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21 pages, 301 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Remission Phase in the Canonization of Francis Borgia (1649–1655)

by Henar Pizarro Llorente

Religions 2026, 17(3), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17030401 - 21 Mar 2026

Viewed by 641

This article examines a decisive yet relatively understudied stage in the canonization process of Francis Borgia, third superior general of the Society of Jesus, by focusing on the remission phase carried out between 1649 and 1655. Although Borgia had been beatified in 1624, [...] Read more.

This article examines a decisive yet relatively understudied stage in the canonization process of Francis Borgia, third superior general of the Society of Jesus, by focusing on the remission phase carried out between 1649 and 1655. Although Borgia had been beatified in 1624, the path toward his canonization extended over several decades, shaped by a combination of institutional, political, and procedural factors that slowed its progress. The pontificate of Innocent X marked a turning point, creating favorable conditions for renewed momentum within the Roman Curia. Following authorization by the Congregation of Rites, the remission phase formally commenced in 1649, leading to a series of witness examinations conducted in key Iberian centers—Toledo, Madrid, and Valencia—beginning in 1650. By analyzing the selection of witnesses in each location and the substance of their testimonies, the article sheds light on the strategies employed to consolidate Borgia’s reputation for sanctity and to address juridical expectations in Rome. Particular attention is given to the coordination between local ecclesiastical authorities and the central institutions of the Holy See. The study argues that the efficiency and coherence of this phase, culminating in the issuance of the remission briefs in 1655, played a crucial role in advancing the cause toward its successful conclusion in 1670. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Theological Underpinnings of Ignatian Spirituality: From Historical Context to Contemporary Relevance)

17 pages, 278 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Modern Making of “Ignatian Spirituality”

by Timothy W. O’Brien

Religions 2026, 17(3), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17030359 - 13 Mar 2026

Viewed by 1239

Abstract

Though it has early modern roots, contemporary “Ignatian spirituality” represents a reconfiguration of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Jesuit spiritual culture. This article offers a genealogical account of a key element in that modern construction: the growing emphasis on Ignatius Loyola as a mystic and [...] Read more.

Though it has early modern roots, contemporary “Ignatian spirituality” represents a reconfiguration of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Jesuit spiritual culture. This article offers a genealogical account of a key element in that modern construction: the growing emphasis on Ignatius Loyola as a mystic and the eclipse of earlier, more ascetical understandings of both Ignatius and his Spiritual Exercises. The essay begins by examining key contributions of Jan Philipp Roothaan (1785–1855), the long-serving superior general of the Society of Jesus in the decades following its Restoration. Roothaan’s explicitly non-mystical and decidedly ascetical reading of the Exercises at once reflected and helped shape nineteenth-century Jesuit spiritual culture. The article then traces how this vision came under criticism in the early twentieth century. Renewed Catholic interest in mysticism, and increased attention to Jesuit sources—newly available in critical editions via the Monumenta Historica Societatis Iesu—fostered a reevaluation of Ignatius as a mystic in his own right. Over time, this shift came to color the interpretation of the Spiritual Exercises. Rather than a school of self-conquest, they came to be understood as a kind of mystical pedagogy. Changes in spiritual theology have had concrete implications for how the Exercises are given, as a concluding case study of the Ignatian Examen helps illustrate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Theological Underpinnings of Ignatian Spirituality: From Historical Context to Contemporary Relevance)

15 pages, 290 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Construction of Ignatian Spirituality in France: 1954–1966: The Case of the Journal Christus

by Carlos Álvarez

Religions 2026, 17(2), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17020271 - 23 Feb 2026

Viewed by 522

Abstract

This contribution examines the key aspects of the aggiornamento of Ignatian spirituality promoted by French Jesuits through the journal Christus between 1954 and 1967. The founding of the journal can be understood as a response to a sense of identity crisis among French [...] Read more.

This contribution examines the key aspects of the aggiornamento of Ignatian spirituality promoted by French Jesuits through the journal Christus between 1954 and 1967. The founding of the journal can be understood as a response to a sense of identity crisis among French Jesuits, likely provoked by the Fourvière crisis and the abrupt end of the worker-priest movement, which was eventually prohibited by Rome. In this context, the call to reconnect with Ignatian sources became imperative to foster theological and spiritual reflection capable of shedding light on the tensions of the present. The generation led by Maurice Giuliani, Michel de Certeau, and François Roustang—who spearheaded this editorial project—distanced itself from the hermeneutics of their predecessors, particularly Joseph de Guibert, as regards the spiritual history of the Society of Jesus. Instead, they emphasized a mysticism of action, the necessary integration of spirituality and apostolic works, the ecclesial implications of Ignatian service, and a bold, increasingly open dialogue between Ignatian tradition and the human sciences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Theological Underpinnings of Ignatian Spirituality: From Historical Context to Contemporary Relevance)

9 pages, 201 KB

Open AccessArticle

God Who Prays in Us: Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Diary

by Christopher Michael Staab

Religions 2026, 17(2), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17020240 - 16 Feb 2026

Viewed by 335

Abstract

This article explores Katherine Sonderegger’s thesis that in Christian prayer, not only does the person pray, but God prays. Though such an idea runs contrary to the settled conviction in Christian spirituality that the human person prays to God, this paper enquires into [...] Read more.

