Contemplatives in Action: The Jesuit Way

by William A. Barry, Robert G. Doherty

In this enlightening book, the authors explain just what makes Jesuits tick. Through an exploration of Jesuit spirituality what makes it different from other spiritualities, even Ignatian spirituality they help readers understand this religious order that has played a significant role in the life of individuals, of communities and of cultures.

They demonstrate that at the heart of Jesuit spirituality lies a set of lifegiving and creative tensions between; for example, companionship and mission, obedience and learning from experience, and centre and periphery in the Church.

Genres: Religion, Theology, Nonfiction, Catholic, Spirituality

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2002

About the author

William (Bill) Barry, a distinguished spiritual director and author, was born in Worchester, MA. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1950, studied philosophy in Germany from 1953 until 1956, and was at Weston College for theology studies from 1959 until 1963. Ordained a priest in 1962, Barry went on to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan in 1968.

In 1969, he began teaching psychology at Weston School of Theology, Cambridge, MA, and in 1971 was named director for the Center for Religious Development. He served in both capacities until 1978, when he was put in charge of formation for the New England Jesuit Province. Barry was the Assistant Director of Novices for the Province (1985-88) when he was named Rector of Boston College.

From 1991 to 1997, he served as Provincial of the New England Jesuits. Following that, he was named co-director of the Jesuit Tertianship Program. Barry directs retreats at Campion Center in Weston, MA.

Despite such a busy and committed life, Barry found the time to write 15 books, including The Practice of Spiritual Direction, God and You, Finding God in All Things, Spiritual Direction and the Encounter with God, Who Do You Say I Am?, With an Everlasting Love, and A Friendship Like No Other.

Barry has the rare ability to present complex spiritual issues in clear, well-written prose. He is one of the most influential Ignatian commentators at work today.

Reviews

[josh x · Rating 5 out of 5]

these jesuits spared no detail… certainly to his detriment! could’ve been three or four pages, you’d be no less the wiser . always the same with these guys

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: A brief exploration of Jesuit spirituality 

No regular readers of my reviews will likely miss the fact that I have spent the past couple of years studying to become a spiritual director in the Ignatian tradition. I intentionally choose a Catholic program because I have come to understand that I tend to learn in a dialectical approach. I want to have traditions in dialogue. My undergrad was an evangelical college, my seminary was predominately a mainline protestant school and my spiritual direction program was at a Jesuit college. Part of what is helpful about this approach is that I bring resources from outside of the tradition for conversation with the tradition. What can be difficult is getting enough of an understanding of the new to understand it on its own terms and not as a caricature from previous experience.

This dialectical approach fits well with the focus on Contemplatives In Action. Barry and Doherty focus on the tensions that they suggest form Jesuit spirituality, the both/and that inherently leads to tensions that some always will want to calm. The title takes on the first tension, the tradition of Catholic orders to be either contemplative or action-oriented. Ignatius and later Jesuits strongly resisted the call to pray through the hours as almost all other orders did. Ignatius thought that long hours of prayer, while helpful, would keep the Jesuits from their work with the people, the primary focus. But the tension with that action orientation is that Jesuits are most known for giving the Spiritual Exercises (a highly contemplative approach to spiritual direction) and Christian education.

Other tensions include attention to personal experience and emotion with what Ignatius calls dispassion. In Ignatius' use, this is not dispassion as in uncaring or negligence, but dispassion as in getting to the point where you are willing to accept any of multiple options that God may be calling you toward. Jesuits have a reputation for being overly analytic and dispassionate in the first, negative sense, but that is contrary to Ignatius' intent. "Jesuit spirituality is distinguished from other spiritualities by this personal attention to feelings, desires, dreams, hopes, and thoughts." It is only through that attention that the "defining characteristic of Jesuit spirituality," Ignatius' Discernment of the Spirits, can really be practiced.

Although Contemplatives in Action is very brief, it gives a lot of background on the controversial aspects of Jesuit history. I wish I had read it toward the beginning of my program instead of nearly at the end. It provided a helpful counterpoint to an article I had assigned for class. Parmananda Divakar argues that Ignatius' primary focus was loyalty to Christ (as an individual) while later Jesuits oriented toward obedience of the group. Barry and Doherty agree that the tension between obedience and sole loyalty to Christ is a hallmark of Jesuit history, but point out that Ignatius was largely responsible, not later Jesuits.

