(Atty. Mel Sta. Maria is the resident legal analyst of TV5. He teaches law at the Ateneo de Manila University, and co-hosts the daily program "Relasyon" with Luchi Cruz-Valdes on Radyo Singko.)
That Pope Francis is the first Jesuit priest makes his papacy a little bit more exciting. A Jesuit priest belongs to the religious order known as the Society of Jesus founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola in 1540. A Jesuit priest identifies himself by the abbreviation “S.J.” at the end of his name. A Jesuit becomes a priest after 10 years of thorough studies. The Superior General of the Society based in Rome is a Spaniard, Fr. Adolfo Nicolas S.J. Significantly , he headed the East Asia Pastoral Institute (EAPI) based at the Ateneo sometime in the 1980s. The Jesuit Superior General is known as “the Black Pope” . This moniker was given for his usual simple black vestment and, like the Pope, for his leadership which usually last throughout the rest of his life.
I met my first Jesuit mentor in 1978 when I entered the Ateneo. I am not an expert in who, how and what a Jesuit is all about, but I have never personally known so many priests belonging to one order in my life except those belonging to the Jesuit order: Fathers Reilly, Bernas, De La Costa, Schmidt, Roche, Greene, Nebres, Ferriols, Cruz, Francisco, Intengan, Tanseco, Yatco, Gorospe, Mangulabnan, Ferrer, and even the young Jesuits Fathers Lambino, Huang, Magadia, Villarin and I can go on and on. I even have one Jesuit student, Fr. Chan-Gonzaga, at the Ateneo Law School.
This is my personal and random view of the Jesuits. They are very spiritual. Their kind of spirituality and philosophy is the witnessing type. It is not just praying inside their room but it is "engaging the world". It is "man and woman for others" and a “preference for the poor” for “the greater glory of GOD.” There is no homogenous political belief or ideology among them. They are not only known as theologians and intellectuals but also "subversives", "conformist" and even "bohemians" (I think), doctors, singers, musicians, teachers, lawyers, engineers, journalists, broadcasters, poets, philosophers, political scientists, astronomers, mathematicians, physicists, chemists, economist or what have you. In fact, I can say with confidence “you name it, they have it.” When you talk to them though, they always tell you that, first and foremost, they are priests.
When they mentor, the Jesuits really mean it. They call their style "cura personalis". There is a personal touch in their teaching that truly inspires. Studying under their supervision will involve “ratio studiorum”, meaning: studying what is really important. When Jesuits make a critique, one must be ready for it because it can be very candid for the subject’s own good. You will easily admire the Jesuits, but , if you do not know them or, at least, try to know them, you can also hate them easily. In 1773, even Pope Clement XlV suppressed the order due to clamor from angry state-governments. The Society of Jesus was restored in 1805 by Pope Pius Vll.
I remember Fr. Joaquin Bernas SJ, the priest-lawyer-constitutionalist--professor-journalist-critic, being called the “guru of destabilization” on national television by a very high government official annoyed by his criticisms of the administration of President Gloria Macapacal Arroyo. But, being the priest that he is, he just took it in stride. At the Ateneo Law School, his famous retort to a student who gave a long answer in recitation is “why is your answer wrong?” That is his riposte-of-endearment to allow the student to re-think his answer and then answer again. Fr. Bernas SJ is the master of the socratic method of teaching. He asks a question, the student answers and then he ask again and then the student answers again and the process goes on and on for every student. He is both loved and respected by his students. By the way, even the Supreme Court, in one landmark constitutional law case, described with reverence the explanations of Fr. Bernas SJ as “august words.” He is esteemed by the Supreme Court as an authority. His books in Philippine constitutional law are the best.
Father Horacio de las Costa S.J. was the greatest history teacher I ever had. Perhaps , he is one of the greatest historians this country ever had. His book “Readings in Philippine History” was a must- read during my college days. He smoked a lot and I even noticed that he did so with cigarettes without filters. And, literally and euphemistically, there was poetry in the way he taught history. It was just beautiful. I remember when we were about to study “Mi Ultimo Adios”, he asked us to read its English version as an assignment. The next class-session, Fr. De La Costa SJ recited it in Spanish with a unique kind of elegance. We were mesmerized. He lso critiqued our papers. I will never forget the day when, in front of the class , one of the papers he chose was mine. He read its title “COULD RIZAL HAVE TURNED INTO ANOTHER SIMOUN?” and said “good title and good topic.” Those short words coming from Fr. De La Costa SJ instantly gave me a real source of pride. However, regarding his comments on the qualitative content of my paper, well, let’s just say Fr. De Las Costa SJ was candid .
