The focus of this dissertation concerns the proper law of the Society of Jesus, specifically its Constitutions, Part VIII, which deals with the general congregation as an instrument of governance, and how it functions as the Order's supreme legislative authority. As a means for analyzing the basic question or problem, an historical methodology has been used throughout the study. Thus, the dissertation looks at specific examples of how various general congregations throughout the Society's history have functioned as the supreme authority and as an instrument of governance, and at how well these assemblies accomplished their intended purpose. By analyzing selected congregations, the dissertation offers an historical survey of the general congregation's accomplishments and shortcomings over time. As a result, this study presents a critical evaluation of the general congregation as an instrument of governance. The first chapter is entitled "St. Ignatius and the Early Years of the Society" and it focuses on a few key events that help shed light on the spiritual background and psychology of the man who founded the Society of Jesus and wrote its Constitutions. These events give an insight into Ignatius' fundamental belief-system and help establish his general philosophy of governance. The second chapter is entitled "The General Congregation According to the Constitutions"; it closely examines Part VIII of the Constitutions and, in particular, its six chapters which deal specifically with the general congregation. Thus, Chapter Two constitutes a thorough examination of the Society's proper law, updated to the most recent congregation, as it relates to the general congregation as an instrument of governance. The third chapter is entitled "The General Congregation and the Superior General"; it looks at certain aspects of the executive office in light of the superior general's significant role vis-a-vis the general congregation. Although the general congregation is the supreme legislative body, the Roman pontiff remains the "Supreme Legislator" of this pontifical Institute. Therefore, the fourth chapter, entitled "The General Congregation and the Papacy," examines the Society's special relationship with the Roman pontiff and the enormous influence of the papacy, especially with regard to papal interventions both preceding and during the general congregations. Finally, the fifth chapter is entitled "By Way of Conclusion ...," and it concludes this study with certain observations on the general congregation's strengths and weaknesses as an instrument of governance. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/10185 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Blangiardi, B. Jeffrey. |
| Contributors | McIntyre, John P., |
| Publisher | University of Ottawa (Canada) |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 242 p. |
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