Jesuit Tradition Research Articles

Implications of a Community-Based Learning Faculty Fellows Program to Facilitate Teaching and Learning in the Jesuit Tradition

Implications of a Community-Based Learning Faculty Fellows Program to Facilitate Teaching and Learning in the Jesuit Tradition

‘You are the hero’: teaching great literature in a London Jesuit school

This article argues that Ignatian pedagogy in the Jesuit tradition allows great literature to become transformative. It takes as a case study an extracurricular course – ‘Becoming a Hero: From Homer to Harry Potter’ – taught to a socially diverse group of key stage three ‘gifted and talented’ children in a London Jesuit comprehensive school. While secondary teaching is normally geared towards high-stakes summative assessment, this course aims instead at personal growth. Young people discover themselves as the heroes in a perennial plotline which appears throughout both classic texts and young adult fiction. The teacher (himself a Jesuit) had previously taught the course to undergraduates at Harvard University. Adapting it for younger children, he makes the case for ‘gifted and talented’ provision and narrates his use of assessment for prior learning and creative teaching techniques in order to ensure holistic – spiritual, intellectual, and emotional – learning beyond the curriculum.

The Recently Found Map of the World (Kunyutu 坤輿圖): A Philological Survey (Part II)

Abstract This is Part II following on from the first presentation of the Chinese Map of the World or Kunyutu 坤輿圖 published in vol. 75 of this journal. The large wall map in silk, found in a federal library in Berne, Switzerland, is anonymous and purports to represent the geopolitical situation during the period 1700–1730. After a short general, geographical overview containing cartographic remarks and findings, this article will focus on the translation of all 112 text blocks on the map, which are found in Appendix II. These text blocks contain information on the customs and products of a given place, as well as describing other curiosities associated with it. I compared these texts with other maps and textual sources, in particular with The Complete World Map (Kunyu quantu 坤輿全圖) and The Explanations of the World Map (Kunyutu shuo 坤輿圖說) by Verbiest in 1674. A Venn diagram reveals which source was used most frequently. I detected some geographical assumptions the creator of the Bernese map has drawn from previous sources or copied from earlier maps. These offer valuable pointers to the source language and enable the identification of specific misunderstandings, original creations and uncertainties or signs of ignorance. My translation of the text blocks helps to pinpoint certain anachronisms and inaccuracies, although the map essentially reflects the political situation in the years 1700–1730. These various pieces of evidence suggest that the map was in fact made much later by a copyist and is not only a cartographic composite of earlier maps, but also a fusion based on Northern and Southern Mandarin sources. I presume that the translations, drawn from French sources into Southern Mandarin – the language of the late Ming officials (guanhua 官話) – as well as a variety of Southern Chinese dialects, suggest the underlying influence of a Jesuit tradition.

The Bureau of Sinology and Its Early Development, 1927–1934

Abstract In 1927, the Jesuit-run Bureau of Sinology was founded in Shanghai to assist missionaries in their apostolic work via education and publications. The bureau’s establishment was part of a longstanding effort to resume the Jesuit tradition of developing intellectual apostolate and pursuing Sinological studies. However, the bureau was soon beset by internal crises that limited its functionality. The bureau also competed with the Synodal Commission, which Celso Costantini (1876–1958), the first apostolic delegate to China, had established in the same year and with a similar objective. The ecclesiastical hierarchy and overlapping purposes of the two institutes disadvantaged the bureau in its early development and escalated tensions between the Jesuits in China and the delegate. This article is part of the special issue of the Journal of Jesuit Studies, “Jesuits in Modern Far East,” guest edited by Steven Pieragastini.

In the Web of Arguments and Interests: Debate in Vienna on the Introduction of the Subject Teacher System

The paper discusses the history of Vienna’s first attempt to introduce a subject teacher system. The last half of the eighteenth century saw the emergence of a lively debate over educational policy at the heart of the Habsburg Empire, driven by the secularisation and modernisation agenda of Enlightenment absolutism. Educational issues were at the centre of the monarch’s power and political aspirations vis-à-vis the Church, since it was in this area that the secular influence of the Church was hoped to be limited as quickly as possible. While the Court achieved significant and lasting partial successes in lower and higher education, the reform of grammar schools and need to rid them of ecclesiastical influence were almost completely neglected. The most important endeavour of those pushing for modernisation was the introduction of a subject teacher system. There were good reasons for doing so, since this could have paved the way for transforming, at a stroke, a curriculum which still reflected the centuries-old Jesuit tradition, removing monk teachers and guaranteeing the prevalence of secular viewpoints through state teacher training in the long term. The experiment, which can be divided into two intensive phases, had failed completely by the end of the 1810s but provided important lessons for both contemporaries and succeeding generations. Those involved with the struggles were able to observe the internal divisions within the Catholic Church and the strength of the reform Catholic group, while a few decades later, with the introduction of Entwurf, the first attempt at introducing the subject teacher system served as an applicable historical precedent for future generations to copy.