Fr. Francis Reilly S.J. was a great spiritual adviser to me up to the time he died. He was a philosopher and a tall, lean, blond, blue-eyed, Irish-American from Buffalo, New York who, just like the late Fr. James Reuter S.J. , made the Philippines his home. I still read and re-read his books “The Quiet GOD” and “Yearning to Learn” every now and then especially during the Holy Week. He guided our college organization, the Ateneo Student Catholic Action (ATSCA) in our grassroots apostolate in the “squatter” areas. He tempered my “radicalism” during college with the questions, “Is the Catholic Faith not enough? Does one still need those ideologies?” He gave me the resolve to shift from medicine to law when I needed the advice. Most of all, Fr. Francis Reilly S.J. gave me spiritiual direction which affects me to this day.
Going back to our new Pope Francis, he most likely has the typical qualities of a Jesuit priest exhibited by Fathers Bernas, De La Costa and Reilly and the rest of them, namely : simple, humble, intelligent, historical, discerning , open-minded, honestly candid and most of all deeply spiritual. We have seen his being different and his “down-to-earthness” in the first few days of his papacy. He did not choose the name of a former pope. He chose Francis after St. Francis of Assisi, who was not even a Jesuit. He did not wear the usual garments of a new Pope upon introduction to the world. He wore his usual pair of leather shoes, rode the bus, and even paid his own hotel bills. He descended to the people, hugged and greeted them.
Traditionalists were even reported to have been surprised that Pope Francis included women and members of other religions in the washing-of-the-feet ritual last Holy Thursday. His first homily at the Chrism Mass as the Bishop of Rome was candid and straight-to-the-point especially on matters concerning the religious orders. Challenging the priestly vocation, he said,
A good priest can be recognized by the way his people are anointed. This is a clear test. When our people are anointed with the oil of gladness, it is obvious: for example, when they leave Mass looking as if they have heard good news. Our people like to hear the Gospel preached with "unction", they like it when the Gospel we preach touches their daily lives, when it runs down like the oil of Aaron to the edges of reality, when it brings light to moments of extreme darkness, to the "outskirts" where people of faith are most exposed to the onslaught of those who want to tear down their faith.”
Indeed, his initial words and deeds seem to indicate that he will be a trail-blazing Pope. The message appears to be: “you have not seen anything yet.” There are so many issues confronting him: the financial “insolvency” of the Vatican, gross immorality in the priesthood, lack of priests, clamors for women-priests, birth control , gay marriages, re-evangelization of Europe, the problems of disillusioned Catholics, ex-communicated religious orders , and many more. With bated breath and excitement, we all await his moves. Will there be changes, limited changes, or will there be much ”unction” but nevertheless business-as-usual? Let us see.
There were three priests in a room: a Dominican, a Franciscan , and a Jesuit. They were debating on which was the best religious order of all. The Dominican insisted that it was the Order of the Preachers (the Dominicans) because it was believed that the holy rosary was given to St. Dominic. The Franciscan asserted that it was the Franciscan order because St. Francis was given the honor of the holy stigmata. The Jesuits said it was the Society of Jesus because their founder was a former wounded soldier who saw the light.
During their heated arguments, there was an unexpected brown out. Immediately, the Dominican priest knelt and started praying the rosary so that there will be light again. The Franciscan decided not to eat his sumptuous lunch as penance and sacrifice for the light to come around again. The Jesuit on the other hand simply opened the battery–box and changed the wasted-batteries. Immediately there was light. The Dominican and the Franciscan shouted that a miracle happened. The Jesuit approached them and showed them the old batteries.
Then their debate started again. Since they did not want to surrender their positions, GOD decided to intervene. GOD sent them a letter. They read the letter which scolded all of them for even debating such things. GOD wrote that no one was better over the other. Then, just like any letter-sender, GOD blessed them and ended by stating:
Sincerely and lovingly yours,
GOD S.J.
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