The Heritage of Jesuit Education

As the 1400's came to a close, the great cities of Europe were prospering, adventurers were exploring distant lands, and a renaissance in learning was inspiring new ideas in the arts and sciences. Ignatius was born in 1491, the youngest son of a large, noble family in northern Spain. Though he was a devout Catholic, Ignatius hardly had the youth expected of a saint. He dreamed of becoming a knight and loved riding, fighting, gambling, dancing, and romancing young ladies.

But Ignatius's dreams began to change shortly before his 30th birthday. The young soldier was defending the castle of Pamplona against a French attack when he was hit in the legs by a cannonball. Bedridden for several months at his family's castle, he asked for some adventure stories to read, but all his sister-in-law could find for him was a life of Christ and some tales of saints. As he read these books, he noticed a change taking place within him.

Daydreams of serving the king as a valiant knight, though at first enticing, ultimately left him feeling inwardly dry and discontented. By contrast, when he imagined devoting his life to the service of God and others, like the saints he had read about, Ignatius experienced a deep sense of peace.

Ignatius wisely wanted to test what these unfamiliar desires were all about. So once he recovered from his injuries, he left behind his sword and castle and traveled widely — begging, preaching, and caring for the sick and poor. He loved talking with people about the spiritual life, and recorded his insights into a manual of prayer called the Spiritual Exercises. The more Ignatius worked and prayed, the more he realized that he was called to a life different than the one he had expected. 

Lacking formal academic training, Ignatius went to Paris to study philosophy and theology so that he would become a better preacher and teacher. There, he met other students who were captivated by his experience of God, his vision of the world, and his boundless enthusiasm. In a small chapel outside of Paris, Ignatius and six other men professed religious vows of poverty and chastity to bind them more closely together. (They would later take a vow of obedience.) These companions, who called themselves "friends in the Lord," would eventually become the first Jesuits, more formally known as the "Society of Jesus." (This explains the "S.J." after a Jesuit's last name). 

In 1540, about the time Ignatius of Loyola turned 50, he and his companions went to Rome and offered their services to the pope, who very soon began to depend on them for important missions throughout the world. Over the years, the young Ignatius's desire for power, prestige, and privilege had been transformed into a desire for a life of service and simplicity. Ignatius gradually grew in his awareness of God's deep love, not just for the world generally, but for himself personally. He experienced this love as a profoundly intimate call by Christ to follow him, a call that filled Ignatius with great enthusiasm to serve God and, as he said, "to help souls." Appropriately, then, Ignatius and his Jesuits chose as their motto Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, a Latin phrase that means "for the greater glory of God." The initials, "A.M.D.G.," would be inscribed in many of the buildings the Jesuits would open over the centuries, reminding them that the inspiration and end of all they do is God. 

Ignatius never intended to open schools. He feared that they would tie down his Jesuits too much, preventing them from traveling wherever necessary to serve the needs of the Church. Ignatius soon discovered how much people's religious and moral life could be improved by an education rooted both in the gospel and in the humanistic revival of the Renaissance. Serving the "greater glory of God," in short, meant opening schools. Ignatius's Jesuits quickly built a reputation as scholars and teachers. Students from all over Europe flocked to the burgeoning Jesuit schools. As Jesuit missionaries traveled the globe, they opened schools and colleges where there had been none before. By 1600, there were 245 Jesuit schools. Most of these were a combination of what we now call high schools and colleges; fifteen were specifically universities. 

In the fledgling republic of the United States, Archbishop John Carroll founded the first Catholic college in the country, opening the doors to Georgetown in 1789. The rich history of Saint Joseph's University began a few decades later, on a September morning in 1851, when about thirty young men gathered at Saint Joseph's Church in Philadelphia, just one block from Independence Hall. After attending Mass, they were assigned to classes in a building next to the church. In 1927, the college moved out west of the city to its present location, which was known as "Hawk Hill" because of the hawks that used to enjoy this hill overlooking the city. It is no accident that many of the Jesuits' schools were in cities. Ignatius loved the hustle and bustle of city life. More importantly,in the crowded cities were countless people in great spiritual and material need. Ignatius was always ready to go wherever human needs were not met.

As we strive for "God's greater glory," for the "A.M.D.G.," Ignatius insists that we remain flexible and ready to adapt ourselves to different times and places. In this spirit, Jesuit education is a living tradition. Yet there are some elements common to all Jesuit universities founded across the ages and around the world. To these distinctive characteristics we now turn.

Ignatius believed in the promise of each person, created in the image of God. During those long months recovering in his family's castle, he experienced God working with him through his deepest desires and hopes. As his faith grew, Ignatius also recognized that God works in all that is good in the world. Ignatius thus urges his students to "find God in all things," not just in traditionally religious places and practices. A Jesuit education aims to develop in students a "sacramental awareness" of the world, that is, to see all of creation as pointing toward God.

