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PROFILES IN HOLINESS

Brief Biographies of Jesuit Saints

HEDWIG LEWIS SJ

 

God shows to men, in a vivid way, 
His presence and His face in the lives of those 
companions of ours in the human condition who are more perfectly transformed into the image of Christ.
 (cf. 2 Cor 3.18)

 

For information regarding this book CLICK HERE

"PROFILES IN HOLINESS, Brief Biographies of Jesuit Saints", is a gallery of exemplary religious men from St Ignatius of Loyola, the Founder of the Society of Jesus in the sixteenth century, to José María Rubio who was canonized by Pope John Paul II on 4 May 2003. The 52 [56] Saints and 146 [147] Blessed who illuminate the pages of this volume are of variegated colours, cultures, classes and eras. However, there are common traits that characterize them as members of the Society of Jesus: their total commitment to the following and imitation of Christ, even to the laying down of their lives; their constant seeking after ‘the greater glory of God’, their being ‘contemplatives in action’; their role as ‘men for others’, and their being ‘all things to all men’; their selfless service to the poor and marginalized; their striving to integrate ‘faith and justice’; their loyalty to the Church, incarnating it in different cultures; their firmness in times of personal struggles: whether in learning a new language, adapting to strange people, or facing sexual temptations; their courage and perseverance in times of opposition from superiors, the hierarchy or even their own Jesuit companions; their constructive approach to failures; their fidelity to prayer, their vows, the Rules and Constitutions of the Society of Jesus, and to the Mission entrusted to them.

The fruit of careful research of varied sources, this book offers inspirational material that blends the uniqueness of each Saint with the universal call to holiness. These ‘stories’ of human striving toward sanctity through ‘heroic’ or ‘ordinary’ means, reflect the original charism of the Society of Jesus, and will appeal to Jesuits and others as well. The book is so structured that it can be used for introductions to liturgical celebrations on feast days, as a resource for community prayer, or for spiritual reading and personal reflection.  (From the back-cover)

  

Updated July 2022
 
SAINTS OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS

Confessors
 

 1. St Joseph de Anchieta
 2. St Robert Bellarmine                   
 3. St John Berchmans                     
 4. St Francis Borgia                       
 5. St Peter Canisius                       
 6. St Peter Claver
 7. St Peter Faber
 8 St Jerome Francis
 9. St Aloysius Gonzaga                  
10. St Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga     
11. St Stanislaus Kostka

12 St Claude La Colombiere
13. St Ignatius of Loyola
14. St Joseph Pignatelli                   
15. St Bernardine Realino               
16 St John Francis Regis                
17. St Alphonsus Rodriguez              
18. St José María Rubio                  
19. St Francis Xavier

MARTYRS                                                                            
 
China                                                           
20. St Modeste Andlauer                
21. St Paul Denn                            
22. St Rémy Isoré                          
23. St Lèo Ignatius Mangin             
 
England and Wales                      
24. St Edmund Arrowsmith             
25. St Alexander Briant                   
26. St Edmund Campion                 
27. St Philip Evans                           
28. St Thomas Garnet                       
29. St David Lewis
30. St Henry Morse
31. St Nicholas Owen
32. St Robert Southwell
33. St Henry Walpole

India

34. St John de Brito

Japan
35. St John de Goto
36. St James Kisai
37. St Paul Miki
 

Madagascar
38. St Jacques Berthieu


North America
39 St John de Brebeuf
40. St Noël Chabanel
41. St Anthony Daniel
42. St Charles Garnier
43. St Rene Goupil
44. St Isaac Jogues
45. St Gabriel Lalemant
46. St John de la Lande

 
Paraguay
47. St John del Castillo
48. St Roch González
49. St Alphonsus Rodriguez
 
Poland
50. St Andrew Bobala
51. St Melchior Grodziecki
52. St Stephen Pongrácz

Scotland

53. St John Ogilvie 


 
Non-Jesuits Collaborators
 
St Pedro Calungsod[Philippines]
St Jean de la Lande [N. America]
St Mark of Križevciz [Poland]
St Mary Zhu Wu [China]

There are 154 Blessed,

  

FOREWORD

From the very start of my venture into Profiles in Holiness I have been in touch with our Postulator General Fr Paolo Molinari, S.J. (in charge of Saints’ Causes), in Rome. In one of his replies to me he stated: "I am glad to know that you are doing your best to foster an accurate knowledge of our Saints and Blessed and to promote a sound devotion to them....." Besides, in the early stages of composing this book, I had contacted Fr Joseph N. Tylenda, S.J., author of "Jesuit Saints and Martyrs". His response to the drafts of the first three chapters I had sent for his perusal, was: "I like the way you divided the material."

