Continued
from previous post –
Catholic
Reformation
What
reforms Pope introduced in Papal office is quiet interesting.
Alessandro Farnese, elected pope in 1534 as Paul III, seems likely to
prolong the worst aspects of the Renaissance papacy. He was appointed
cardinal at the age of twenty-five because his sister Giulia was
having an affair with the Borghese Pope, Alexander
VI. While a
cardinal, he kept a mistress in Rome by whom he had four children. As
Pope, he outdoes many of his predecessors in the favors he heaps upon
his family. He detaches Parma and Piacenza provinces from the Papal
States and turns them into hereditary duchies for his eldest son. Two
of his grandsons are in their teens when he creates them cardinals.
Yet,
as it turns out this is the Pope who launches the Catholic
Reformation!
Two
details in particular during Paul's pontificate, signal the start of
the Catholic Reformation (also often known as the
Counter-Reformation, being the church's response to the Protestant
reformers). One is Paul's convening of the Council
of Trent in
1545. He achieves this after several attempts and against
considerable opposition.
The other great innovation of his reign is more of a God-given accident than any result of papal initiative. Paul is visited in Rome in 1537 by a group of passionately committed students from the University of Paris. Headed by Ignatius of Loyola, they offer their services directly to the pope. These students were deeply impressed by the work of St. Peter at Rome and their youthful minds, notwithstanding other excesses, decide to support him probably because that was best suited to them. Pope also wanted something like this to come up to create his image in the pontificate.
Society
of Jesus: 1540-1541
The
visit to the pope by Ignatius Loyola has echoes of St Francis
and St Dominic
with Innocent III. It was
history repeats. Unlike those 13th-century saints, with their mission
to live and preach among the poor of the expanding towns, St Ignatius
is very much of his own time - a man of the 16th century. Where the
twin challenge is the drift of much of Europe into the Protestant
heresy and the opening up
of a far-flung pagan world, bringing fruitful fields for mission work
in this new age of ocean travel and exploration.
Members of Society of Jesus were, as it were, carrying 'key to
Heaven', that is supposed to give Pope the higher authority over
other Bishops in Christian world. Ignatius Loyola's inner aim appears
to be that, to get hold of that key.
To
these challenges, Ignatius can bring the energy and the organizing
skills of a trained soldier. Offered a
force of spiritual commandos, answerable directly to his person only
in fighting Rome's battles, Paul III seizes his chance. In September
1540, he authorizes a new order, to be known as the 'Society of
Jesus'. In April 1541 Ignatius's colleagues elect him as the first
general; the title, in use to this day, accurately reflects the
nature of the campaign being undertaken.
Ignatius
writes simple rules for his order. There is to be no specific form of
dress, no regular commitment to attend particular services. Jesuits,
as they soon come to be called, are to be free to move fast wherever
they are needed. Obedience to the pope is central. Jesuit theologians
are already at the pope's side during the Council
of Trent.
Many priests joined
this force and moved all over the world to convert people to
Christianity. Other indulged in serving poor people by giving them
succor, still others engaged in spreading education to people and
still others engaged in medical care and many more were busy managing
orphanage, old homes, disabled homes and many such activities;
resulting in improving image of Church all over. Many notable Jesuits
are revered today all over the world; one name is that of Mother
Teresa. This innovation in the Church worked for the cause of Jesus
but their aim was not of teaching righteousness but they wanted to
use the goodwill they earn by these activities to convert people to
Christianity belonging to Roman Catholic Church. This became obvious
when people receiving benefits from their services refused to convert
to Christianity of Church, the same so-called humble servants of
Jesus turned into vicious people treating those who refused very
badly.
Continues in the
next post –
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