DEDICATION. TO THE REV. CHARLES BROOKE, EX-PROVINCIAL OF THE ENGLISH MEMBERS, S. J. Dear Rev. Father, At length 1 send my handful of Collections for illustrating the Lives of the Scotch, and English, and Irish Members of the Society of Jesus. I am very sensible, how unsatisfactorily and feebly the work is executed : for, independently of my own incapacity, I have had sometimes to regret, in the progress of my labours, the loss of Documents through the carelessness of Friends and Brethren; and much more frequently to deplore the wanton spoliation and destruction of valuable Evidences and Records, by the avowed Enemies of the Society, and of Catholic Faith. In your charity be pleased to accept this compilation as an earnest of my good will and attachment to the Body, and as a proof of my anxiety to mark the sense I entertain of the "præclara Provinciæ Angliæ merita in Ecclesiam et Societatem."+ At all events I hope to have shown, that I am a willing Pioneer in the service, too happy to prepare the way for more efficient Workmen. Permit me to confess, Dear Rev. Father, that I am deeply moved and affected, when I call to mind the heroic examples of many of these truly good, and even great men (for they were great in the sight of God)-when I consider their personal sacrifices and pri vations for the cause of Religion, and that ardent zeal for the honour and glory of God, which no disgrace could intimidate, no difficulties and dangers could terrify. They were men indeed, of whom the world was not worthy. They cast no sideling glance to interest: they rose superior to prejudice, and all unbecoming jealousy. United amongst themselves, and emulous of the credit of their own Order, they esteemed, assisted, cherished and honoured all fellow-labourers in the vineyard of our common Master, Jesus Christ. Rich in wisdom and virtue, they were contented in the midst of poverty, and the heat of persecution. Though deserving well of their country, of Society, and of mankind, they had often to experience the foulest ingratitude, and to become the victims of calumny, malice, and tyrannical iniquity.--(Ecclesiastes iv. I.)—How many of these worthies have spent themselves in the care of the poor, the prisoners, the infected, the Slave and Barbarian? How many have toiled in the education of youth, and in training fature Missionaries ? How many have dragged out an existence amidst incredible hardships and perils, concealed in speluncis et in abditis, in petris quoque et in antris, et in cisternis—(1. i. Reg. c. 13) -daily exposed to treachery and apprehension, and in perpetual terror for the liberty, and fortunes, and lives of their Friends and Benefactors? How many have pined away and perished in chains and dungeons? How many, after enduring refined tortures in secret, The Annual Letters of 1685, deeply lament the loss and plunder of documents during the popular excitement occasioned by Oates' Plot. "De Missione nostra Anglicana ultimæ Persecutionis acerbitas omnia fére nobis monumenta ademit: integræ nostræ Bibliotheca compilatæ sunt; scrinia omnia cum chartis et observationibus direpta, adeo ut mirum non sit multa hic desiderari, quæ, uti speramus, scripta sunt in Libro Vile." + XIV Gen. Congreg. Decret, 16, A. D. 1696. The General M. A. Tamburini also, in his letter of the 26th of January, 1715, to the Provincial F. Thomas Parker, calls it "Meritissima Angliæ Missio." α have been brought on the scaffold rejoicing to be accounted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus? Though dead, they still speak; and from their ashes is echoed the admonition, • Be not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the Promises." Without possessing the merit and honour of being a member of the Society, yet to none can I yield in sentiments of regard and veneration for this PIOUS INSTITUTE, as the Council of Trent styles it, (25 Session 16 ch. de Reg.) To witness its hereditary spirit of zeal and charity throughout the English Province, is, to me, a source of the highest gratification. For this cheering spectacle, all the friends of Religion are greatly indebted to you ; for you made the principles of your holy Founder, as developed in his Rules and Constitutions, the Guide and Polar Star of your government. That your days may be many, to enlighten by your wisdom, to direct by your experience, and to edify by your religious virtues, is the cordial wish of Your faithful friend and servant, GEORGE OLIVER. St. Nicholas' Priory, Exeter, 31st July, 1839. HISTORICAL CATECHISM. CHIEFLY RELATING TO THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE SOCIETY. Question. Who was the Founder of the Society of Jesus? Auswer. St. Ignatius, of Loyola, Q. How many, and who were his first companions? A. They were nine, viz. 1. F. PETER FABER, He died at Rome, 1st of August, 1546, ætatis 40. 