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Article MONITA SECRETA SOCIETAS JESU. ← Page 2 of 2
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Monita Secreta Societas Jesu.
take care to substitute at the earliest moment one of tlio friends of the Society , and not to allow any suspicion to arise , as if they Avished to take the government out of tbe hands of the prince ; therefore they aro not to act directly , as has been said heretofore , but to interpose some faithful ancl powerful friends who would easily stand such odium as might arise from their interference .
CHAPTER V . How to behave towards members of other religious Orders officiating in thesame churches as members of our Order . 1 . This class of people ( genus istud ho-minnm ) are to be met courageously ; ifc is to be explained to princes , men of authority , and such as are in any way favourable
to us , and it is to be impressed on their minds iu proper time , that our Society contains the quintessence of " all Orders , and that it only dispenses Avith the cant and tho apparent austerity in life ancl manners of the others ; that if those excel in other respects , our Society shines brighter in the Church of God . 2 The shortcomings of the members of other ious
. relig bodies are to bo investigated avid noted ; they are " to be shown np to our faithful friends prudently , and chiefly in such manner as if we deplored them ; and thus it should be proved that those men cannot discharge as effectively as ourselves those duties Avhich they have in common with us .
3 . The A'ery greatest efforts are to bo employed in opposition to those who intend to establish schools for the teaching of tho young , in localities iu whicli members of our Order are already teaching with honour and utility . It should be impressed upon princes and magistrates that these people would cause troubles and rebellion in the commonwealth , unless a stop be put to their
machinations ; that the origin of suck troubles would arise from the very schools in ivhich a different mode of instruction were introduced , and that our Societ } ' is fully competent to supply to all tho wants of instruction . Should , bowover , such clericals have obtained certificates from the Pope , or be recommended by a cardinal , they arc to bo opposed by us through tho agency of princes , of
noblemen , Avho should be caused to inform the Pope of the great merits of tbe Society , and of our entire sufficiency for the purposes of the instruction of the young . Testimonials should also be procured from magistrates , and shown in public , certifying our good conduct and effective tuition . 4 Tbe members of our Order should ive more
g espe cially practical proofs of their virtue and the effects of their teachings , by keeping their pupils in proper trim in their studies , and in scholastic plays performed before magistrates and tbe people , and calculated to secure the applause of the latter .
CHAPTER VI . Koto the Society is to gain wealthy widows for il $ cause . 1 . For tbis purpose fathers somewhat advanced in age , but of a lively turn of . ¦ ¦ '¦ ¦ ¦ d and an agreeable deportment , should bo selected . By them those Aviclows should be -visited , and as soon , as these show any signs of being
favourably disposed towards the Society , let its good offices be offered and its merits be pointed out to them . When they have been secured in this manner , and introduced to visit our churches , a confessor should be attached to them to properly guide them , chiefly with a view to make them persevere in tho state of Avidowhood , by showing and praising its great utilityand tho happiness
, to be derived from it . Their attention should bo directed also to the eternal merit to be derived therefrom , Avhich would be a most efficient means of escaping tho tortures of the purgatory . 2 . The confessor should induce them also to provide a chapel or private place of worship iu their own houses , in Avhich they might devote themselves to meditations
and other spiritual exercises , and thus the easier be kept aloof from the conversation and the visits of relations ; and though they may have a chaplain , our associates should not forbear from celebrating the mass , and give them proper exhortations , and they should try to keep tho chaplain under their authority . 3- Changes in tho internal management ( giibematio )
of tho respective houses should be made cautiously aud gradually , and due regard paid to persons , localities , propensities , and the devotion of tlio parties . 4 ' . Such domestic servants chiefly as do not adhere to or communicate with the Society are to be discarded ( am-oliendi ) one by one , and instead of these , whenever the occasion occurs , such persons as adhere to or depend
on us are to bo recommended . By this means Ave may become acquainted with all that is going on in the family . 5 . The confessor is to exert himself to the best of Ms abilifc j ' , that the widow should iu every circumstance resort avid act up to his advice , that sho may show , whenever the opportunity occurs , that his advice forms the essence of her spiritual progress .
