What does it mean today to be a Jesuit who has chosen the religious life without ordination to the priesthood? This was a point of reflection for the Jesuit brothers from around the world who converged in Rome to meet, pray together, and discern the present and future of their vocation.
Fr General Arturo Sosa himself has constantly stressed that the vocation of the brother is essential to the life of the Society. Speaking to the brothers at their gathering in the first week of July, Fr Sosa once again emphasised the prophetic dimension of the charism of the Society of Jesus, and the brothers’ role in it.
“Whatever he does, a Jesuit brother is a man of God who has chosen to be a companion of Jesus, to share his life, his word and his mission of reconciliation and justice, proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is near,” said Father General, whose own vocation as a Jesuit was nourished by the example of the brothers he had known in school.
“The prophetic dimension of the Jesuit brother’s life-mission is expressed in having his eyes fixed first on God; in that he seeks, finds and shows the way to God; in being opposed to clericalism, to excessive ambition, to the abuse of power; in interior freedom that leads to give witness to the essential of religious life; in the happiness of walking with Jesus, poor and humble, serving in whatever is needed,” said Fr Sosa.
In the same vein, Fr Mark Ravizza SJ, Assistant to Father General for Formation, shared that the important contribution of the brother is the gift of himself, freely offered in the service of the Lord.
In his address to the brothers, Fr Ravizza raised four points that characterise the formation of a brother:
- Formation must be integrated into the overall activity of the body of the Society and must contribute to the integration of the brother into religious life while safeguarding his own identity as a brother.
- Formation aims at excellence for the mission, the best quality of education and spiritual formation to prepare the brother to participate and be fully available for the mission.
- Formation should create community and a sense of belonging to the whole body of the Society.
- Finally, formation should be characterised by flexibility, freedom, and the exercise of discernment; it should therefore be adapted both to the apostolic mission and at the same time to the unique gifts of the brother as well as to his call to the consecrated life.
For Filipino Brother Jeff Pioquinto SJ, who is the Convener of Jesuit Brothers in Asia Pacific, what was striking was the view of formation as both integrated and integrating.
“Formation should be with and for the whole body of the Society. It aims at incorporation into religious life but also at appropriating the unique identity of a brother. Our formation should be integrated but also integrating to help us focus on how we can live our life fully as a brother while grounding our identity to our vocation and to the mission of the Society,” he shared.
The brothers had the opportunity to suggest topics they would like the congregation to explore during their open space activity. Nine topics were suggested and the brothers could choose up to three topics to participate in the discussion.
“It was consoling listening to the stories of the brothers coming from different contexts, cultures, and backgrounds but with one desire to serve and to love God. It is truly encouraging despite the different challenges that go with it,” said Br Jeff.
One of the added graces of the gathering was the opportunity for the brothers to meet with Pope Francis, who visited the Jesuit curia. It was a fine conclusion to a week of praying, reflecting, and fostering the vocation of the Jesuit brothers.