Colleges are fitting places to help us find God in all things. Students take a variety of courses in different disciplines. In the Jesuit tradition, we look for God's fingerprints in all that we study. For example, because God is found in the natural world around us, we study biology, chemistry, and physics. Because God is found in our humanity, we study the works and ideas of women and men across the ages. We revel in the beauty of fine art and literature, we ask questions fundamental to the human person in philosophy and theology, and we see the best and worst of human nature in history. A very practical man, Ignatius would agree that we can find God in our business courses too: in the innovation that leads to progress and in whatever promotes genuine human community and economic justice.

Taking a variety of different courses is what most people mean by a "liberal education." At Jesuit and other Catholic colleges, though, liberal education means more. We are part of a rich tradition that is as much religious as it is intellectual. Jesuit education opens our minds, liberates our thinking, and empowers us to realize our God-given potential.

If we are to take seriously the call "to find God in all things," then we must also try to find God in the goodness of our own lives - in our talents, in the people we live and learn with, and in the ordinary routine of every day. As we appreciate God's grandeur in and around us, we are drawn into a more loving, more meaningful relationship with our Creator.

As the books and papers pile up, try not to lose sight of the big picture. Look out for ideas that connect all of the different subjects you are studying. Stretch your mind and heart to realize eternal truths and appreciate timeless beauty. Become filled with wonder at moments of new understanding. Notice how you are thinking and praying in new ways. Above all, go about your work as scholars with diligence and humility, because in your studies and in your search for truth, you can encounter the face of God.

Ignatius experienced God not as distant and removed, but as a teacher personally involved with his life, eliciting in him new hopes and bold desires, gently instructing him in the ways of prayer. Similarly, Ignatius wanted those involved in his schools to care for each student personally, attentive to the particular needs and talents of each. This focus on the personal care of the individual is called cura personalis, a hallmark of Jesuit education.

At Saint Joseph's, we try to form the whole person: body, mind, and soul. Like other colleges, we offer countless opportunities for you to stretch your mind, improve your athletic ability, and develop healthy living habits. But as a Catholic institution, we also care for what's on the inside: the spirit that gives your life special meaning and dignity. Whether in the dorm, chapel, or classroom, we strive to discuss issues of character and values and to develop moral judgment.

If Saint Joseph's is to care for the whole person, then we must know you, our students, beyond what a transcript can tell us. We strive to know your background and life history, your strengths and limitations, your struggles and hopes. Only then can we teach you and serve you best. We try to work with you where you are, not just where we want you to be. We aim to adapt our objectives and methods to your particular needs. Our goal is to build a personal, trusting relationship with you so that you will feel free to be yourself, ask questions, make mistakes, and then to grow in new and unexpected ways.

Ignatius was a man of passion. He was filled with zeal for whatever captured his imagination: whether as the gallant knight of his youth or as the humble pilgrim of his later life. Stirring deep within Ignatius was a restless desire for excellence. Always strive for excellence, he urged, always seek the magis (the Latin word means "more" or "better").

For Ignatius, the "more" was always focused on serving the "greater glory of God." During your years at Saint Joseph's, ask yourself: What more can I do to develop my God-given talents as a student and athlete? What more can I do to grow as a person of faith? What more can I do to be more loving and to serve others who are in need? What more can I do as a disciple of Jesus? It is in striving for the magis, in developing our talents to their potential, that we show our gratitude for the gifts God gives us. Mediocrity has no place in a Jesuit university. We must share in Ignatius's restlessness, never content with easy answers or the existing ways of doing things, always ready to adapt and change if God calls us to do so.

You may find that you leave Saint Joseph's with more questions than answers, but that is as it should be. All these questions are a sign that we have served you well, for it is in the struggle to find answers that we grow as scholars and as the persons we are called to be.

Ignatius believed that life was a constant interplay between action and reflection, work and prayer, doing and knowing. We learn best when we are actively engaged in the learning process. As a student, you must do more than just read, take notes, and write exams. You must apply what you learn, making it your own. As you struggle with understanding research, connecting ideas, and then writing papers, you learn more than just the subject of your research: You learn how to think and learn on your own. You will become self-learners in our laboratories and during course internships. You will be active learners outside of your courses, too, whether you are involved in sports, community service, theatre, or retreats.

During these enriching activities, you will test your character, reshape your vision of the world, and learn to love in new situations. This active engagement with the "real world" will give you the confidence you need to make the world a more just and gentle place.

You won't have much trouble being active at Saint Joseph's. Because your days here will be full, it is crucial for you to take time to reflect on all that is going on and to appreciate how you are changing. Otherwise, you may have the experience, but miss the meaning. Without taking time to reflect, you may miss the passing glances of God in your day.