In fact, the distinguishing feature of this book is its format! Its bulkiness is offset by its presentation. Each biography is brief and structured to make for easy reading. Each ‘chapter’ begins with a one-page ‘overview’ that can serve as an introduction to the liturgical celebration of the Saint, or attract a casual reader to obtain a ‘general idea’ of the Saint on his feast-day. The section on "Life and work" is succinct, comprehensive. It avoids certain hagiographic details such as assessing the Saint’s ‘zeal’ in numbers of ‘souls gained for Christ’, or extolling the physical endurance of the martyrs by describing the forms and brutality of their torture. The section on "Character traits and spirituality" contains merely ‘nuggets’ highlighting aspects of the Saint’s inner life. These ‘points’ can be used for personal meditation or for community prayer services with creative adaptations. My humble suggestion is that a copy of Profiles be kept in the chapel to ensure that it is used frequently!

Profiles in Holiness, are "brief biographies of Jesuit Saints". They include the ‘Beatified", of course, who are only an ‘official’ step away from canonization. After all, they are Saints indeed!

I wish to express my sincere indebtedness and gratitude to the many Jesuits the world over who have generously permitted me to use content from their websites, and were kind enough to mail me relevant material. A.M.D.G.! 

Perspectives

Press Release

Latest “Lives of Saints”

After a gap of half a century, since the historian Fr James H. Gense, S.J’s “Feast-Days in the Jesuit Calendar” (1954, Bombay), we have a new Indian publication on the Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus. The 444-paged pastoral-oriented volume, “Profiles in Holiness”, is written by Hedwig Lewis, S.J., an internationally reputed author of several books on spiritual and professional subjects. It was published by Gujarat Sahitya Prakash, Anand, in September 2003.

Profiles in Holiness, is a hallowed ‘gallery’ with pen-portraits of exemplary Jesuits from St Ignatius of Loyola, the Founder of the Society of Jesus in the sixteenth century, to Saint José Rubio who was canonized by Pope John Paul II on 4 May 2003. Each ‘life’ portrays the human striving for perfection, for holiness/wholeness in life through ‘heroic’ or ‘ordinary’ means. Though characterized by the Jesuit charism of endeavouring ‘for the greater glory if God’, the book will inspire non-Jesuits as well, because these mini-biographies of 49 Saints and 147 Blessed, display universal “holiness” – the human being empowered by God’s Grace. The book is arranged according to the respective feast-days of the Saint, and “is so structured that it can be used for introductions to liturgical celebrations, as a resource for community prayer, or for spiritual reading and personal reflection.” An important and uncommon feature of the book, thanks to the resourcefulness of the author, is that a picture-portrait accompanies the pen-portrait of each Saint, for visual effect.

Fr Louis Menezes, S.J, (Mumbai), who copy-edited the proofs, sent the following note to Fr K.T. Mathew, the publisher: “I think the book will be welcomed not only in India but abroad too. In addition to what Fr Lewis says (in the Foreword) it will also serve for private spiritual reading or even meditation/contemplation. As I was going through the pages, I could not but stop now and then for a brief moment of reflection/prayer, as the pages went on recalling how and in what spirit our great men SERVED the Lord in total self-abandonment and LOVE… I’m sure it will have hot sales. I’d even go to the extent of recommending it as one of the source books held in hand by each scholastic during his training… for meditation/reflection, even on a daily basis.” (Gujarat Jesuit Samachar, September 2003)

REVIEWS

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A Unique Lives of Saints entitled "profiles in Holiness" by an internationally reputed author, Fr Hedwig Lewis, SJ, has been published. Fr K.T. Mathew of Gujarat Sahitya Prakash, Anand, who has brought out this book in September 2003 told this reporter that the book is a unique contribution to the (literature on) Lives of Jesuit saints. ... (The Herald, Calcutta, October 17-23, 2003)

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The biographical sketches of the saints, which include the "beatified", are arranged month-wise according tot their feast days. Each sketch opens with a "life and Work" portrait that provides vital details of the saint: date and place of birth, context, mission and main contribution. This is followed by a "Character Traits and Spirituality" section that highlights the saint's inner life. Finally, the "Conclusion and Reflection" serve as food-for-thought on the feast day of the particular saint.

In the Foreword the author suggests that a copy of the book be kept in the chapel to be available for liturgical introductions and prayer services commemorating the saint/s. Hence, rather than provide minute hagiographical details about the saint, the author has included the important details that could be profitably used for liturgy, meditation and general information/instruction. The biographies are concise and clear, the reflection thought-provoking.