6 . She should be made to frequently partake of the sacraments , and particularly of penance , in which she is to fully disclose tho most intimate sensations of her mind , and Avhafcover temptations she experiences . A frequent communion and spiritual intercourse Avith the confessor is to bo suggested , and special prayers are to be held out as an inducement , and she is to be made to recite the litany , and submit daily to a scrutiny of her conscience .
7 To obtain a more perfect knowledge of all her propensities , it will be proper to let her repeat her general confession , even if tho second should not always fully agree with the first . 8 The good things of Avidowhood , the troubles . of matrimonial life , chiefly when entered upon for a second time , tho dangers attending it , & c , aud other things to tbe purpose should bo most effectively impressed upon her mind .
9 . Sometimes certain parties may be skilfully proposed to her for marriage , but they must bo snob as aro well knoAvn to be thoroughly disliked by the respective AvidoAV . If she should be favourably disposed towards any others , she should be made acquainted with their vices and bad habits , and thus a thorough disgust for a second marriage called forth in her .
10 . If ouce she appears to havo fully made up her mind to remain in tbe widowed state , a spiritual life is to be recommended to her , but not a religious one the evils ( incommoda ) of Avhich should rather be exposed and exaggerated , rather a life like Paula ' s or Enstachius's . The confessor should also manage , if once she has taken a A ' OAV of chastity for two or three years to
come , to gradually shut off every idea of a second marriage . At tbis stage every communication Avith tbe opposite sex , and all recreations oven in company of her own kindred or relations are to be done aAvay with , Avith a view to promote her connection with God ( titulo majoris conjunciionis cum Deo ) . As regards the clergy by whom such a widow is visited , or Avhom she visits ,
if they cannot all be excluded , there should at all events be such amongst them as hail from us ( e , v nostrorum nutu , dependeant ) . 11 . If once the Avidowhas been brought to this stage , she must be induced gradually to apply herself to good works andchiefly to charity ( oleemosijnce ) , but still she is not b means to be allowed to do sounless by the
y any , direction of her spiritual adviser ; and it is to be impressed upon her that charitable gifts should be bestowed Avith discretion , and that through misapplied charity sins are often caused and fomented , and that none but very limited profit aud merit is to be derived therefrom . ( To be continued . )
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Monita Secreta Societas Jesu.
take care to substitute at the earliest moment one of tlio friends of the Society , and not to allow any suspicion to arise , as if they Avished to take the government out of tbe hands of the prince ; therefore they aro not to act directly , as has been said heretofore , but to interpose some faithful ancl powerful friends who would easily stand such odium as might arise from their interference .
CHAPTER V . How to behave towards members of other religious Orders officiating in thesame churches as members of our Order . 1 . This class of people ( genus istud ho-minnm ) are to be met courageously ; ifc is to be explained to princes , men of authority , and such as are in any way favourable
to us , and it is to be impressed on their minds iu proper time , that our Society contains the quintessence of " all Orders , and that it only dispenses Avith the cant and tho apparent austerity in life ancl manners of the others ; that if those excel in other respects , our Society shines brighter in the Church of God . 2 The shortcomings of the members of other ious
. relig bodies are to bo investigated avid noted ; they are " to be shown np to our faithful friends prudently , and chiefly in such manner as if we deplored them ; and thus it should be proved that those men cannot discharge as effectively as ourselves those duties Avhich they have in common with us .
3 . The A'ery greatest efforts are to bo employed in opposition to those who intend to establish schools for the teaching of tho young , in localities iu whicli members of our Order are already teaching with honour and utility . It should be impressed upon princes and magistrates that these people would cause troubles and rebellion in the commonwealth , unless a stop be put to their
machinations ; that the origin of suck troubles would arise from the very schools in ivhich a different mode of instruction were introduced , and that our Societ } ' is fully competent to supply to all tho wants of instruction . Should , bowover , such clericals have obtained certificates from the Pope , or be recommended by a cardinal , they arc to bo opposed by us through tho agency of princes , of
noblemen , Avho should be caused to inform the Pope of the great merits of tbe Society , and of our entire sufficiency for the purposes of the instruction of the young . Testimonials should also be procured from magistrates , and shown in public , certifying our good conduct and effective tuition . 4 Tbe members of our Order should ive more
g espe cially practical proofs of their virtue and the effects of their teachings , by keeping their pupils in proper trim in their studies , and in scholastic plays performed before magistrates and tbe people , and calculated to secure the applause of the latter .
