Father General addresses all Jesuit brothers
Feast of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez
The vocation of the Jesuit brother is prophetic, today more than ever...
This is the theme that Father Arturo Sosa develops in a video message that he sends to all Jesuit brothers around the world on the occasion of “their feast”, the feast of their patron saint, St. Alphonsus Rodriguez.
This vocation is prophetic because it responds to the objectives of the Society’s Universal Apostolic Preferences: for the Jesuit brother, life and mission are one. It is also prophetic because it bears witness against clericalism, ambition and the abuse of power.
Watch the video or read the text of the address below.
Message from Father General to the meeting of Brothers
Feast of St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ, 31 October 2021
Dear Brothers,
I am very happy to be able to send a warm greeting to you on the feast of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez. It is a special day for Brothers around the world. Brother Alphonsus was a man of great spiritual insight. He accompanied Peter Claver, helping him to discern and to dare new horizons. Discerning together, two saints were born.
As you meet globally to celebrate your vocation I thank God for all you are doing in the Society of Jesus, for the Church and for the world. More importantly, I pray for who you are. I pray for each one of you and for your life in the Society of Jesus. Life and mission go hand in hand.
The vocation of the Jesuit Brother is prophetic... today more than ever.
It is prophetic... for finding and showing the way to God; it is prophetic... for those who are marginalised and cast aside by society; it is prophetic... to help the young find hope; it is prophetic... for our fragile common home.
It is also prophetic against. It is prophetic against clericalism; against ambition; against abuse of power. It is prophetic against riches... honour... and pride.
I think back on Jesuit Brothers who have influenced my life. I feel deeply grateful. They were men of compassion and courage, wisdom and humour, inner freedom and integrity. They witnessed to religious life in its essential value: a life lived in the following of Jesus poor and humble. They were men happy to walk beside Jesus, humble and poor, serving humanity in whatever ways were needed. That is the fundamental Jesuit call for each of us whether we are ordained or non ordained.
Today, we live in an age of great uncertainty. We do not know the future. Like Abraham, we are called to live that uncertainty with trust and courage. This uncertainty can be a grace for us, sometimes a difficult one for sure. But we beg the Lord’s consolation and we go forward.
Thank you for the opportunity to be with you today. I thank each one of you for the way that you witness to the Jesuit vocation.
Be assured of my prayers and support. May God bless each one of you today in whatever way you need it. Please pray for the Society of Jesus. And please don’t forget to pray for me.
God bless you.
Arturo Sosa, SJ,
Superior General
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