2. The great ST. FRANCIS XAVERIUS, who died at St. Sancian, 2nd of December, 1552, æt. 55. 3. F. JAMES LAYNEZ, who died at Rome 19th of January, 1565, æt. 53. 4. F. ALPHONSUS SALMERON, who died at Naples, 13th of February, 1585, æt. 69. 5. SIMON RODRIGUEZ, who died at Lisbon, 15th of July, 1579. 6. NICHOLAS BOBADILLA, who died at Loretto, 23rd of September, 1590, æt. 79. 7. CLAUDIUS JAY, who died at Vienna, 6th of August A.D. 1552. 8. JOHN CODURIUS, who died at Rome, 29th of August, 1541, æt. 33. 9. PASCHASIUS BROET, who died at Paris, 14th of September, 1562, æt. 55. Q. When was the Society confirmed by the Holy See ? A. The Bull of its Confirmation Regimini militantis ecclesiæ, was published by Pope Paul III. on the 27th of September, 1540; but his Holiness then restricted the number of Members to 60. This restriction was entirely removed by his Bull Injunctum nobis, on the 14th of March, 1543. By his successive Bulls Cum inter. Exponi nobis. Licet debitum, he was pleased to confer many favours and privileges on the infant Society. Q. When did the Jesuits first begin to open schools in Europe? A. In the year 1546, or six years after the confirmation of their Order, when they were put in the possession of the College at Gandia, by its Founder, the celebrated Francis Borgia. We may add, however, that they had undertaken the charge of the Royal College at Goa in the preceding year. Q. How long did St. Ignatius survive the foundation of his Order? A. Nearly 16 years; for he died at Rome on the 31st of July, 1556, æt. 65. Q. When was he canonized? A. The Bull of the Canonization prepared by Pope Gregory XV, on the 12th of March, 1622, was published by his Successor Urban VIII, on the 6th of August, 1623. The Saint's Beatification had been pronounced by Paul V, in 1609. Q. Did St. Ignatius entertain the wish of extending the Society to England? A. Yes, and had even commissioned F. Peter Ribadeneira, in 1555, to carry this wish into execution; but owing to the Saint's death in the following year, Queen Mary's decease shortly after, and the unsettled state of public affairs in the early part of Queen Elizabeth's reign, as also the inadequate number of fit members, this work of zeal and usefulness was delayed for several years. Q. At whose instigation were Jesuit Missionaries first sent to England? A. At Dr. Allen's, who obtained of Pope Gregory XIII, an express Order for this purpose, directed to F. Everard Mercurian, the 4th General of the Society. Dr. Allen assured his Holiness, that this employment of Jesuits was "not only the earnest desire and petition of the Seminary at Rheims, but of the best and principal Catholics of England."-F. Persons' M.S. Life of F. Edmund Campian. Q. Who was Dr. Allen? A. He was born at Rosehall in Lancashine in 1532, and rose by his talents to be regarded as a star of the first magnitude in the University of Oxford. When Queen Elizabeth proclaimed herself the Champion of Protestantism, the Doctor threw aside all his preferments, and retired to Louvain. A few years later he settled at Douay, and became a rallying point to several English Catholics, who not being able to live with their conscience at home, had fixed upon voluntary banishment. But the Doctor's original intention in admitting such resort and convictus was not, (as he often affirmed to F. Persons,) that they might return to England to teach and preach the Catholic Faith; but it was for the purpose of mutual encouragement in virtue and learning, and the easier practice of their religious duties." Happily, however, this band of Confessors became inspired with the noble ambition of perpetuating themselves, and keeping alive the lamp of Orthodoxy in their native country. With this view, Dr. Allen, in 1568, opened a Seminary at Douay, and the successful essay of the Rev. Lewis Barlow, the first Missionary who left it for England, animated their hopes and courage to persevere in this Apostolic undertaking. |