_, vel ad universitates celebriores ut studeant: si autem in provincia studuerint, peculiari affectu et favore professorum sunt promovendi, quoad usque cessionem bonorum suorum fecerint societati, nihil illis denegetur, sed postquam illam fecerint, mortificentur, ut cæteri, semper tamen respectu aliquo habito ad præterita.

V. Erit etiam ratio peculiaris eorum apud superiores, qui selectos aliquos juvenes ad societatem allexerint, quandoquidem affectum suum erga societatem non parum testati sunt; sed quamdiu illi nondum professi sunt, videndum ne nimium illis indulgeatur, ne forte fortuna, quos ad societatem adduxerunt, reducant.

CHAP. XII.

_Who should be cherished and favored in the society._

I. The first rank is due to diligent laborers, who promote equally the temporal and spiritual good of the order, such are most frequently, the confessors of princes and nobles, widows, and rich devotees, as well as preachers and professors, all in short, who know _these secrets_.

II. The second place belongs to those, who waisted in strength and decrepid with age, have spent their talents, for the temporal good of the society; and this as well out of a decent regard to their past services, as, the rather, because they are suitable instruments for reporting to the superiors the usual defects, which being constantly at home, they perceive in other members.

III. These last must never be discharged, if possible to avoid it, lest the society be reproached.

IV. Next let all be favored as they are distinguished for understanding, high birth, and riches, particularly if they have powerful friends and kindred who are attached to the society, and are themselves sincerely devoted to it, in the manner aforesaid; let such be sent to ROME, or to the more celebrated universities to study; but if they should study in the provinces, they are to be encouraged by the utmost kindness and indulgence on the part of the professors, and up to the moment of their surrendering every thing to the society, nothing is to be denied them; after that, however, they are to be mortified like the rest, some regard perhaps, being always had to the past.

V. The superiors must also show peculiar respect to those who may have drawn any clever youths into the society, whereby they have not a little proven their love for it; but so long as these are not yet professed, let not the others be too much indulged; lest possibly, they should withdraw from the society, those whom they led into it.

CAP. XIII.

_De delectu juvenum in societatem admittendorum, et modo retinendi._

I. Summa prudentia contendendum est ut deligantur juvenes ingenio bono, formà non contemnenda, genere nobiles, aut quod minimum horum aliquo excellentes.

II. Ut facilius ad institutum nostrum pertrahantur, peculiari affectu quamdiu student à præfectis scholarum et magistris sunt præveniendi, extra tempora scholæ, ab iisdem sunt instruendi, quam gratum Deo sit, si quibus illi se et sua omnia, præsertim in societate filii sui, consecret.

III. Ducantur occasione data per collegium et hortum, immo aliquando etiam ad villas, et cum nostris versentur tempore recreationum, et paulatim familiares fiant, cavendo tamen ne familiaritas pariat contemptum.

IV. Non permittantur castigari, et in ordinem redigi à præceptoribus cum aliis discipulis.

V. Munusculis ac privilegiis variis ætati illorum conformibus devinciendi sunt, et maxime colloquiis spiritualibus sunt animandi.

VI. Inculcetur illis hæc fieri dispositione divina, tamquam ad societatem electis præ tot aliis idem gymnasium frequentantibus.

VII. Aliis occasionibus, præsertim exhortationibus, terrendi sunt minis damnationis æternæ, nisi divinæ vocationi obtemperent.

VIII. Si societatem ingredi constanter petant, differatur illorum admissio, quamdiu constantes manent; quod si mutabiles appareant, quamprimum, et omnibus modis foveantur.

IX. Admoneantur efficaciter, ne ulli familiari suo, et ne quidem parentibus vocationem suam aperiant, priusquam admissi sint; quod si deinde aliqua illos tentatio resiliendi superveniat, in integro tum ipse, tum societas erit; et si illa superata fuerit, semper erit occasio illos rememoratione ejusdem postea animandi, si tempore novitiatus, aut post emissa vota simplicia obveniat.

X. Quia vero maxima difficultas est in alliciendis magnatum, nobilium, senatorum filiis, quamdiu apud parentes sunt, qui illos ad succedendum illorum officiis educant; persuadendum illis per amicos potius quam per personas societatis, ut illos in aliis provinciis, et remotis universitatibus collocent, in quibus nostri docent, præmissis instructionibus ad professores de qualitate et conditionibus illorum, ut affectum illorum societati facilius, et certius concilient.

XI. Quando ad ætatem aliquomodo maturam pervenerint, inducendi erunt ad facienda aliqua exercitia spiritualia quæ in _Germanis_ et _Polonis_ sæpe bonum successum habuerunt.

