The Fifth Part

Of those things which relate to admission into the Body of the Society

Chap. I. Of admission, to whom the power belongs, and when to be exercised

[1] They who have been sufficiently and so long proved m the Society, that it may be thorougldv ascertained that it wiU conduce to the greater sen-ice and gloiy of God, for them to remain in it, may be admitted, not as before, to probation, but in a more intimate manner, to be members of one and the same body of the Society. Of this sort chiefly are those who are admitted to Profession, or as formed Coadjutors. But as the approved Students are adopted into the body of the Society in a more intimate manner than those admitted to Probation; in this fifth part shall be said what appears needful to be obser'ed in the Lord, concerning their admission.

[2] First, the power of admitting into the body of the Society such as ought to be admitted, shall be vested in its head; as reason demands. But as the General cannot be present in even,' place, he may communicate to others of the Society so much of this power, as shall seem advantageous to the whole body.

[3] The time for admission in the aforesaid maimer, generally speaking, should be after two years; but if any one should have been long observed before he is sent to his studies, or whilst occupied in them, he shall still have a whole year of probation after he has accomphshed them, if he is to be admitted to Profession; that he may be still further observed, before he engages in it. And this time may be protracted, as is set forth in the Examen, when the Society, or he who holds this duty of it in the Lord, deshes to be further satisfied. CHAP. n. As he only who appears fitted in the Lord should be admitted bv any of these methods; so they shall be accounted fit, whose hves have been thoroughly scrutinized and approved of by continued and dihgent probations by the General, to whom subordinate Governors shall refer, or others whose testimony the General shall require. It will much conduce to this, for those who have been sent to their studies, having bestowed that care and dihgence which was necessary to the culture of the intellect, to exercise themselves dihgently in schoohng their affections through the period of their final probation, and to be ven,earnest in the spiritual and bodily exercises which pertain to their improvement in humihty, in the denial of all sensual love, of their oivn will and private judgment, and in the greater knowledge and love of God: so that when these feeUngs have predominated in their own hearts, they may better assist others in the })rogress of the Spirit to the glory of God and oui- Lord. Their instruction of this kind must be sufficient, and besides riumanitv and the Liberal Arts, they ought to be adequately versed in Scholastic Divinity, and the Sacred Scriptures. And although some in a shorter time are able to make no less progress than others in a longer; nevertheless, that some common standard may be adopted, a distinct period of time shall be prescribed, and this shall be four entire years spent in Theology after accomphshing their studies of the Liberal Arts and Philosophy. For any one, therefore, to be admitted to Profession, it is needful that he should have exercised himself during this time in that facult)', and that he be sufficiently advanced in it to the glorj^ of God: and in proof of this proficiency, let each man before his Profession maintain positions in Logic, Philosophy, and Scholastic Theolog^^ Let four be chosen to debate and determine, whether their learning be what it ought, as they sincerely think, according to the truth. But if they be not found quaUfied with sufficient learning, it will be better to wait untU they acquire it: as they also ought to wait, who with regard to self-denial and the virtues becoming a rehgious man have not obtained such a testimonial as is meet. 3 Others than these may be admitted to the profession of the three solemn vows, although rarely, and not without pecuhar reasons of great weight; and they too ought to have been known in the Society at least seven years, and to have given in it no small satisfaction of their talents and -irtues to the glory of God.

[4] For any one to be admitted as a Coadjutor, it is necessar' that the Society be satisfied of his life and good example, and talents to assist it either with learning in spiritual affairs, or without it in external matters, as the di\Tne Goodness shall have communicated His gifts. The prudence of the General should measure this, unless he has seen fit to entrust the duty to some one in whom he has great confidence in the Lord.

[5] To be admitted to be approved Scholars, the same things in due proportion are required, and that in a pecuhar manner: so that in the judgment of the General, or of the person to whom he shall have confided the duty (tnisting to the wisdom and probity bestowed on him by God) it mav be hoped from their talents and disposition that they will turn out learned men.

Chap. II. Of the mode of admitting to profession

[1] When any are to be admitted to Profession, the period of probation being past, and the proofs and other things contained in the Examen being completed, and the Society or its General is thoroughly satisfied in the Lord, Profession shall be made in the following manner.

[2] Fu-st of all, the General, or some one empowered by him to admit to Profession, when he has offered the sacrifice of the public Mass in the Church before inmates and others there present, shall turn to the person who is about to make Profession \vith the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist: and he, after the general confession and the words which are used before the Communion, shall with a loud voice pronounce his written Vow, (which it is meet that he should have meditated on for several days;) whereof this is the form.

