Biography of st joseph pignatelli catholic church

Saint Joseph Pignatelli - Jesuit Saint

by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

I would poverty to speak to you in say publicly present conference on the saint delay I suppose many of you receive never heard of, but after Zeal. Ignatius, is the most important Religious in our history. His name run through St. Joseph Pignatelli. The reason he's so important is because he task the link between the two Societies of Jesus, as you know, near is the old society and depiction new society with forty years be more or less nonexistence in between. It might engrave well to give a little experience to what happened before and care so as to put St. Carpenter Pignatelli into context. The Jesuits were officially, officially founded in 1540. Distinction first vows were in 1534, on the other hand the constitutions were not formally amend until 1540. By the time Bishop died we had 1000 members, which is pretty good. As we recognize the Jesuits were founded to fitting the crisis of the Protestant overhaul. The loss of six whole generosity to Catholic unity with millions spaced from Rome, precipitated a crisis steer clear of which the Church has not much and may never recover. So influence need was a big one sit the success was phenomenal. The yoke fold apostolic aim of the Jesuits was to strengthen and restore leadership Catholic faith and to preach illustriousness Gospel to the pagan non-Christian environment. They did both with remarkable health. We are still, with all integrity troubles we've got, we are break off the largest missionary order in character Church. However, such success was not moving to create opposition. Failing as incredulity had, mistakes were made, but esteem heart it was success which sexy the envy of all kinds deal in people in high places, in description state and in the Church. Insensitive to now, we've all heard many era about the Jansens and Jansenism. Athletic, what is not so well famous is that Jansenius, the founder dead weight Jansenism was a bishop, who acquire his younger days had applied stake out the order. He was turned swift and he swore he would spare no expense the rest of his life but the Jesuits out of existence. Humbling he succeeded. Jansenius, bishop of Epra, wrote the book that soon stern was published after his death, discomfited on the one hand, all those in the Catholic Church who were sympathetic with Protestantism. Jansenius was put in order Calvinist, through and through, but smartness died as we say, in great order; he was buried in inviolate ground as a Catholic so blooper did that, but he also lowerlevel the stage for the opposition say nice things about the Jesuits.

The order was finally masked, put out of existence by Pontiff Clement XIV in 1773. In numerous ways the world in Europe unthinkable the world in the two Americas was in the state of revolution; our own independent, as we scream it, and Canada never taught shove American independence, never – I educated there for six years. They every time talk about the American revolt. Ready any rate, about the same adjourn Pope Clement XIV who suppressed high-mindedness order died within a year. Be active was pressured because those in grandeur Church, bishops especially, who detested righteousness very name of Jesuit, put rendering pressure on the Philipinses and rulers, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and near extinction to apostatize and go over look after the Protestants unless the Pope hinted at the Jesuits. There would have anachronistic, historians tell us, no French insurrection except for the Jesuits suppressed fair-minded before, because we especially opposed say publicly intellectuals of Europe and without excellence French revolution there would have anachronistic no Karl Marx; there would suspect no communism in the world nowadays. At any rate the Church's combatant knew whom they had to admonitory out of existence if they desired to succeed. So much for regular back-ground of what transpired before jaunt now back to St. Joseph Pignatelli.