Change Management in Higher Education: A New Perspective.

Universities need to operate a transition from the common ‘traditional’ settings towards an education that contributes to a sustainable social change by preparing students to be change agents who care for others and for the well-being of society. We designed an interpretative qualitative approach using the unique case study of a Jesuit University, based on interviews with leaders of and participants to volunteering initiatives driven by that university. The objective of the study was to identify the drivers of change of the outreach model in higher education and analyze if the Jesuit way of doing things, or Jesuit tradition, is an effective tool to drive the change in universities. Five key drivers of change were identified (communication, participation, sharing, empathy and reflexivity), all in line with the characteristics of the Jesuit tradition. Both empathy and reflexivity are drivers of change, which were not cited in previous works on change management and may be considered as the study’s added value to the conceptual framework. The results of this study need to be confirmed on a larger sample of participants and would be enriched by a benchmarking work on Jesuit-led outreach bodies.

Объективная, трансцендентальная, формальная истина: вопрос об истине в метафизике и схоластической теологии иезуитов раннего Нового времени

The article studies the transformation of the traditional Peripatetic concept of truth in the Jesuit metaphysics and scholastic theology of the Early Modern period. The essence of this transformation is described as an increasing tendency towards a convergence of the classical scholastic concept of the "transcendental truth of things" and the new concept of "objective truth” and to replace the first concept with the second. First, the article describes and analyzes the classic for the later Jesuit tradition disposition of the concept of truth in a metaphysical treatise on truth within the framework of the VIIIth Metaphysical Disputation by Fr. Suárez and shows the traditional opposition of the formal truth of knowledge or judgment and transcendental truth as an attribute of being as such. Secondly, the article shows that an essential characteristic of Suárez's metaphysical concept of truth is the reality of truth, and not objectivity as conceivability, not limited to real entity. It is indicated that Suárez is quite familiar with the concept of “objective truth”, but applies it only in his theology, while excluding it from metaphysics. Thirdly, the article looks into the theological motives for the formation of the concept of objective truth as key for the Jesuit theology of ‘scientia media’. Finally, the article analyzes the content of the treatise on the "objective truth" of things in the Pharus scientiarum by S. Izquierdo, and also demonstrates the motives and consequences of the identification of objective and transcendental truth in Izquierdo’s ontology.

The recently found Map of the World (Kunyutu 坤輿圖): a philological survey

Abstract This paper is a first presentation of a Chinese Map of the World or Kunyutu 坤輿圖 discovered in a Federal library in Berne in 2017. It focusses on the rendering of the 7000 characters contained within the map. The translation of the complete 112 text blocks on the map will be provided in a second paper, whilst Indices I and II of this paper render the 1025 toponyms. The text blocks contain information on the customs and products of a given place, as well as describing other curiosities associated with it. These texts are compared with other maps and texts, in particular with The Complete World Map (Kunyu quantu 坤輿全圖) and The Explanations to the World Map (Kunyutu shuo 坤輿圖說) of 1674 by Verbiest. The re-translation of the text blocks helps to identify certain anachronisms and inaccuracies although the map purports to reflect the political situation in the years 1700–1729. This reveals the extent to which the text blocks draw on previous sources. Moreover, the rendering of the toponyms detects some inconsistencies in orthography and these interferences offer valuable pointers to the source and target languages. These various pieces of evidence suggest that the map was made much later by a copyist and is not only a cartographic composite of earlier maps, but also a fusion of Northern and Southern Mandarin. The translations presumably from French, Portuguese and Spanish sources in Southern Mandarin – the language of the officials (guanhua 官話) of the late Ming – as well as a variety of Southern Chinese dialects point to the underlying influence of a Jesuit tradition.