[3] I. N. make profession, and promise Almighty God before His Virgin mother, and before all the heavenly host, and before all by-standers, and You, Reverend Father, General of the Society of Jesus, holding the place of God, and your Successors; or. You, Reverend Father, vice- General of the Societ}^ of Jesus and of his successors, holding the place of God, perpetual Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, and therein, peculiar care in the education of boys, according to the form of hving contained in the ApostoUc Letters of the Societ}- of Jesus, and in its Constitutions. Moreover I promise special Obedience to the Pope in Missions; as is contained in the same Apostolic Letters, and Constitutions: At Rome, or elsewhere, on such a day, month and year, and in such a church.

[4] After this, let him take the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. WHiich being done, the name of him who makes profession shall be written in a book, which the Society shcdl keep for that purpose, the name of the person to whom he made it, the day, month and year being also set down: and his written Vows shall be preserved; that an account of all the particulars mav appear for ever to the glorj- of God..5 Those who shcdl be admitted to the profession of the three solcnm vows only shall read their written Vow in the Church, and before inmates and strangers there present, i)reviously to their receiving the most holy body of Christ, according to the following form. I. N. make profession, and promise Almighty God before His Virgin mother, and before all the heavenly host, and before all by-standers, and You, Reverend Father, General of the Society of Jesus, holding the place of God, and your Successors; or. You, Reverend Father, vice- General of the Society of Jesus and of his successors, holding the place of God, perpetual Poverty, Chastit}'^ and Obedience, and therein, peculiar care in the education of boys, according to the form of living contained in the ApostoUc Letters of the Society of Jesus, and in its Constitutions. Moreover I promise special Obedience to the Pope in Missions; as is contained in the same Apostolic Letters, and Constitutions: At Rome, or elsewhere, on such a day, month and year, and in such a church. Then shall foUow the Communion, and the rest as aforesaid.

Chap. III. Of admitting coadjutors and scholars

[1] Those who are admitted to be spiritual Coadjutors with simple, and not solemn vows, shall make their vow in the Church, or chapel of the House, or other fitting place, before inmates and strangers there present, to him who is to admit them, in the following form, reading it;

[2] L N. promise Almighty God, before His Virgin mother, and before all the heavenly host, and You, Reverend Father, General of the Society of Jesus, holding the place of God, and your successors; or You, Reverend Father, vice- General of the Society of Jesus, and of his successors, holding the place of God, perpetual Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, and therein, peculiar care in the education of boys, according to the manner expressed in the Apostolical Letters, and in the Constitutions of the said Society; At Rome, or elsewhere, in such a place, day, month and year. Then let him take the most holy body of Christ, and let the rest of the ceremonv be the same as in the case of the Professed.

[3] The form for admitting Coadjutors in temporals shall be the same, the clause of peculiar care in the education of boys alone removed. 54 THE CONSTIXrTIOXS OF Tliosc who, at the conclusion of their first probation and proofs •usual in the hknn'mm, are admitted to be Scholars, in the presence of certain inmates, though not to any person, shall make their Vows in this manner.

[4] Almighty, Everlasting God, I. N. albeit every way most unworthy in Thy holy sight, yet relying on Thine infinite pity- and compassion, and impelled by the desire of serving Thee, in the presence of the most holy Virgin Mary, and before all Thine heavenly host, vow to Thy divine Majesty, perpetual Poverty, Chastity and Obedience in the Society of Jesus, and promise that I will enter the same Society, to live in it perpetually; understanding all things according to the Constitutions of the Society. Of Thy boundless goodness and mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ I humbly pray that Thou wilt deign to accept this sacrifice in the odour of sweetness, and, as Thou host granted Thine abundant grace to desire and ofibr, so Thou wilt enable me to fulfil the same; At Rome, or elsewhere, in such a place, day, month and year. Then shall they take, as the others, the most holy body of Christ, and the rest of the ceremony shall proceed as before.

[5] When any one shall be adopted into the body of the Society in any degree, he ought not to be anxious to proceed to another; but to be perfect in his own^ employing himself in the senice of God, and leaving the care of all other things to his Superior, who doubtless holds the place of Christ our Lord.

[6] Those who live in our Houses after two years should take the same vows as the Scholars, and bind themselves to Christ om- Lord; and that, although they be not put to studies, and although it be not thought expedient that they be admitted so early among the Coadjutors or the Professed. But if any one. urged by his private feelings of devotion should wish, before tliis period of tw-o years to oft^'er himself to God by ^'ows, he may use the same form, and deUvering to the Superior one copy of his written Vow, keep another himself, that what he has offered to God and our Lord may be remembered. And to this end, and likewise to increase devotion, it will conduce, at certain stated and convenient seasons to renew their Vows. \Much is not to bind themselves by a new obligation, but to call to mind in the Lord and confirm that by which they arc already bound.