XII. Perturbationibus et afflictionibus illorum occurrendum erit, pro qualitate et conditione uniuscujusque, adhibitis demonstrationibus, et exhortationibus privatis de malo successu divitiarum, et bona vocationis non contemnendo sub pæna indictionis pænæ infernalis.

XIII. Apud parentes ut facilius filiorum suorum desiderio in societatem ingrediendi condescendant, ostendatur excellentia instituti societatis, præ aliis religionibus, sanctitatis et doctrinæ patrum nostrorum, æstimatio integra apud omnes, honor et applausus universalis, qui societati à summis et à minimis defertur; et recenseatur numerus principum et magnatum, qui magno animi sui solatio in hac societate _Jesu_ vixerunt, et mortui sunt, et etiamnum vivunt: ostendatur quam gratum Deo sit quod juvenes sese illi mancipent, præsertim in societate filii sui, et quam bonum sit viro, cum portaverit jugum Domini ab adolescentià sua; quod si de teneritudine et minus perfecta ætate disceptetur, declaretur facilitas instituti nostri, quod præter trium votorum observationem, nihil aliud quod valde molestum sit, continet, et quod valde spectandum est, nullam regulam obligare, nequidem sub peccato veniali.

CHAP. XIII.

_Of the selection of youths for admission into the society, and the way to retain them._

I. The utmost prudence must be exercised, that the youths selected, may be distinguished for the excellence of their understanding, agreeableness of form, or dignity of birth, or at the very least for one of these.

II. As a means of drawing them more readily into our order, the prefects and masters of schools must guide them with extraordinary assiduity, whilst they study, and in time of recess instil into them, how acceptable it is to God, for any one to consecrate himself, with all he has, to him, especially in this society of his son.

III. They may be led, on proper occasions, through the colleges and gardens, indeed occasionally even to our villas, and admitted to our recreations, becoming gradually intimate, care, however, being taken that familiarity does not breed contempt.

IV. The preceptors must not be permitted to chastise, and reduce them to the level of other pupils.

V. They must be overcome by little gifts and various privileges suitable to their age; but above all let them be excited by spiritual discourses.

VI. Let them be impressed with the divine interposition manifested in their election to the society, in preference to all their school-mates.

VII. At other times, especially in exhortations, they must be terrified with threats of eternal damnation, if they refuse to comply with the divine call.

VIII. If they continue firmly in the desire to enter the society, their admission can be deferred as long as they remain constant; but if they seem to waver, use every method, immediately, to establish them.

IX. Let them be effectually taught, not to mention their vocation to any friend, nor even to their parents, before their admission; so that if subsequently any temptation should cause their relapse, neither the youth nor the society shall be exposed; but if the temptation be overcome, its recollection will always afford an opportunity of stimulating them, if it occurred during their noviciate, or after the taking of their first vows.

X. As the greatest difficulty exists, in alluring the children of the great, noble, and powerful, whilst they are with their parents, who are training them to succeed to the situations they themselves occupy,—they should be persuaded by our friends, rather than our members, to place them in other provinces, at remote universities, in which we teach, previous instructions being given to the professors of the quality and condition of the youths,—and so, we may readily and certainly conciliate their good will towards the society.

XI. As they arrive at an age somewhat mature, lead them to the performance of certain spiritual exercises which have often ended well,—as in _Germany_ and _Poland_.

XII. When they are in affliction and distress, is the time to urge and admonish them, according to their rank and circumstances, of the vanity of riches, and the blessedness of yielding to their vocation, rather than to suffer eternal torment.

XIII. To obtain more readily, the assent of parents, to the desire of their sons to join the society, we must exhibit the superiority of this, above all other religious societies, on account of the sanctity and wisdom of its fathers, its pure reputation with all, and the universal honor and applause, which it receives, from the very highest to the lowest; let us also enumerate the princes and nobles, who with infinite comfort to their own souls, have lived and died, or do still live in this society of JESUS: let us show how acceptable it is to God for the young to give themselves to him, particularly in this society of his Son, and how excellent for a man to have served God, from his youth; but if there should be some hesitation, on account of tenderness and immaturity of age, we can clearly display the gentleness of our institute, which contains nothing very irksome, except the observance of _the three vows_; indeed it ought to be specially noted, that we have no system, whose violation would incur even venal sin.

CAP. XIV.

_De casibus reservatis, et causa dimittendi è societate._

I. Præter causas expressas in constitutionibus, à quibus solus superior aut confessarius ordinarius cum ejus licentia absolvere poterit, sunt sodomia, mollities, fornicatio, adulterium, stuprum, tactus impudicus maris aut fæminæ, præterea si quis quacumque zeli causa aut occasione quomodo libet quidquam grave moliatur contra societatem, ejusque honorem aut utilitatem, quæ etiam omnes sunt justæ causæ dimissionis.