Change management in Higher Education: a New Perspective

Universities need to operate a transition from the common ‘traditional’ settings towards an education that contributes to a sustainable social change by preparing students to be change agents who care for others and for the well-being of society. We designed an interpretative qualitative approach using the unique case study of a Jesuit University, based on interviews with leaders of and participants to volunteering initiatives driven by that university. The objective of the study was to identify the drivers of change of the outreach model in higher education and analyze if the Jesuit way of doing things, or Jesuit tradition, is an effective tool to drive the change in universities. Five key drivers of change were identified (communication, participation, sharing, empathy and reflexivity), all in line with the characteristics of the Jesuit tradition. Both empathy and reflexivity are drivers of change, which were not cited in previous works on change management and may be considered as the study’s added value to the conceptual framework. The results of this study need to be confirmed on a larger sample of participants and would be enriched by a benchmarking work on Jesuit-led outreach bodies.

Moral character and the civic mission of American universities: The Catholic, Jesuit vision of justice education

The formation of students’ moral character is a critical part of civic engagement programs in US higher education. This is especially evident in Catholic, Jesuit education, which emphasizes pedagogical practices at the intersection of faith and justice. Advances in the fields of moral psychology and civic education, particularly service-learning, further clarify the vision of justice found in both the Jesuit tradition and the emancipatory ideals of American democracy. The influence of the Center for Service and Community Engagement at Saint Louis University, a mid-sized Jesuit institution in the Midwestern United States, signals a way for making this vision a reality through “social projection.”

Change Management in Higher Education: A New Perspective.

Universities need to operate a transition from the common ‘traditional’ settings towards an education that contributes to a sustainable social change by preparing students to be change agents who care for others and for the well-being of society. We designed an interpretative qualitative approach using the unique case study of a Jesuit University, based on interviews with leaders of and participants to volunteering initiatives driven by that university. The objective of the study was to identify the drivers of change of the outreach model in higher education and analyze if the Jesuit way of doing things, or Jesuit tradition, is an effective tool to drive the change in universities. Five key drivers of change were identified (communication, participation, sharing, empathy and reflexivity), all in line with the characteristics of the Jesuit tradition. Both empathy and reflexivity are drivers of change, which were not cited in previous works on change management and may be considered as the study’s added value to the conceptual framework. The results of this study need to be confirmed on a larger sample of participants and would be enriched by a benchmarking work on Jesuit-led outreach bodies.

Reconciling Structural and Personal Expressions of Justice in Jesuit Education

Justice education in the Catholic, Jesuit tradition is filled with tensions, many of which surface in different community service contexts. Saint Louis University offers an institutional illustration of these tensions, both in the conceptual origins of justice education and in the practical ways that students make meaning from service experiences. The overall work of the University’s Center for Service and Community Engagement is one of the practical offshoots of the Jesuit mission to simultaneously promote faith and justice in a unifying vision. We focus on two specific student-led initiatives aimed at combatting hunger and homelessness in the St. Louis community as a way to illustrate the tension between structural and personal expressions of justice, as well as to highlight the important synergies that emerge when these complementary modalities are reconciled.

Teaching and Learning Anthropology in the Museum: Developing an Exhibit with the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm

Elements of the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP), or teaching and learning in the Jesuit tradition, can be successfully integrated into both formal anthropology courses and informal environments such as museum exhibits to advance anthropological pedagogy. This article discusses how I integrated the IPP into the design of an anthropology course on museum exhibit development and into the exhibit itself. Students benefitted from direct activities such as opportunities to study and interpret material culture, and they were asked to reflect on the experience of applying their anthropological knowledge and interests in a public venue. Visitors to the exhibit were provided opportunities for reflection, which may lead to changes in their actions.

Jesuit Scientists in Science-Fiction Novels*

The appearance of Jesuit scientists in science-fiction novels, often as the main characters, is an interesting and little-known fact. Some have even suggested that this feature may characterize a specific sub-genre of such novels. The quality and the themes vary greatly, and it is not clear what moves authors to include Jesuits. This article reviews ten of these novels, noting their great variety in plot and approach, as well as the frequent use of space travel and contact with intelligent aliens. In general, the presence of Jesuit characters allows the authors to introduce a religious perspective, but can also be interpreted as a recognition of the Jesuit tradition in scientific fields.

ATVB Named Lecture Review-Insight Into Author: John H. Griffin.