This article explores Katherine Sonderegger’s thesis that in Christian prayer, not only does the person pray, but God prays. Though such an idea runs contrary to the settled conviction in Christian spirituality that the human person prays to God, this paper enquires into the idea that God also prays in the person with a study of Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Diary. That record of his spiritual experiences suggests that not only did he listen to God’s prayer in him, but that this listening comprised a spiritual itinerary in which he was led into a deeper experience of God’s prayerful laboring in him. Following this itinerary, this article proceeds in three parts. First, a study of Ignatius’s prayer to the mediators reveals that in his petitions, he sought to hear the intercessory prayer of Mary and Jesus. Second, he found himself discovering a new way to name God as he celebrated the mass; that newness resided not in a new vocabulary but in his participation in the prayer of the Son to the Father. Finally, Ignatius experienced the grace of loqüela in which he heard a kind of celestial music whose tone and language moved him to a simple, contemplative admiration of God. More than the story of a mystic with an uncommon ability to listen to God, Ignatius’s journey into greater attention to God’s language within him is the story of grace, God’s life, which is always present, active, and audible in the believer’s prayer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Theological Underpinnings of Ignatian Spirituality: From Historical Context to Contemporary Relevance)

14 pages, 277 KB

Open AccessArticle

Prayer, Mission, and Divine Filiation in Saint Anthony Mary Claret (1807–1870): An Analysis Based on the Reception of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius and Nineteenth-Century Spirituality

by Carlos Eduardo Soria

Religions 2026, 17(2), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17020220 - 11 Feb 2026

Viewed by 405

Abstract

In the Spanish 19th century, Saint Anthony Mary Claret found in the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius a suitable mediation to reinforce his missionary and evangelizing work. In his vital journey as a man, disciple, and apostle, he experienced deeply and fruitfully that [...] Read more.

In the Spanish 19th century, Saint Anthony Mary Claret found in the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius a suitable mediation to reinforce his missionary and evangelizing work. In his vital journey as a man, disciple, and apostle, he experienced deeply and fruitfully that the Spiritual Exercises are a methodology that enables the conversion of sinners while reinforcing the perseverance of those who live their Christian journey with conviction. Furthermore, they promote spiritual renewal in all states of Christian life, resulting in an increase in active and committed evangelizers. In this way, his “filial and apostolic prayer” reflects and condenses—with four affective and active verbs—his personal experience of the Exercises, which he offered to others at all stages of his apostolic life in order to transform their lives and renew the Church of his time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Theological Underpinnings of Ignatian Spirituality: From Historical Context to Contemporary Relevance)

23 pages, 4533 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Earliest Artistic Representations of Blessed Luigi Gonzaga (1568–1591): Devotion, Spirituality, and Family Patronage

by Macarena Maria Moralejo Ortega

Religions 2026, 17(2), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17020185 - 3 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1023

Abstract

The Gonzaga family promoted, in the early seventeenth century, a visual and devotional program aimed at positioning Blessed Luigi Gonzaga as both a spiritual standard-bearer and a political instrument of their dynasty. A comparative analysis of prints, paintings, and liturgical objects from this [...] Read more.

The Gonzaga family promoted, in the early seventeenth century, a visual and devotional program aimed at positioning Blessed Luigi Gonzaga as both a spiritual standard-bearer and a political instrument of their dynasty. A comparative analysis of prints, paintings, and liturgical objects from this period has made it possible to reconstruct the iconographic model that shaped subsequent representations of the young religious. The consolidation of the prototype of his likeness was facilitated by his family circle and enabled the dissemination of his charisma and virtues among the nobility and the Society of Jesus across the territories of the Spanish monarchy and the states of the Italian peninsula. This strategy sought to secure the preeminence of the House of Gonzaga through the canonization of a “family saint,” emulating the practices of other Italian dynasties. The article highlights the pressures exerted by the beatus’s relatives on the Jesuits and the papal court in their efforts to accelerate his canonization. The manuscript and printed sources cited underscore that the principal promoters of Luigi’s sanctity were his brother and sister-in-law, Francesco Gonzaga and Bibiana von Pernstein, although their early deaths curtailed broader dissemination initiatives. The couple, together with other members of the Gonzaga–Tana family, relied on narrative, visual propaganda, and political ambition to hasten the canonization of Blessed Luigi—an event that, nonetheless, would be delayed until 1726. In parallel, the circulation of, and devotion to, the earliest images depicting the Jesuit novice’s likeness brings to light the significant role of female agency in the diffusion of his cult. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Theological Underpinnings of Ignatian Spirituality: From Historical Context to Contemporary Relevance)

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18 pages, 278 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Spanish Aggiornamento of Ignatian Theology and Spirituality: Axes and Figures

by Eduard López Hortelano

Religions 2025, 16(11), 1440; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16111440 - 12 Nov 2025

Viewed by 841

Abstract

This study examines the renewal of Ignatian spirituality from the Spanish school, emphasizing the contributions of General Pedro Arrupe during his eighteen-year tenure leading the Society of Jesus. Arrupe’s vision prioritized deep interior experience over mere religious practices, advocating for a spirituality rooted [...] Read more.

