THE TITULAR FEAST OF THE JESUITS

Today, 3 January, the Celebration of the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, we celebrate too, the gift of the Society of Jesus.

See Video 3 January 2014 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUuOT_rre0w
Pope Francis celebrates the Holy Mass at the Church of the
Jesus, with all the Jesuits in Rome, for thanksgiving for the entry of
Blessed Peter Faber into the catalogue of Saint and on the Solemnity of the
Holy Name of Jesus, the titular feast of the Society of Jesus.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”………..John 14:6

The giving of the name “Company (Society) of Jesus” occurred in September 1540 when the early companions and Ignatius were founded as a religious institute.

Ignatius and two of his companions, Peter Faber and James Lainez, decided to go to Rome to place themselves and the other companions at the disposal of the Pope. A few miles outside of Rome at a chapel at La Storta, the companions stopped to pray. At this spot, Ignatius had the second most significant of his mystical experiences. In his vision, God the Father told Ignatius, “I will be favourable to you in Rome” and that he would place him (Ignatius) with His Son. Ignatius did not know what his experience meant, for it could mean persecution as well as success since Jesus experienced both.

Formal approval of this new order was given by Pope Paul III on September 27, 1540. Since they had referred to themselves as the Company of Jesus, in English their order became known as the Society of Jesus. Ignatius was elected on the first ballot of the group to be superior but he begged them to reconsider, pray and vote again a few days later. The second ballot came out as the first, unanimous for Ignatius, except for his own vote. He was still reluctant to accept but his Franciscan confessor told him it was God’s will, so he acquiesced. On the Friday of Easter week, April 22, 1541, at the Church of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, the friends pronounced their vows in the newly formed Order.