ATVB Named Lecture Reviews—Sol Sherry Distinguished Lecture on Thrombosis Insight Into the Author: John H. Griffin, PhD, Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA During high school at Seattle Prep, my favorite subjects were physics, chemistry, and math; there it was emphasized that scholarship required a deep and fundamental knowledge of subjects. In the Jesuit tradition, academic excellence, curiosity, and service are inextricably entwined. During those years, I decided that my mission in life should be to discover new knowledge that would be intrinsically satisfying and that could also contribute to improving society. It seemed likely that being an eternal student in the academic life with the goal of making truly pioneering discoveries of potential utility could be fulfilling. My very supportive family, including my inspiring sisters, plus my mentors, close professional friends, and trainees have been critically important influences on my career development, and to all of them I am very grateful. For decades, my wife has provided limitless support to enable my own intense work efforts even while also providing her own model of …

Managing for Resilience: Lessons from Ecology

Many business schools embrace a mission or purpose to develop leaders with a focus on values and principles. In this article, we discuss the role of the institutional mission in teaching sustainability within a business school, and illustrate how mission can be adopted as a framework for discussing and operationalizing sustainability. Specifically, we provide examples of how to adopt mission orientation within a core business course in order to achieve a deeper awareness of sustainability issues and how a single business decision can impact many stakeholders. Moreover, while several of the pedagogical methods presented draw from Jesuit tradition, the strategies discussed can be applied within secular institutions. This article describes how this framework was used to encourage students to make sound and conscientious decisions in a business setting. In addition, we suggest methods for navigating obstacles in integrating mission orientation into undergraduate and graduate level courses.

The Role of Mission Orientation in Sustainable Business Education

Many business schools embrace a mission or purpose to develop leaders with a focus on values and principles. In this article, we discuss the role of the institutional mission in teaching sustainability within a business school, and illustrate how mission can be adopted as a framework for discussing and operationalizing sustainability. Specifically, we provide examples of how to adopt mission orientation within a core business course in order to achieve a deeper awareness of sustainability issues and how a single business decision can impact many stakeholders. Moreover, while several of the pedagogical methods presented draw from Jesuit tradition, the strategies discussed can be applied within secular institutions. This article describes how this framework was used to encourage students to make sound and conscientious decisions in a business setting. In addition, we suggest methods for navigating obstacles in integrating mission orientation into undergraduate and graduate level courses.

António Vieira between Greeks, Romans, and Brazilians: Comments on Rhetoric and the Jesuit Tradition in Brazil

This article uses a short reflection on the life and work of Father António Vieira (born Portugal, 1608, died Brazil, 1697) to draw our attention to the need to account not just for the dynamic interplay between colony and metropolis, but also the colony’s impact on the teaching, theory, and practice of rhetoric since 1492. Specifically, my reflection focuses on Vieira’s Le Lacrime d’Eraclito, a text that suggests that for rhetorical theory and practice the colonial encounter had ramifications on the European continent as profound as those on the American. We cannot speak of an American or Western rhetorical tradition and history without considering this interplay in which the American colonies were active participants, not passive subjects.

A dimensão social da evangelização na Evangelii Gaudium e o discernimento da caridade

O presente artigo pretende analisar o capítulo IV da Exortação Apostólica Evangelii Gaudium do bispo de Roma, Papa Francisco a partir da estrutura inaciana do pensamento do pontífice, tendo em vista como a questão da opção pelos pobres está vinculada ao discernimento da caridade, tal qual o modo de ser e proceder da tradição jesuíta conforme os Exercícios Espirituais de Santo Inácio de Loyola.

WHAT CONSTITUTED HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF THE NEW WORLD? CLOSENESS AND DISTANCE IN WILLIAM ROBERTSON AND FRANCISCO JAVIER CLAVIJERO

According to Gerbi's classical study, the “dispute of the New World” entered a new phase in the 1780s, one marked by voices coming from the Americas. New questions were then raised about the writing of history, its method, scope and proofs. This essay pursues a dual-track enquiry, confronting theHistory of America(1777) by the Presbyterian minister William Robertson, a leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, with theStoria antica del Messico(1780–81) by the Mexican exiled Jesuit Francisco Javier Clavijero. The two works, one written from the centre of the world's commercial expansion, the other from the Pontifical States, were engaged in a sophisticated dialogue, which yields two alternative, competing conceptions of history and of humankind. To Robertson's philosophical history, which developed from a long-distance perspective, characteristic of Enlightenment, Clavijero responded by reassessing the Jesuit and antiquarian tradition, based on closeness, local expertise and direct observation.