The Constitutions of the Society of Jesus as a Gift of Life
The first time I learned about the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus was during my Novitiate from 2002 to 2004. Throughout this period, our Novice Master encouraged us to engage with Part VI of the Constitutions: The Personal Life of Those Admitted and Incorporated into the Body of the Society. I did not comprehend much regarding the structure of the Constitutions or the content of each chapter. Nevertheless, I loved the Society and aspired to become a Jesuit because I experienced a model of holiness through our Master’s life. Like a compassionate father, he cared for and cherished me and my fellow novices. He was the one who brought me to life spiritually, guiding me to encounter Jesus through the Spiritual Exercises and connecting me to the life and mission of the Society through the reception of the Constitutions.
Reflecting on my religious life through the lens of the Constitutions, I recognize the significance of the vows, particularly the vow of obedience emphasized by Ignatius. According to Ignatius, “All should strongly dispose themselves to observe obedience and to distinguish themselves on it … They should keep in view God our Creator for whom such obedience is practiced, and endeavor to proceed in a spirit of love” (Constitutions, Part VI, 547, 1). The Norms further explain Ignatius’s teaching on obedience, stating that “Both the superior who sends and the companion who is sent gain assurance that the mission is truly God’s will if it is preceded by special dialogue” (Norms, Part VI, 150, 1). Therefore, obedience in the Society does not exclude dialogue; instead, it is concretely expressed through the apostolic discernment of both the superior and the one being sent. They converse in friendship, trust, and charity to discern God’s will and bring Him glory.
Apart from the obedience that Ignatius emphasizes in the life of a Jesuit, I admire the qualities he outlines for a Jesuit, as exemplified in the life of the Superior General. According to Ignatius, the most essential attribute of the Superior General is his profound union with God and his ability to recognize God’s will. Ignatius does not disregard virtues such as temperance, courage, wisdom, and generosity. However, he prioritizes the significance of union with God, placing it above the virtues celebrated by Aristotle’s ethical philosophy. This deep intimacy with God, which Ignatius desires for every Jesuit, calls me to deepen my spiritual life daily through praying with Scripture, examining my conscience, and participating in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Another aspect that surprises me while studying the Constitutions is Ignatius’s reflection on the Society of Jesus as a system comprising elements, connections, and purpose. According to the Formula of the Institute, the purpose of the Society is “to strive for the defense and propagation of the faith and for the progress of souls in Christian life and doctrine.” The elements of the Society include not only its members, such as brothers, approved scholastics, and the professed of three and four vows, but also its ministries, apostolic works, colleges, official letters, and other means of uniting its dispersed members with their head. The connections among the members of the Society are articulated throughout all chapters of the Constitutions, including the relationship between the Superior General as the head of the Society and its members as one body, the duties of superiors, and the Society’s relationship with the Pope.
Reflecting on the Society as a system through Ignatius’s perspective helps me recognize that I am a member of the universal body of the Society. This body consists of many Provinces and various communities within those Provinces. Whether the Society can fulfil its purpose depends on the efforts of each member to live according to the Constitutions. Specifically, I contribute to the mission of defending and spreading the Christian faith by maintaining a profound union with God through prayer, practicing virtues, kindly guiding students, keeping my vows, and engaging in dialogue with my superiors to discern God’s will. Furthermore, by caring for the members of my community, I participate in the mission of the Society, as stated by the Constitutions: “When community life flourishes, the whole religious life is sound; and unity and availability, universality, full personal dedication, and gospel freedom are so strengthened for the assistance of souls in every way” (Norms, Part VIII, 316, 1).
In summary, studying the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus during my Tertianship in Sri Lanka has deepened my understanding of the Society as an instrument used by God to defend and spread the faith. I am invited to obey my superiors—an obedience grounded in charity and dialogue, centered on discerning and fulfilling God’s will. I have come to recognize that unity with God through prayer, daily examen, and participation in the Eucharist is essential in shaping me into a good Jesuit. Ultimately, my most significant realization is that I was reborn and raised within the Society as an apostolic body. I can find happiness in the Society and contribute to its mission by continually learning and practicing the Constitutions that God, through Ignati
us and his first companions, has bestowed upon me as a gift of life.
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