Like many people, not just Catholics, I’m actually excited about the new Pope. I’m especially excited that we have a Jesuit Pope!
Now, let’s not get too crazy here. I still have concerns and opinions. I still cringe every time I hear bells rung at a mass and you will NEVER see me wearing my MC alb ringing bells during a mass. I will resign as MC before I ring the bells. I respect why some people appreciate them, but to me, they’re a reminder of a time when the bells were used because the mass was inaccessible to the uneducated (and often disrespected, in my opinion,) laity who did not speak Latin. Bells were used to say “Hey, you! Pay attention! This is the important part!” To me, they’re condescending. I know, I know… I know a lot of people don’t see them that way, I know some do.
Meanwhile, while we’ve been told that the congregation in our masses are not allowed to extend our hands over one another for blessings because it’s too CONFUSING as to who the really important person at the mass IS (the priest.) At the exact same time, in the exact same meetings, we’re told that Christ is present four ways in the Mass: In the word, in the Eucharist, in the Priest and IN THE PEOPLE. Am I the only one sensing a bit of contradiction and hypocrisy? :Ahem:
SO anyway. To be clear: Optimistic but pragmatic. Still Catholic – Inspired by the new Pope but still feisty.
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In case you do not know or understand and have not already read it elsewhere in the media: The Jesuits are an order of Catholic clergymen who emphasize service to the poor and education. Many Catholic universities around the world are run by the Jesuits including Boston College, Fordham, Georgetown, Santa Clara, Gonzaga and anything with the name “Loyola” in the title. Many Jesuits are very educated, holding PhD’s in a variety of fields. The first priest to have a PhD in Film Studies is Fr. Richard Leonard, SJ, of Australia They are scientists and physicians, too. The priest in charge of the Vatican observatory is a Jesuit. Many priest authors are Jesuits.
The founder of the Jesuits was St. Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius is QUITE the character all on his own. Among other things, he taught his followers the “Daily Examen” and the concept of imaginative prayer: Meditating on Biblical scenes by putting yourself IN the scene. Imagining what you would see, smell, hear, taste and feel if you were in the scene, what you might say to the people in the story or what they might say to you, etc. They’re a bit notorious and have a bit of history with the Vatican. At times, the Vatican has censured the Jesuits over the years.
In other words, they can be feisty, too.
I love the Jesuits. I almost went to Loyola Marymount University but because UC Irvine accepted me and offered me dorm housing, I chose to not get stuck going to the same school as my then-boyfriend and risk getting stuck at a small, expensive school with an ex-boyfriend.
I love the Daily Examen prayer. My favorite author (and FRIEND because he said so,) Fr. James Martin is a Jesuit. Fr. James wrote the book “Between Heaven and Mirth,” and often speaks on the topic of humor in spiritual life.
Many Catholics, especially those of us with Jesuit experiences, tell Jesuit jokes the way some people tell lawyer jokes. And Fr. James talks about why telling these jokes is healthy! You can read more in his book, which makes a great gift for friends and family. (That’s one of Fr. Jim’s jokes at his seminars.)
So in honor of Pope Francis, and with a nod to his frugal lifestyle and vow of poverty, I present one of my favorite Jesuit Jokes. Fr. Jim was not the first to tell this joke and there are different versions involving different clerical orders. I’ve adapted from his version but not verbatim.
The Haircut
One day a Franciscan friar needed a haircut so he went to the barber. When he walked in to the shop, the barber asked him about the distinctive brown robes he wore. The friar explained that he was a member of the Franciscan order of priests.
“Of course!” said the barber, “I love the Franciscans! I love their dedication to the poor, their appreciation of nature. Every year our parish priest blesses the animals on the Feast of St. Francis. The Franciscans are wonderful!”
When he finished cutting the friar’s hair, the Franciscan asked how much he owed but the barber declined to charge him. The next day, when the barber arrived at his shop, a basket of wildflowers sat at his doorstep with a note of thanks from the Franciscan.
Later that day, a Trappist monk came to the same barber for a haircut. Again, the barber noticed his monastic robes and the monk explained that he was a member of the Trappist order.
“Of course!” said the barber, “I love the Trappists! Their dedication to prayer and Thomas Merton’s writings are so inspiring. And the products they make to support themselves – from coffins to coffee – they’re so talented.”
When he finished cutting the friar’s hair, the Trappist monk asked how much he owed but the barber declined to charge him. The next day, when the barber arrived at his shop, a basket of homemade jams from the monastery and a note of thanks from the monk sat at his doorstep.
Later that same day, a Jesuit priest came into the shop wearing his black Jesuit cassock. Again, the barber commented on the garb and the priest explained that he was a Jesuit.
“OF COURSE!” said the barber, “I LOVE the Jesuits! They have such a fine tradition of serving society as St. Ignatius taught them to be ‘Men for others!’ My son went to Loyola High School and Loyola Marymount. My daughter attends Santa Clara! I pray the Daily Examen nightly! Isn’t it wonderful that we have a Jesuit Pope!” (Ed. note: see what I did there?)
When he finished cutting the priest’s hair, the Jesuit asked how much he owed but the barber declined to charge him.
The next day, when the barber arrived at his shop, there was a line of 12 Jesuits waiting for him at this doorstep.
It's About the Process 