Jesuits I Have Loved

For my life of almost 80 years Jesuits have been a persistent, profound, positive presence.

I grew up with America magazine which my maternal grandfather was reading 100 years ago. My father, a union leader, worked with the Jesuits in their labor St. Peter's Labor Institute in Jersey City. I admired the intellectual prowess, courage and holiness of 400 years: Edmund Campion and the English martyrs,  Jogues/Brebeuf and companions in Canada, Robert Bellarmine doctor of the Church, Francis Xavier and Matteo Ricci in Asia, Miguel Pro in Mexico and countless others.  These were the marine corps of the Church: most loyal, intelligent, courageous, erudite, daring, assertive. Ending high school, I wanted to become a Jesuit or a Maryknoller; my attraction to service of the poor internationally prevailed. But going forward from there, many Jesuits had great influence upon me. I start with those I have known personally and then the most influential through their life and writings.

1. Joe Whelan. Charming, erudite, holy theologian of the mystical who shaped my theology/spirituality. (I studied theology at Woodstock, NYC, with Jesuits Whelan/Dulles/Burkhardt in early 70s,)

2. Avery Cardinal Dulles. Teacher of fundamental theology with incomparable depth, breath, orthodoxy and scholarship.

3. John Wrynn.  History professor at St. Peter's College, JC, dear friend and spiritual director for 25 years.

4. Neal Doherty. Department head at Xavier H.S., friend, spiritual directo. 

5. Walter Burghardt.  Peritus at Vatican II, this influential, talented theologian taught me patristics and encouraged me to publish a paper I did for him on Ignatius of Antioch.

5. Hans Urs Von Balthasar.  Arguably the most erudite, brilliant, influential Catholic theologian of the 20th century. Along with Wojtyla, Ratzinger and DeLubac started the Communio School of theology. He famously left the Jesuits to found a new community with Adrienne von Speyr.

6. Henri DeLubac and Jean Danielou. Brilliant, learned periti at the Council, they blend holiness of life, loyalty to tradition, brillianceT and wholesome progressive insight in a splendid synthesis.

7. Ed Oates. Insightful protege of Balthasar, his Patterns of Redemption is an invaluable, user-friendly introduction to that genius. 

8. Joseph Fessio. Founder of Ignatius Press, student of Ratzinger, he has had immense influence on the English-speaking Catholic world.

9. John Hardon.  His catechism, prior to the publication of the official Catholic Catechism, was immensely helpful in the confusion of the 70s and was recommended to me personally by St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta.

10. Walter Ciszek. The witness of this Servant of God (being considered for canonization) who spent 15 years in the Soviet Gulag is incomparable.

11. Rick Thomas. Another maverick, outlier Jesuit, he is also being considered in Rome for canonization. He was charismatic, pro-life, friend of the poor at the Mexican border.

12. Kenneth Baker.  Editor of Homiletic and Pastoral Review,  he yielded wide influence. He (if memory serves) published my article on Ignatius of Antioch.

Other Jesuits who have had a wide, positive influence on the Church of our time (but not so directly on me) include: James Schall of Georgetown, William Lynch, Walter Ong, historian of philosophy Frederick Copleston, Joseph Koterski of Fordham, Mitch Pacwa of EWTN, Robert Spitzer of Gonzaga, Ed Dowling friend of Bill W and AA, John Corridan the famous "waterfront priest" who inspired On the Waterfront, civil rights activist John LaFarge and philosopher Erich Przywara.

Not all of these names would be familiar in the halls of Georgetown, Fordham or America. For the most part they represent a more traditional, countercultural but passionate engagement with modernity. They are in many respects a correction to the mainstream projective trajectory of the order since the Council. Those issues will be addressed in a follow-up essay.

More locally and personally my family and I have delighted in friendships with Jesuits here at St. Peter's Prep and College (now University). One could hardly imagine a group of men so charming, gracious, erudite, intelligent, and faith-filled in a humble, self-effacing manner.

Above all, I am grateful for the education given to my children, and especially my two sons, and now one grandson, at Jesuit schools. My son-in-law has spent now decades of service in this area. The education provided, notwithstanding some catechetical imbalances (to be discussed later), has been rich academically, psychologically, athletically and spiritually. 

Our friendship with the Society of Jesus has been a gift and a delight.

 Berrigan

Teilhard, Rahner, Longergan drinan martin francis arrupe courtney murray