This study examines the renewal of Ignatian spirituality from the Spanish school, emphasizing the contributions of General Pedro Arrupe during his eighteen-year tenure leading the Society of Jesus. Arrupe’s vision prioritized deep interior experience over mere religious practices, advocating for a spirituality rooted in divine gift and surrender. His leadership inspired a return to the fundamental principles of Ignatian spirituality, marked by a profound sense of God’s presence, self-offering, and a commitment to the apostolic mission. The research is organized around three main axes: textual and exegetical, historical and contextual, and systematic or dogmatic Ignatian theology. The first axis explores the contributions of scholars like Antonio María de Aldama and José Calveras, who emphasized returning to the original Ignatian texts and their exegetical significance. Their work highlighted the centrality of Christ, the spiritual exercises as a transformative tool, and the dynamic relationship between mission and identity within the Society. The second axis focuses on historical and contextual analysis, particularly through the work of Cándido de Dalmases, Ricardo García-Villoslada, and Jesús Iturrioz. These scholars reassessed Ignatius of Loyola’s biography and historical influences, moving beyond hagiographical narratives to consider broader theological and social movements of the 16th century, such as Erasmus’ humanism and the Catholic Reformation. The third axis, systematic Ignatian theology, is examined through figures like Pedro de Leturia and Ignacio Iparraguirre, who explored the doctrinal dimensions of Ignatius’ writings. Key themes include the Christocentric nature of Ignatian spirituality, the role of discernment in governance, and the balance between mysticism and apostolic mission. This research underscores the ongoing relevance of Ignatian spirituality by contextualizing its renewal within historical, exegetical, and theological frameworks, demonstrating its adaptability and enduring significance in contemporary spiritual discourse. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Theological Underpinnings of Ignatian Spirituality: From Historical Context to Contemporary Relevance)

21 pages, 305 KB

Open AccessArticle

Temporal Coadjutors in the Society of Jesus: Legal and Spiritual Profile

by Wenceslao Soto Artuñedo

Religions 2025, 16(11), 1368; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16111368 - 29 Oct 2025

Viewed by 1510

Abstract

The Society of Jesus is a clerical religious order, but it has incorporated non-sacred members, in different degrees of membership, although not from the beginning. The priests professed members constitute the nucleus of the Society of Jesus, and in concentric circles are the [...] Read more.

The Society of Jesus is a clerical religious order, but it has incorporated non-sacred members, in different degrees of membership, although not from the beginning. The priests professed members constitute the nucleus of the Society of Jesus, and in concentric circles are the formed coadjutors (spiritual coadjutors, the priests, and temporal coadjutors or brothers, the non-priests), the approved scholastics and the novices. In this article, we present the historical juridical framework of the temporal coadjutors, since they have been and are an important part of the history and life of the Society of Jesus, although they are not sufficiently well known because they are less visible. We study the origin of this grade among the Jesuits, its incorporation and legislation, as well as its subsequent evolution. We have gone through the founding and regulatory documents of the Society of Jesus and the rather scarce bibliography. There has been a great evolution in the profile of the temporal coadjutor since the 20th century in practice, that we briefly describe, but not so much in the legal profile. This publication is a preview of a larger research project on the Jesuit brothers, which is still in progress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Theological Underpinnings of Ignatian Spirituality: From Historical Context to Contemporary Relevance)

17 pages, 246 KB

Open AccessArticle

Trinitarian Interpretation of Ignatian Obedience: Hans Urs von Balthasar and Adrienne von Speyr

by Endika Martínez

Religions 2025, 16(8), 1032; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16081032 - 11 Aug 2025

Viewed by 1277

Abstract

The following essay seeks to provide a theological consideration of the concept of obedience in the Ignatian tradition through the lens of Hans Urs von Balthasar. We will first argue that Balthasar can indeed be considered an Ignatian theologian based on his personal [...] Read more.

The following essay seeks to provide a theological consideration of the concept of obedience in the Ignatian tradition through the lens of Hans Urs von Balthasar. We will first argue that Balthasar can indeed be considered an Ignatian theologian based on his personal engagement with the spirituality of saint Ignatius. Secondly, we will offer an outline of his treatment of the theme of obedience as he links it to related concepts such as service, mission, indifference, and election. Finally, we will suggest that the influence of Adrienne von Speyr provoked a deepening of the Ignatian tradition toward a Trinitarian interpretation. We seek to conclude with a tentative proposal that Ignatian spirituality can serve a foundation to his creative treatment of the Trinity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Theological Underpinnings of Ignatian Spirituality: From Historical Context to Contemporary Relevance)

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