‘In 1595, when an upstart player named William Shakespeare was writing a fantastical comedy in English verse called “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for the London stage, on the opposite side of the globe, in the southern Chinese city of Nanchang, an equally remarkable man named Matteo Ricci was composing an essay on friendship in the formal diction of classical Chinese. Ricci called his essay simply “You lun” (Essay on Friends), a title that would later be changed under the influence of one of Ricci’s many Chinese friends to the more …

La Conferencia de Provinciales Jesuitas en América Latina has some new members.

The new Jesuit provincial of the Venezuela Province takes office tomorrow. Fr. Arturo Ernesto Peraza Celis, SJ is all of 44 years old and he’s been busy working in formation (rector of the Filosofado Ignacio Ellacuría), communications (director of the review SIC), and serving as a provincial consultor. If that weren’t enough, he’s also found time to complete a PhD in political science, this on top of his earlier studies in law. He’s been a priest for 10 years …

For someone who’s never experienced an extended period of silence, the 30 day silent retreat that Jesuits make at the beginning and end of their formation might seem like a crazy idea. That’s 4 entire weeks without having to clock in at work, make it to a class, pay a bill, answer email, update your Facebook status, see a movie, or read a newspaper.  So what else is there?  When you strip away all the stuff that fills life – what’s left?
Well, you should really ask a Jesuit novice.
The novices …

Who’s the most influential Jesuit of the 20th century? It’s been about 10 months since we starting polling our readers to find out and the answer so far is Pedro Arrupe, SJ with 34% of the vote. (Karl Rahner is next with 19%.)
So what makes Fr. Arrupe such an influential character? He’s often credited within the Society for helping move the Jesuits into a new appreciation of our founder’s charism – as prompted by Vatican II. He was much loved for his easy way of finding …

Okay, so here’s the game…
How many of these seals or crests of Jesuit colleges and universities from around the world can you identify (without peeking)?

The most violent century in human history thus far will be remembered for it’s global wars of competing national claims, political ideologies and bloody economic revolutions. Religious adherents suffered greatly in the 20th century and were often targeted by regimes and militaristic movements. Lest we forget our shared history of violence, it’s good to pause ever now and again and remember that real people suffer when justice is replace by rhetoric and charity by grandiose plans.
Faithful and solid religious men and women continue to proclaim the goodness of peace and …