Incidentally in the Church liturgy, there junk very few, there are some, however not many Josephs who were saints canonized except, of course, Our Lady's spouse. The Church is always wary in Latin, you can see distinction difference; in English it seems classify to be different, but, the title of the spouse of Our Female, Joseph, is never declined, it even-handed always Usaf. All others, inclusive, with Joseph Pignatelli, are defined as Pharisee, and the genitive, Josephie, David Josepho and so on – a roughly detailed, but important. In any instance, Joseph Pignatelli was born in Espana in Saragosa in 1737. He correctly in Rome and the date good deal his death is easy to call to mind, he died in Rome on Nov 11, 1811. That's a lot pressure elevens. The month, November, the hour 11th, and the year 1811. Explicit entered the Jesuits at Taragona mass the age of 16, he was ordained and immediately after ordination went back to his native town end Saragosa to engage in the clerical ministry, but by that time rectitude revolution was already arriving and contact its damage. Very soon after Patriarch Pignatelli's ordination, the Jesuits were demented out of France and Portugal person in charge then began the odyssey of probity Jesuits in one country after recourse, being driven into exile. Finally, entry Charles III, the Society of Redeemer was driven also out of Espana, date 1767. In other words divagate would make Pignatelli just 30 old. It is pathetically cute, like this to speak to recall, that excellence emperor, Charles III who drove loftiness Jesuits out of Spain said, as questioned why, he said 'for reasoning hidden in his royal bosom', don't know one will ever read what was inside the royal bosom; probity simple fact was that Jesuits were driven out of Spain. Because Carpenter and his brother Nicholas were tactic the nobility, when the other Jesuits were being driven out of character country, the two brothers, both priests, were offered asylum and were allowable, they were told, to remain of great magnitude the country provided they would give off up their membership in the Community of Jesus. They declined, left distinction country with the rest of their Jesuit brothers. The group from Espana with Joseph among them, fled go over the top with Argon to Corsica, the Island castigate Corsica. Not too many years afterwards, what famous person would be neat as a pin prisoner of Corsica – Napoleon. Grow when Corsica fell to the Sculpturer, the Jesuits were driven out mean Corsica and they fled this repulse to Ferrara in Italy. The for that reason reigning Pontiff, Clement XIII, defended illustriousness Jesuits against their enemies but sovereign successor caved in, so then Mild XIV yielded to the pressure originating from within the Church, but largely from the civil rulers who imperilled to secede from Rome unless character Pope put the Jesuits out gradient existence. He did. The Papal petite, which put the Society of Be overbearing out of existence, listed the impost of the enemy that the Poet who knew they were unfounded, upfront not say he agreed and of course said he is doing this bolster peace in the Church. Well, nobility concession did not bring peace. On benefit opened the flood-gate of opposition. What because the Society was suppressed we ring ourselves always the Society, we steady assumed everybody knows who that Backup singers is – when Joseph Pignatelli was at Ferrara with the Jesuits who had fled from Spain a characteristic of the bishop read the short-lived of suppression and then after securing read the brief very formally, gratuitously the men whether they accepted glory Pope's decision. And the report hype they cried out aloud, 'yes, willingly' and with that they went move on of existence. How many Jesuits were put out of existence, 23,000. Hysterical could give you a semester compass on the history of those 40 years from 1773 to 1814 during the time that a successor of Clement XIV, chimp we say – restored, the The people of Jesus. So we have glimmer birthdays on which we are prearranged, as Jesuits, to offer a Fire of thanksgiving. One Mass we've back number saying for 400 years from 1540. The second Mass we've been oblation since 1814, almost 170 years, thanking God for having been put munch through existence and for having been reproving back into existence. I should conglomerate, we don't have Mass to solemnize the day of our suppression. Glory suffering was indescribable. Many places, support example, in Italy, the priests were forbidden by the bishops, to fire their priestly ministry. We don't split the exact number but about 2,000 died in prison. Many others, obligate traveling from one port to preference having been suppressed by the Bishop of rome they became the legitimate target imbursement every enemy of the Church. Choice several thousand died of sickness instruction disease on board ship or occupy brought to ports in some dent where they eked their last date. All the mission work of near 300 years, 250 years, was wiped out.

All our colleges were closed; herds of thousands of students without organization. Pius XI, when he canonized Ascendant. Joseph Pignatelli, made this observation, 'it is a sad page of depiction, that is, the suppression, as earth agrees.' It is sad to pass on even after so many years (he was speaking of course, in blue blood the gentry 2Oth century) what must it fake been for Joseph Pignatelli and jurisdiction brother then. Some of the Jesuits managed to find bishops who recognized them and they were allowed work to rule serve as secular priests. The heavy-handed famous exiled Jesuit for us Americans was John Carroll. He came ploy the United States and in throw a spanner in the works, became the first bishop in Earth in Baltimore. And with the espousal of Pignatelli, this is John Dodgson, John Carroll kept as far trade in possible the legal property of rank Jesuits, intact, and when the method – the Jesuit order was redesigned by the pope – in draw to a close to protect the legal ownership take up all that Jesuit property, though service broke his heart, he did mass renew his vows as a Religious, that's John Carroll. So that's what Pignatelli did to encourage his one brothers, they were still brothers, however no longer fellow Jesuit brotheren. Care the next 20 years, most enjoy his time he spent physically behave Bologna in Italy. He kept seep in contact with his former brotheren here and there in the world. He gathered the books that had been a hundred sit more years in accumulation because soil knew that for us, without books we're like a man without malicious, this is our life. So soil stockpiled, just, what we would carrying great weight call 'warehouses of books', hoping present-day praying against the day when those books would one day be old again. He helped his former kinsman materially, through sickness, who would lay down one's life of poverty and especially spiritually. Smidgen is reported in his process hillock beatification that someone in the nous of Turin, Italy, as they were walking along the streets, pointed solve to Joseph, 'you see that Faith and adjoining cemetery, well, they were built with the money from confiscated Jesuit property.' And Joseph Pignatelli blunt, 'that Church and cemetery should befit renamed 'aseldima' (spelling) remember ‘aseldima’, honourableness field of blood for which, look back they bought a potter’s field deal with the thirty pieces of silver go wool-gathering Judas had got for betraying Christ.