At different times, in and out of class, we will invite you to slow down and consider important questions: What difference does what I'm studying make in the "real world"? What values and ideas really matter in my life? Where do I find God in the routine of every day? What kind of work and relationships give me joy and energy? When do I feel most alive and truly who I am called to be?

Remember that before his conversion, Ignatius led the very active life of a knight. It was only during his forced convalescence following his run-in with a cannonball that he found the time to reflect on his life, an experience that changed him dramatically. We, too, must take time out of our busy days for quiet reflection. Quiet lets us hear God calling us in the ordinary moments of everyday life. Reflecting on both the world around us and on the deepest movements of our hearts helps us make better decisions about how to live our lives.

While captivated by the world of ideas and the spiritual life, Ignatius was committed to making a difference in the messy reality of everyday life. For Ignatius, the model of a "contemplative in action" was Jesus Christ, who labored with others, brought healing to those he met, and gave his life in loving service to God and his neighbor. In all that we do at Saint Joseph's, we must learn to put love into action. Captured by the love of God, we embrace our worth as individuals and acknowledge our responsibility to others. Like Christ, we are called to become people for others.

This means that we must offer our gifts and talents in service to our world, especially to the forgotten and marginalized, and be open to learn from those we serve. Join us as we engage in the crucial struggle for peace and justice. Use the gift of your intellect to look critically at the world and work for solutions to the problems of injustice and poverty. Get involved in the variety of service projects offered by Campus Ministry. Check out the many student groups involved in justice issues. Take a course with a service-learning component or one listed in our faith-justice curriculum. Giving back to those near and far from us is the most natural, most human way of showing our gratitude to God for the blessings so freely given to us.

Ignatius dedicated his Jesuits to serving the needs of the Church. The Catholic intellectual and spiritual tradition enriches the experience of the entire Saint Joseph's community. All students and professors, not just those in the theology department, have something to contribute to the healthy dialogue within the Church on matters of faith, morality, and social responsibility. Through liturgies and retreats, we also offer a life-giving spiritual tradition that can unite our community and give guidance to today's students, especially in searching for the answers to life's most important, and sometimes troubling, questions.

Saint Joseph's is proud of its Catholic heritage; at the same time, we welcome to the campus people from all faith traditions to live, learn, and make their distinctive contributions. We can learn from each other in our common effort to bring the gospel message to bear on the pressing questions of today. We seek to cultivate in all students a mature, informed faith so that they can be more active and thoughtful members in the churches, synagogues, temples, or mosques where they worship.

Believing that we can find God in all things, in all peoples and cultures, Ignatius sent his followers all over the world to spread the gospel. We likewise must be open to people who are different from us and be ready to look beyond the comfortable confines of our campus.

Advances in technology, transportation, and communications have made our world much smaller than it was in Ignatius's day. We are part of a global community. To educate the "whole person" today means that we must realize how connected we are to one another. We must become more aware of the needs of people in our cities and around the globe, especially the poor. Our understanding of suffering and hardship cannot be merely an intellectual exercise. Instead, our hearts must be transformed and our passion for justice incited by having direct contact with people. No book can replace this human connection.

Saint Joseph's offers students many opportunities for building such life-changing relationships. You can study abroad, spend school holidays doing service in another state or country, or join one of our local weekly service programs. On our campus too, you will live and learn with people from many walks of life. Ignatius was always gathering people together and inspiring conversation. Some of your most lasting learning experiences will take place in ordinary, everyday conversations.

Support and challenge one another, including your professors. Be confident to stand up for what you believe in, while remaining open to change and eager to listen. Help us build an inclusive community that sends a powerful message to a world divided by nationality, race, social class, and religion.

This is your heritage, as daughters and sons of Ignatius - something you share with hundreds of thousands of other students educated at a number of Jesuit universities around the world. With this heritage comes a certain privilege, but it also asks us to be responsible. You must help shape the living tradition of which you are now an important part.

Keep us faithful to the age-old principles you've just read about. In all you do, strive for the magis, for excellence, not as the world defines it, but as it is exemplified by Jesus Christ. Be flexible and creative as we try to meet the needs of this new century. Remember that a university is not "Jesuit" just because there are Jesuits walking around campus. Ignatius's legacy is for all people. Jesuit education works best when we work together and remind each other of the "A.M.D.G.": that we are all working for the greater glory of God.

Ignatius wrote thousands of letters in his lifetime, offering direction to Jesuits whom he sent throughout the world on various missions. He often closed his letters with words intended to challenge as much as to inspire. They are fitting words to leave you with now as you look forward to your years at Saint Joseph's: "Go, and set the world on fire!"

Written by Kevin O'Brien, S.J.