Rule 13 [of the Society of Jesus Constitution] states: “To maintain a right mind in all things we must always maintain that the white I see, I shall believe to be black, if the hierarchical Church so stipulates”

 Doherty and Barry continually grapple with how Ignatius could on the one hand teach discernment of the spirits, which relies significantly on individual awareness of feelings and emotion while requiring absolute obedience even to the extent of denying the experiential reality that was right before them. "What is surprising is that Ignatius should also place such emphasis on individual discernment, and on learning from experience, and then engage in actions that seem to run counter to his own thinking on obedience."

I am not sure I think they really solved the problems, but at least they identified it, and several other tensions that have present implications for the current and future Jesuit order. There is no question about me becoming Jesuit, I am firmly protestant and married. However, I do appreciate the significant orientation toward internal critique, for the purpose of calling themselves toward more faithful service that is evidenced by the short book. I do not know if others will find the book as helpful as I did, but it was helpful for my context.

[James Tomasino · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this short volume, William Barry attempts to show the many creative tensions that work in the heart of Jesuits today and through history. With roots in the founding of the society, this work expounds on the changes that have shaped and shaken the society and the hearts of individuals among its numbers and those whose development for which it has been responsible. In all things, Barry attempts to provide a fair assessment, acknowledging not only the many graces of the Jesuits, but also the many times the society has strayed from its core values, whether those be internally in its structural and hierarchical relationships, its relationship to the world, or even its relationship to God.

The book is a wonderfully written overview of what it means to be a Jesuit, and should be near the top of the reading lists for those people discerning a call to religious life within the society, or those who find their lives surrounded by those interesting individuals.

[Sylvia Jeronimo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book on the creative tensions in Jesuit spirituality. Though well explained, there is a tension between a detached analysis of that spirituality and a bias towards assumptions made by one who is a Jesuit writer. The last chapter on Finding God in All Things was worth the whole read.

[Grant Hartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief and readable introduction to the history and spirituality of the Jesuits, structured around several guiding tensions (prayer and action, companionship and mission, obedience and learning from experience, etc.). Really helpful!

[Ashley Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but thorough introduction to the order of the Jesuits. I was especially moved by the authors' descriptions of the tension Jesuits (and many of us who aren't!) are called to live within: following Church teaching, yet not ignoring the movement of the spirit in us as individuals.

[Michael Combs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Read, but very interesting

If you’re wanting to get a little teastise on the Jesuit way this book is for you. 10 short chapters give you a nice insite into what makes them tick, both the good and the bad.

[Andrea Hickman Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was nothing inherently wrong with this book, I just expected a more in-depth analysis, rather than a historical overview.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good broad overview of the Jesuits and Ignatius.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read. I always appreciate how others live out the faith. I appreciate the four reflections on living with God in our everyday life and how to integrate spirituality and sexuality. It is often hard to read an internal conversation, this is a book by Jesuits for Jesuits. The authors reflect deeply on the nature of living faithfully as a Jesuit. I learned many things about the history and practice of spirituality in the Jesuit community, but often found myself wondering how this ought to be understood as one who does not practice a Jesuit spirituality (ie. I clearly don't submit to papal authority).

[Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was terrible. I'm not even going to dignify it with a review. It was dry and boring and I can't imagine anyone not in the Society of Jesus liking it or finding it remotely interesting. But - as with most things - I'm sure I'm wrong.

[Charles Dean · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have nothing but respect for The Society of Jesus, but this book, written BY Jesuits seems to be written primarily FOR Jesuits. To me it was dry and bordered on over-self-congratulation. At least it was short.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful reading into aspects of Jesuit spirituality and the tensions therein. Barry is succinct in this short book. Especially helpful when considering the renewal that religious life is called to as well as interesting points that can help understand Pope Francis' way of proceeding

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

pinjem dari pudji.. pengen beli tapi hana peng.. hehe.. buku ini bagus buatku untuk mengekang segala hal yang sebenarnya tak perlu.

[Alexander Davidson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good insights, but it felt long (even though it was still short).

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read on the Jesuit Way in religious life and life in general. Good read.