Lewis's ability to correlate and collate is amazing. The 'Profiles" have been meticulously moulded with material from hagiographists like Tylenda and Echaniz, as well as drawing upon Ignis, the Jesuit Yearbooks, and electronic internet sources... 

Lewis's previous books have been veritable reservoirs of stories, anecdotes, poems, quotations, spiritual insights, practical tips, and so on. They serve as 'quick' yet 'quality' resources for teachers, animators, pastors and leaders.  This book is no exception. The subtitle might mislead one to think that the book is only meant for Jesuits. It is not. Loyola, Xavier and Britto belong to the Church at large. And Lewis makes them all come alive for our times, to inform and inspire.
(Francis Gonsalves, S.J., Vidyajyoti, December 2004)

EXCERPTS FROM  SOME LETTERS OF APPRECIATION

     

Dear Father Lewis,  
The Peace of Christ!

        This is to thank you for the book “Profiles in Holiness” – Brief Biographies of Jesuit Saints- a copy of which you sent me so thoughtfully.  I feel certain that my sense of deep gratitude to you reflects the feelings of countless others, particularly the younger members of the Society of Jesus, before whom you have placed the personalities who had incarnated the spirit of the Society in such a way that they could look up to them with admiration and follow them in their daily lives.

          It was a book such as this that God chose to transform a soldier seeking earthly glory into a Saint who founded a whole army to live and to work for the greater glory of God.  May this book, which presents our Saints in the most practical way, not only enrich our liturgies, but also inspire our young people to heights of heroism and sanctity, making the Good News of Jesus Christ come alive in today’s generation and into the future.  
                 May the Lord bless you abundantly for your generosity in his service.

      Yours sincerely in the Lord,

Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.
Superior General  
30th September, 2003

  ***

Postulazione Generale <postulazione@sjcuria.org>
Thursday, September 25, 2003 7:44 PM
Hedwig Lewis <hedwiglewis@jesuits.net>
Thanksgiving

Dear Father Lewis, 
The book on the Saints and Blesseds of the Society of Jesus that you have composed with accuracy and care has just arrived. 
I hasten to thank you for your kindness in sending it to me and to express my appreciation for your dedication to the work on the best members of our Order that has enabled you to publish "Profiles in Holiness". 
As you can gather, I am glad for having being able to offer you some help whenever you have asked for it.
Congratulations and best wishes.
 
Fraternally in Christ, 
Fr Paolo Molinari, SJ  

***

Fr Jerry Sequeira, SJ, Provincial, Gujarat Province: Congratulation for your book  "Profiles in Holiness".  It deserves a celebration…   [12 September 2003]

Fr Tony Moonnu, SJ, Parish Priest, Patan (Gujarat): Thank you very much for the book on Jesuit saints. The volume was much needed and I expect it would be widely appreciated. Many Jesuits will be grateful to you. [26 Sept 2003]

Fr P.D. Mathew, SJ, director, Legal Aid Programme, I.S.I., Delhi: It contains very valuable material for prayer and reflection. May those exemplary Jesuits inspire us to live a life worthy of our vocation. Congratulations on your fruitful work. [7 Oct 2003] 

Fr Pratap Naik, SJ, Executive Director, Thomas Stephens Konkanni Kendr, Goa: I was delighted to see your latest publication Profiles in Holiness. It is really a wonderful book. I have no words to thank you for this relevant service. This book will help Jesuits to know, appreciate and to draw strength from their own saints and blessed. [9 Oct 2003]

Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes, SJ, Gandhinagar, Gujarat: Your profiles of Jesuit Saints is a collection of love and fidelity of the Saints and of Hedwig Lewis. I mean it. Congrats on your writing ministry. [10 Oct 2003]  

RESOURCE

A list of Jesuit Saints and Blessed, accompanied by short biographies and occasional illustrations, is available at the web page of the Roman Curia produced by the Secretariat for Social Communications: www.sjweb.info.

In its new site – Jesuit Saints and blessed – one finds under “Bibliography” four publications, two of which are published by Gujarat Sahitya Prakash! The titles on the list are: Jesuit Saints & Martyrs, 1998, by J. N. Tylenda SJ (USA), Profiles in Holiness, 2003, by Hedwig Lewis SJ; Passion and Glory, 1999, by Ignacio Echaniz SJ, and 48 Santos y 147 Beatos de la Compañía de Jesús, 2001, by A. J. Bernal L. SJ, (Spanish).

The by-line for Profiles in Holiness reads: “The format distinguishes this book which first presents a brief summary of each saint or blessed that it treats, and then has sections on each man's life and work, character traits and spirituality, and other areas.”

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