Jesuit History 101Collection of essays on Jesuit history, edited by Holy Cross professor, brings together 15 international scholars
“This is a book which should have a great deal of interest as cultural, intellectual, social, political, and religious history. It’s not just an insider book that will interest Jesuits only,” says Fr. Worcester, who wrote three of the essays.
One person who’s interested is Erin Folan ’09. An accounting major at Holy Cross, she is taking a course in Jesuit history this fall, a new class taught by Fr. Worcester. Her brother Peter Folan, 29, is a third-year Jesuit scholastic, finishing his last year of studies at Fordham University.
“I’ve received a brief overview of the history of the Jesuits from my brother. However, I felt I should know even more about the Jesuits since he is making this his life’s work and it is such a major part of who he is,” says Folan.
The book will be available to the public in March of next year, and Fr. Worcester is already using the essays in his class. Folan says she’s eager to learn more about Jesuit education.
“Although this is my first semester taking a class with a Jesuit, I think the foundation of Jesuit education is seen throughout the College. With the focus on men and women for others, many of my classes have taught me to think critically and uphold social justice. With common requirements in a variety of subjects there is a well-rounded education in subjects both in and out of one’s major allowing each student to enter the real world after college with a greater amount of knowledge and charism,” she says.
One thing that impressed Fr. Worcester while working on the book was the endurance of the Jesuits. “Since our foundation in 1540, even with all the changes in society and church, there are certain characteristics that stand out. We’re both adaptable and resilient. We’re very good at both of those things. Adaptation to cultures and circumstances was part of our charism from the beginning. Stability of staying in one place was never who we were. Ignatius wanted us to go where the needs were greatest. And that meant anywhere in the world,” he says. Among the international contributors to the book is Rev. Louis Caruana, S.J., senior lecturer in philosophy at Heythrop College, London, who will be speaking at Holy Cross on Sept. 25 at 4 p.m. in the Rehm Library. His talk is titled “Jesuit Styles of Scientific Thinking,” another example of how Jesuits are involved in many facets of life. “Jesuits are at the intersection of a lot of things. We’re perceived as men of the church in some ways close to or related to the papacy. In other ways we’re seen as cutting edge people in terms of education; as people who speak out for justice, people in the world. We’re not in a cloister — we’re in the world, we’re in contact and dialogue with an exceptional range of different people,” says Fr. Worcester.
Advance copies sent to reviewers have elicited positive feedback.
“The history of the Jesuits is as complex as it is fascinating. Worcester’s volume helps us sort it out through a judicious sampling of themes from the founding of the order in 1540 until the present. It will be valuable for both the novice and the specialist,” writes Rev. John O’Malley, S.J., university professor in the theology department at Georgetown University.
Fr. Worcester is already working on another book for Cambridge University Press, along with Rev. James Corkery, S.J., who was an international visiting fellow from Ireland last year at Holy Cross. The two scholars will serve as editors of The Papacy since 1500: From Italian Prince to Universal Pastor. It will contain some 12 essays and explore how the pope moved from being an Italian prince and patron to being a universal pastor.
Original Holy Cross article (here)
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