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The Jesuits: A History from Ignatius to the Present Hardcover – October 16, 2014

by John W. O'Malley SJ (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 26 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 160 pages
  • Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (October 16, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 144223475X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1442234758
  • Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.7 x 8.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsBrief Introduction to a Religious Order with Centuries of History
By Italophile Book Reviews on October 8, 2014
Format: Hardcover
"A History from Ignatius to the Present" is the subtitle of this book, a brief but entertaining and informative history of the Roman Catholic religious order most people know via their schools, retreats, lectures and scholarly works, and now via Pope Francis: The Society of Jesus, the Jesuits.

Here is the book's Table of Contents, to give you an idea of what's covered:
1. Important Dates in the History of the Society of Jesus
2. Foundations
3. The First Hundred Years
4. Consolidation, controversy, Calamity
5. The Modern and Postmodern Era
6. Epilogue: Looking Back and Looking Ahead
7. Further Reading
8. Index

The stories of the Jesuits' foreign missions that the author includes in his book are fascinating, and will quite likely encourage the reader to seek out more detailed accounts of the men who lead those missions. The Further Reading section of the book is a wonderful place to start that search.

Please read my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe Jesuits: A History from Ignatius to the Present
By Juan Catret on December 13, 2014
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
It is a good synthesis of the History of the Jesuits. The author does not come to details but only somes times and with humor also, still he knows of course the history of his Order and touches all the important events, persons with fidelity to history and respect for all, even when he could be angry against some ones...The last section under the name of Fr. Arrupe up to nowdays is also very good and full of hope for the future.
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5.0 out of 5 starsBrief History for a General Reader
By Loves the View VINE VOICE on April 25, 2015
Format: Hardcover
This book was just what I was looking for since the election of Pope Francis. It provides a brief history of the Jesuits, an order with a long and complex history.

John O'Malley shows how the ideals of the founders continue to guide Jesuits today. Traditional vows of poverty, obedience and chastity were supplemented by a missionary zeal. The monastic life of 1540 (praying, chanting and self flagellation) was not for them. Jesuits would be in the world.

Members worked towards their goals by building schools, not only because they valued education, but also because schools provided a base in the community. Within 100 years, they had an impressive international footprint from Japan, to China to the New World.

The most interesting part of this short interesting book is how this order provoked reaction within the church. Jesuit optimism about humanity, their curriculum which included music and dance, their incorporation of local customs into their institutions and perhaps their success was too much for some. The Jansenists was one such group that seemed to have smearing the Jesuits as its reason for being. Dissent resulted in a 1773 papal decree disbanding the order.

Fortunately for Jesuit missions, not all countries honored the decree, most notably Catherine the Great's government in Russia. As revolutionary ideas spread through Europe,and people's views of authority changed, monarchs who supported the church (and the church which supported the monarchs) were threatened. It is in this period that a 1814 papal bull re-instated the Jesuits.

The book summarizes the changes in leadership in modern times and how Jesuits have responded to world problems.Read more ›
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3.0 out of 5 starsMore handbook than history
By Jack Rice on March 16, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Here is a very general and rather dry chronology of the institutional development of the Jesuit order, but very little human history. The main takeaway is a catalog of Jesuit missions in various parts of the world, how many schools and where, how many Jesuits in the aggregate. Maybe the author was constrained by length, but even the dramatic events -- Jesuits of the Counterreformation, Jesuit martyrs of North America, how the Jesuits have met the sexual scandals -- are given short shrift or no mention at all. What were those "spiritual exercises" of St. Ignatius? What was it about Francis Xavier which made him such a popular saint? Where is the famous confrontation between philosopher-atheist Bertrand Russell and the Jesuit Frederick Copleston? And since we now have a Jesuit pope, the lack of more than a cursory look at the "personal" relationship between the order and the popes -- a unique relationship -- seems a glaring fault. In any case, the updating seems hurried and tacked-on.

Yes, as Father O'Malley says, the history is very long and complex, and doubtless there is admirable humility, if not publishing constraint, at work here, in not singling out a few stories, when hundreds, or even thousands are worthy of note. But the point of telling a few stories -- arbitrary as that may be -- rather than none, is to flesh out, to humanize, to evoke empathy in the reader, so that the message of what it means to be a Jesuit can be communicated. Alas, there is precious little to be found in this thin work.
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5.0 out of 5 starsGreat read
By Robyn Dawn Taylor on August 28, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
An excellent coverage of the ups, downs and ups of the Jesuit men and their congregation. May they continue to go out on mission throughout our world. They certainly cover countless fields. Very dedicated men. God bless them all.
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4.0 out of 5 starsA winner!
By Paul a Francis on May 26, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Comprehensive. I deal for individuals who are interested in the accuracy of the Jesuit Mistique. The author shows both the strengths and weaknesses of the Jesuit order; see especially his treatment of the order after it suppression.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 starsDescent

Good for what it is meant to be: A brief, bird's-eye view of Jesuit history. But I left wanting to know more.

Published 5 months ago by Fellowship Community Church
5.0 out of 5 starsOutstanding concise history of the ups and downs of one ...

Outstanding concise history of the ups and downs of one of the most influential religious organizations in the history of the western and now inclusive world.

Published 9 months ago by John D. Anderson
5.0 out of 5 starsThe book provides a great insight into the Society which

The book provides a great insight into the Society which, at times, has been very controversial over the course of history, but most effective in its missions of education and... Read more

Published 10 months ago by hoya64
5.0 out of 5 starsFor people seeking basic knowledge of the history of the Society of...

I recommend this book wholeheartedly , read it with an open heart and mind. Father O'Malley has done justice to the Society of Jesus

Published 10 months ago by Zaury Trinidad
5.0 out of 5 starsUnique people!

This book confirms the passion I have always had for the Jesuits even though I did not study under them.

Published 13 months ago by Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

superb!

Published 14 months ago by VINCENT T KLETY
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent Book.

Outstanding summary of the Society's history. Concise and eminently readable.

Published 14 months ago by DCT
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Have not finished it but so far very good.

Published 14 months ago by Tom
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

A good history from one who knows

Published 15 months ago by ATH

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