Jesuit vocations from a hundred years ago

Those living a vocation today are adults, often having finished their studies years ago: some leave important jobs, others feel the call early but need to mature the decision for a while. How did the Jesuits of a century ago talk about their vocation?

The first difference from today is their age: they are often young boys, with lives very similar to those of their teenage peers. The photograph accompanying today’s in-depth study shows some young novices, aged between 16 and 19 in 1916, in the novitiate of the Roman Province.

We have already seen the vocation through the eyes of the parents of a 16-year-old novice: https://archiviostorico.gesuiti.it/la-gioia-di-una-vocazione-in-famiglia/

Every candidate for the Novitiate, even now, must write a letter addressed to the Provincial in which he explains the motivations that lead him to enter the Company and more generally why he wants to embrace religious life.

The motivations are screened by the Jesuits who examine the candidates to see if it is a genuine vocation or a desire that has not fully matured.

It is not uncommon for many aspiring candidates to be asked to think about it more, to return in later years.

Here are two testimonies of postulants recounting their vocation.

The postulant: Arturo Taggi

Here is a brieft account of the story that the young Arturo Taggi, future Jesuit, entrusts to a letter.

It is 1926, Arturo has already been living for two years in the apostolic school in Strada, Tuscany, where children and young people with a precocious vocation study. He has chosen to attend it and, almost at the end of his schooling, he turns to the school’s rector.

At the end of March 1926, Arturo was 15, not even two months old, but he tells a story of a solid vocation that began almost as a joke when he was 13.

Arturo’s letter

Reverend Father Rector;

Moved by the desire to enter the Society of Jesus, I, Taggi Arturo, write this little letter to Your Reverence, to ask to be allowed to enter the Jesuit Novitiate at the end of this school year or at the beginning of the future one.

I will reply briefly to the points you explained to me. First of all, here is the brief story of my vocation.

One afternoon in March, I was with a companion of mine, and, going from talk to talk, I learned that he wished to enter religion. I, like a good, well-informed boy, began to mock him, and then, as a joke, I told him that I would still become a religious. That day passed like that, without another word. But Grace was at work in me and on reflection I made those words true.

The change that took place in me I cannot understand myself: what is certain, however, is that a great desire to become religious occupied my mind. But what religion to take? [He means religious order] [Intende ordine religioso] My companion said he wanted to become a Jesuit, but I did not know them at all, and if I had heard of them, it was in a sense of contempt. I asked for some explanation of the state my friend intended to embrace and I liked it. I wanted to leave immediately, and I could already see myself a missionary among the infidels. I had Fr Filograssi, the Provincial, written to me by a Franciscan friar whom I had met in those days. But since the reply was delayed, I turned to His Excellency Monsignor Antnio Torini, Bishop of my country. He spoke about it to R. Fr. Garattoni, who came to Alatri on the Thursday after Easter and made a small examination of me in the bishop’s palace in the presence of the bishop and his secretary, Fr Gino Casini. Since I was always in fear of not being accepted, I turned to other priests. Several times I went to Ferentino (where Fr Garattoni was) so that he would have me admitted to the apostolic school, and a few times I went there crying, which he reminded me of in a letter written to Giacchi. Finally, after seven months of waiting, on the evening of 11 October 1924 I was able to set foot in the Apostolic School in Strada.

The reasons for choosing to become a Jesuit

Here are the reasons that led me to embrace the ecclesiastical state. I came here neither by force, nor because I had been ill at home; nor to study and then leave. What drives me is the glory of God and the good of souls, to better resemble Jesus, and I chose the Society of Jesus because here one can better resemble Our Divine Redeemer, with the three vows and then I feel more inclined.

Even though before coming here I did not understand many things, now I understand them. I prayed as you told me, to know if there was a call from God. I was very disturbed and wanted to be examined by Fr Spiritual, who consoled me by telling me that I have a vocation. […] And so once again I beg you, Father, to admit me to the novitiate, if I do well. […]

Your son in Christ, Arturo Taggi.

A vocation in school

Arturo is not the only one to tell of his vocation.

Let us read an extract from the letter that Samuel Barbalato wrote, also in 1926, to the Provincial to ask to be admitted to the novitiate.

Samuel, a future Jesuit, was also only fifteen years old when he wrote, but he tells of a vocation born at school, some years earlier, which also turned out to be solid and lasting.

Samuel’s letter

Reverend Father,

As you advised me, I am writing you the story of my vocation. When I was in the fifth grade, my teacher was Domenico Muscillo, father of Fr Giovanni Muscillo, a priest.

The latter brought Nigro [already a candidate for the novitiate] [già candidato per l’ingresso in noviziato]to school with him, whose vocation he already knew, and took it upon himself to have him admitted to the Jesuit order. When I heard that he was becoming a religious, dedicating himself entirely to God, I had a strong desire to follow him into religion, where I would be able, better than anywhere else, to attend to the good of my soul and that of other Christians.

I spent a few days thinking about what decision to make, and finally decided to become a religious myself and attend to the health of my soul in religion. I spoke of this to my mother and she did not give me any difficulty, indeed she herself spoke of it to Fr John. I also spoke to Fr John about my vocation and he mentioned to me some things about religious life without disapproving of my desire, but rather knowing that it was really God who was calling me, he took charge of having me admitted to the order of the Society of Jesus. […] I then chose the Jesuit Order because in this Order there are perpetual vows, […] because this Order was chosen by Jesus Christ himself to spread everywhere the devotion to his Most Sacred Heart and because it is an Order very devoted to Mary Most Holy […].

There are many letters and accounts of Jesuits who speak of their vocation, not very different from those of the Jesuits who are members of our Province today.

Maria Macchi