JESUITICAL

Haggarty House

I was blessed to meet the new Jesuit Director of Haggarty House last Friday (May 9, 08) because of Aying’s timely text message. His name is Bro. Joel Liwanag, S.J. There is a seemingly different aura radiating from him who I found comforting and likable. He is one Jesuit we can all easily relate. We, together with Roh (The CSG Supreme Chief Justice) had a good conversation with Fr. Joel over some chips and salsa. I always call Jesuits father so as to orient themselves of their “supposed” destiny. Anyway, one thing I asked about him was the true meaning of the word “Jesuitical” and its flavor among the Jesuits.

Jesuitical (adj.) - using subtle or over subtle reasoning; crafty; sly; intriguing

The intriguing word

Come to think of it, the whole sense of the word could be a sort of complement if you ask me. Bro. Joel seconded the motion. I was just intrigued by the term because it somehow attests to the great influence and admiration the Jesuits produced because of their great innovative works of evangelization all over the world in 400+ years. It calls to mind the shrewdness of their minds, the creativity of their visions, and the passionate and focused drive to accomplish great things. It was said that monarchs in the post middle ages fear them for their sharp interpolation on royal orders in their courts yet they are the most sought after panel of consultants in dealing the affairs of state. I later thought that this word is simply used to define an offshoot of the unique Jesuit lifestyle with regards to work and dealing with people.

Roots of being Jesuitical

Because they are so in tuned towards themselves and the movement of God in their lives, it is not difficult for them to transcend from their daily transactions of life making them at peace with themselves and with the world. This in effect gives them a larger inner space where they can exercise their creativity and analysis fully and easily translate them into words and actions even in the most chaotic situations. And I think scholars coined that term to describe the manner of doing things born from their sense of inner peace and deep understanding of why things are as they are. They are shrewd in reasoning, crafty in building things, sly in moving people, and intriguing in making all these happen because they simply know why they are there. AMDG.