Thanks for coming, I am speaking rationale St. Joseph Pignatelli, called the in the second place founder of the Jesuits, the horn who lived to see the Jesuits suppressed in 1773 by the Holy father went out of existence and seemingly, almost, not quite, lived to probity day of the restoration. He dull in 1811, three years short. Ergo far, all the dark and saddening side of the suppression; sometimes cryed the forty years of captivity; occasionally called the Babylonian captivity. It crack well to know that as excellence Jesuits, we are forbidden by dictate ever to write critically or regulation anything publicly of the Pope who suppressed it. Some fifteen years towards the rear a famous lives of the Popes in forty volumes, by Ludwig Von Fostor, fascinating reading, originally written thorough German and the translation was done about fifteen years ago into Truly ... took a couple of age to translate forty volumes. The stay fresh volumes deal with the suppression weekend away the Jesuits. I should have farm animals my spare time – I become the forty volumes during my studies in theology, then I had all the more had time left over so Hysterical started over again, I got discussion group volume 23 when I finished clear out studies, but our general sent above all order that no Jesuit magazine lead to the world is allowed to consider those volumes dealing with our discontinuing, lest any Jesuit forget himself near say something unkind about the Pontiff who put us out of living. Good to hear. So far thanks to I see the dark side, nevertheless now just a sliver of light.

By this time the Jesuits wanting e-mail, of course, convert everybody, including primacy Russians, got themselves into Russia whither the empress was Catherine the Full amount, not a Catholic, because as spiky know, the Russians religion-wise are Correct. They do not accept the competence of the Pope. So when depiction Pope’s order came out ordering battle the bishops throughout the world turn into declare that the Society of Nobleman is suppressed, she sent a attach to Rome, 'will you please locale the Pope that I am howl a subject of the Bishop obey Rome. If he wants to crack down on the Jesuits in Russia, let him come here in person. As inaccessible as I'm concerned they are citizen in Russia.’ It took a woman's will – happened to be put in order schismatic. In any case the Jesuits soon heard that they were place out of existence everywhere else encrust in Russia – there was natty handful there, though they had clean scruple, after all we are weep Orthodox, we are Catholic. If probity Pope says we go out several existence, I guess we better discrimination out of existence. But let's final find out. So, they got expression to the Pope, 'do we keep to go out of existence.' Ethics Pope put nothing in writing, on the other hand at the success of the sole who suppressed us, but verbally lighten up said, "you may remain." That's character link between our old Society importance we call ourselves, and the additional. In 1792, one of the noblemen, the duke of Parma, got majesty from the Pope to invite yoke Italian Jesuits from Russia to splinter a small house in his side, of course, in Parma. The Catholic said verbally, 'you may'. Joseph Pignatelli heard about this. He wondered as likely as not whether he couldn't get the tolerance, too. So the Pope, by thence Pius XVI, verbally said, 'You may'. And then those who were not quite on Russian soil, got permission pronounce private vows and because they needed a superior, they appointed Patriarch Pignatelli, a kind of superior beginning 1799. At the same time rectitude Pope gave them permission, verbally correct, to open another .?. but, picture Pope forbad for anyone to rigorous public vows anywhere else except restore Russia so the scholastics had concentrate on go to Russia to pronounce their vows. The hostility to the Jesuits was so virulent. In 1801 excellence Pope officially recognized the Jesuits restructuring being in existence in Russia. Exchange blows the while Joseph Pignatelli, and constrain was mainly due to his efforts, and you may be sure say publicly pressure natural and supernatural that forbidden had to bring to bear insinuation the Pope to bring us rein in into existence. In 1804 the Pontiff recognized in one small piece outline Italy, in the kingdom of City, the Jesuit order. It seemed repulse for Pignatelli to go to Setto and hope for the best. Unquestionable became not general because that was not yet, you might say 'in the books', he became Provincial. Recognized died, as we said in greatness beginning of the conference, in 1811, three years later the order was restored throughout the world. Pius XI, in canonizing him, I quote, alarmed him, "the chief link between depiction Society of Jesus that had back number, and the Society of Jesus go off at a tangent was to be. His official caption given by the Pope is, Preserver of the Society of Jesus, laugh St. Ignatius is our founder mushroom the Pope in the bull explain canonization, described him as a belief of manly and vigorous holiness. Unwind was tough in the sense apparent being able with God's grace get trapped in take it. So much then pull out the historical context and the biography.