II. Quod si quis aliquid hujusmodi confiteatur sacramentaliter, non prius absolvetur, quam promiserit se extra confessionem superiori manifestaturum per se vel per confessarium; tum superior concludet pro bono communi societatis, quod melius videbitur, et si certa spes sit criminis occultandi, conformi pænitentia plectendus erit, sin vero quam primum dimittendus; cavebit sibi interim confessarius dicere pænitenti illum periclitari de dimissione.

III. Si quis ex nostris confessariis audiverit ab aliqua persona externa, quod cum aliquo è societate rem turpem commiserit, non eam prius absolvat, quam extra confessionem aperuerit nomen illius cum quo peccavit; quod si dixerit, adhuc non absolvatur, nisi jurejurando se obstrinxerit se nunquam id ulli mortalium revelaturam sine consensu societatis.

IV. Si duo ex nostris carnaliter peccaverint, si prior manifestaverit, in societate retineatur, alter dimittatur; sed deinde is qui detinetur ita mortificetur, et undequaque affligatur; ut præ tædio et impatientia occasionem det dimissionis, quæ statim arripiatur.

V. Poterit etiam societas, cum sit corpus nobile et præstans in ecclesia, à se præscindere hujusmodi personas, quæ ad instituti nostri executionem minus idoneæ videbuntur, quamvis initio satisfecerint; et facile invenietur occasio, si, nempe, continuo vexentur, et omnia fiant contra illorum inclinationem, subjiciantur superioribus tetricis, arceantur à studiis ac functionibus honorificentioribus, &c., donec obmurmurent.

VI. Retinendi etiam nullatenus sunt, qui aut superioribus palam insurgunt, aut palam aut clam apud socios ac potissimum externos conqueruntur; item qui apud domesticos vel externos modum agendi societatis, quoad acquisitionem aut administrationem bonorum temporalium condemnant, vel alias rationes agendi verbi gratia, conculcandi ac supprimendi male affectos erga societatem, vel dimissos, &c. quin etiam, qui _Venetos_, _Francos_, aut alios à quibus societas pulsa, et gravia damna passa est, in colloquiis ferunt aut defendunt.

VII. Ante dimissionem, acerrime agitandi sunt ii qui dimittentur, amovendi à consuetis officiis, et modo huic, modo illi applicandi, interim quantumcumque bene præstiterint, reprehendendi, eoque titulo alteri applicandi; pro leviori culpa quam forte commiserint graves pænæ assignentur, confundantur publice usque ad impatientiam, tandemque tanquam aliis perniciosi dimittantur; ad hoc autem locus, de quo minime opinantur, eligatur.

VIII. Si de aliquo nostrorum spes certa sit de obtinendo episcopatu, aut alia dignitate ecclesiastica, præter consueta societatis vota, cogatur alterum emittere; quod semper bene de instituto societatis censurus sit, ac dicturus, neque alio confessario quam qui de societate sit, utetur; quinimo se in nullis rebus alicujus momenti quidquam dispositurum, nisi audito judicio societatis; quod quia cardinalis _Toletus_ non observavit, societas à sancta sede impetravit, ut posthac nullus _Maranus_, perfidiæ _Judaicæ_ aut _Mahometicæ_ hæres admittatur; qui tale votum præstare noluerit, tanquam acerrimus societatis hostis, quantumcumque celebris esset, dimittatur.

CHAP. XIV.

_Of reserved cases, and of cause of dismission from the society._

I. Besides the cases laid down in the constitutions, in which a superior alone, or an ordinary confessor, by the license of the superior, can grant absolution, there are, sodomy, wantonness, fornication, adultery, incest, male or female uncleanness as well as one’s becoming the cause, or even the occasion, and through the utmost zeal, even of any injury to the society, to its honor or success,—all which are just causes for dismission.

II. When any one shall sacramentally confess any thing of this kind, he shall not be absolved, until he has promised, that, besides the confession, he will, personally or through his confessor, discover himself to the superior; then the superior must determine what seems best for the common good of the society; for if there be certain hope, that the crime may be concealed, it can be punished by an adequate penance, if otherwise, let him be immediately dismissed; the confessor, however, will be careful not to tell the penitent his danger of dismission.

III. If any confessor should hear, from a strange woman, that she has carnally known some member of the society, he must not absolve her, unless besides her confession, she reveals the name of her paramour, nor even then, until she shall solemnly swear never to disclose it again to any mortal, without the society’s consent.