The Suppression and Restoration of the Society of Jesus

CEBU, Philippines - The Museo Parian sa Sugbu (a.k.a. the 1730 Jesuit House) recently organized a lecture titled “Reflections on the Suppression and Restoration of the Society of Jesus” at the City Sports Club, Cebu Business Park. The speaker was Fr. Rene Javellana SJ, who talked before 40 attendees about the different reasons why the Society of Jesus was suppressed by Pope Clement XIV in 1773, as well as the reasons for the order’s restoration by Pope Pius VII in 1814.

Fr. Javellana covered the different questions and accusations that were raised against the Jesuits prior to the suppression of the Society. He touched on questions on the Jesuit lifestyle, the order’s missionary strategies and methods, and how the Jesuit pedagogical method, strategy, doctrines and influence were deemed questionable at the time.

In relation to the eventual restoration of the order, Javellana cited the different persons who played an important role in helping the Jesuits; from Catherine the Great of Russia (who invited Jesuits to Russia to set up a public school system) to Ferdinand, Duke of Parma (who asked Catherine the Great and the Jesuits in Russia to send Jesuits to his duchy).

In 1773, Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society, after being pressured by the royal courts of France, Portugal and Spain – causing Jesuit priests in different parts of the world to go into exile and renounce their vows. On August 7, 1814, Pope Pius VII, a Benedictine, restored the Society.

Founded by Ignatius of Loyola, the Society of Jesus is engaged in evangelization and apostolic ministry. As a Christian male religious congregation of the Catholic Church, the Society’s members work in education, cultural pursuits and intellectual research. (FREEMAN)