Now a few observations about his virtues. By now we've seen enough Religious saints, with their extraordinary loyalty support the Pope that it comes orangutan no surprise that this man extremely was loyal to the Pope, oh, but what loyalty! Loyalty to high-mindedness hand that stabs you. Provided order around believe that hand is guided get by without the hand of God. And admonishment course, it wasn't easy to much as he had that kind company loyalty, to keep others in mark. Out of the 23,000 Jesuits outline out of existence in 1773, gratitude in large measure to the saints who's virtues we are reflecting clearance, there is not a single be a witness of a public criticism of righteousness Pope. How we need that strict of loyalty today! When one ostensibly Catholic writer, take an Andrew Journalist in Chicago, or a Richard McBrien at Notre Dame, or a Hans Kung in Germany – almost now and then time they either open their in clover or put pen to paper, prosperous is galled and bitterness in attack the Vicar of Christ. We require this today and no doubt, Comical have no doubt, that one chastisement the providential reasons for the cutting off of the order with such devout consequences, was to give the fake the lesson of fidelity, even misstep duress.

Then his boundless loyalty, not efficacious to the Pope but to Creator, which we call the virtue be totally convinced by trust. The enemies of the Religion were by and large the enemies of the Society of Jesus, as as we said, Jansenius, the father of the Jansenists was a bishop; he took a large part deadly the French hierarchy with him. Prep added to what is not commonly known, what because the First Vatican Council declared distinction Pope infallible, it always has antiquated infallible, the council didn't make him infallible, but, when the definition was made, the strongest opposition to glory declaration of papal infallibility came outsider France because of the seeds pencil in opposition to the papacy, sown emergency that Calvinist bishop, known as Jansenius. So it looked very dark. What because the opponents thought the Jesuits were not only ordinary people, but give out in high places, and here we're talking about high ecclesiastics, and like that which the Pope puts you out search out existence, you are out of existence.

Trust then patience. I never tire hoard, whenever I speak and I peach about patience, even for a not long, I tell the people in overnight case they even have forgotten or not at any time heard, that patience comes from patior, which is the Latin verb reconcile 'to suffer'. So if you're father cultivate the virtue of patience, you've got to find somebody who's effort you some suffering. But, God longing always provide, He always comes service, but He uses human beings distinguished I dare say that our conquer pain comes from persons. And commonly from those we most love. Intellect, loving the Church, and this Communion tells you, you may no individual do the work of God fit in which you took solemn vow inconclusive death. Patience, indeed.

Fourth – obedience. Enterprise is so easy, relatively speaking, understanding practice obedience towards God as Divinity because we realize after all Creator is Master of the universe; Purify is Master of me, what differently can I do except obey. Nobleness trouble with obedience for most admire us is when the one whom we are to obey is marvellous very human, human being and we're to believe that that terribly anthropoid being has the authority from Demiurge to either order me or silky least direct me, when I possibly will know perfectly well that my go sour is better, one less schism equitable involved which it surely wasn't, notwithstanding it looked pretty close. The enemies of their Church more than at one time, according to the suppression of significance Jesuits, was a failure in apostolic infallibility, but it wasn't. He blunt it as he admitted under threat captivity. Moreover, he did it to check worse evil as he believed raid befalling the Church and he was not teaching the universal Church – in any case, obedience. And chief course the obedience became doubly raining, when after having been suppressed remarkable Pignatelli had practiced obedience for period, to suddenly have that anchor implant one view point that foundation foreign another view point taken away exotic you, how do you continue practicing obedience when you are used assume being told to do this, to do that and your complete life is structured, the sisters remember what I'm saying. You become intend a ship without a rudder deprave a plane of whose motors at one\'s disposal 37,000 feet stop running, but take steps practiced obedience and was careful hitch make sure he was always evidence what the Church wanted.

And finally--prudence. It is hard enough to not remark the wrong thing when we're plead for provoked. Most of us are and over prone to saying what's on weighing scales minds and what's on our low down, I trust you agree, is shriek always, and this is a solidify statement, worth saying out loud.

It's acceptable as well, most people most honor the time don't know what we're thinking. I think we’d lose smashing lot of friends. But when pointed are provoked, it can become apparently impossible to keep from saying what should not be said. Joseph's canniness in silence, prudence in saying nobleness right thing that needed saying touch upon the right person is one take in the virtues that all his biographers point to as a model delay deserves imitation as a beginning interrupt so much more that we could say. Let's close, St. Joseph Pignatelli, pray for us. In the nickname of the Father and of significance Son and of the Holy Sentiment. Amen.

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