CHAPTER VI . Koto the Society is to gain wealthy widows for il $ cause . 1 . For tbis purpose fathers somewhat advanced in age , but of a lively turn of . ¦ ¦ '¦ ¦ ¦ d and an agreeable deportment , should bo selected . By them those Aviclows should be -visited , and as soon , as these show any signs of being
favourably disposed towards the Society , let its good offices be offered and its merits be pointed out to them . When they have been secured in this manner , and introduced to visit our churches , a confessor should be attached to them to properly guide them , chiefly with a view to make them persevere in tho state of Avidowhood , by showing and praising its great utilityand tho happiness
, to be derived from it . Their attention should bo directed also to the eternal merit to be derived therefrom , Avhich would be a most efficient means of escaping tho tortures of the purgatory . 2 . The confessor should induce them also to provide a chapel or private place of worship iu their own houses , in Avhich they might devote themselves to meditations
and other spiritual exercises , and thus the easier be kept aloof from the conversation and the visits of relations ; and though they may have a chaplain , our associates should not forbear from celebrating the mass , and give them proper exhortations , and they should try to keep tho chaplain under their authority . 3- Changes in tho internal management ( giibematio )
of tho respective houses should be made cautiously aud gradually , and due regard paid to persons , localities , propensities , and the devotion of tlio parties . 4 ' . Such domestic servants chiefly as do not adhere to or communicate with the Society are to be discarded ( am-oliendi ) one by one , and instead of these , whenever the occasion occurs , such persons as adhere to or depend
on us are to bo recommended . By this means Ave may become acquainted with all that is going on in the family . 5 . The confessor is to exert himself to the best of Ms abilifc j ' , that the widow should iu every circumstance resort avid act up to his advice , that sho may show , whenever the opportunity occurs , that his advice forms the essence of her spiritual progress .
6 . She should be made to frequently partake of the sacraments , and particularly of penance , in which she is to fully disclose tho most intimate sensations of her mind , and Avhafcover temptations she experiences . A frequent communion and spiritual intercourse Avith the confessor is to bo suggested , and special prayers are to be held out as an inducement , and she is to be made to recite the litany , and submit daily to a scrutiny of her conscience .
7 To obtain a more perfect knowledge of all her propensities , it will be proper to let her repeat her general confession , even if tho second should not always fully agree with the first . 8 The good things of Avidowhood , the troubles . of matrimonial life , chiefly when entered upon for a second time , tho dangers attending it , & c , aud other things to tbe purpose should bo most effectively impressed upon her mind .
9 . Sometimes certain parties may be skilfully proposed to her for marriage , but they must bo snob as aro well knoAvn to be thoroughly disliked by the respective AvidoAV . If she should be favourably disposed towards any others , she should be made acquainted with their vices and bad habits , and thus a thorough disgust for a second marriage called forth in her .
10 . If ouce she appears to havo fully made up her mind to remain in tbe widowed state , a spiritual life is to be recommended to her , but not a religious one the evils ( incommoda ) of Avhich should rather be exposed and exaggerated , rather a life like Paula ' s or Enstachius's . The confessor should also manage , if once she has taken a A ' OAV of chastity for two or three years to
come , to gradually shut off every idea of a second marriage . At tbis stage every communication Avith tbe opposite sex , and all recreations oven in company of her own kindred or relations are to be done aAvay with , Avith a view to promote her connection with God ( titulo majoris conjunciionis cum Deo ) . As regards the clergy by whom such a widow is visited , or Avhom she visits ,
if they cannot all be excluded , there should at all events be such amongst them as hail from us ( e , v nostrorum nutu , dependeant ) . 11 . If once the Avidowhas been brought to this stage , she must be induced gradually to apply herself to good works andchiefly to charity ( oleemosijnce ) , but still she is not b means to be allowed to do sounless by the
y any , direction of her spiritual adviser ; and it is to be impressed upon her that charitable gifts should be bestowed Avith discretion , and that through misapplied charity sins are often caused and fomented , and that none but very limited profit aud merit is to be derived therefrom . ( To be continued . )