Claudio Acquaviva
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Claudio Acquaviva (September 14, 1543—January 31, 1615) was an Italian churchman, and was the fifth general of the Society of Jesus. He is considered to be one of the greatest leaders, with Jesuit membership increasing from 5,000 to 13,000 during his office.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Claudio Acquaviva was born at Naples, the youngest son of nobleman Giovanni Antonio Donato d'Aragona, the Duke of Atri. After initial studies of humanities (Latin, Greek and Hebrew) and Mathematics), he studied Jurisprudence in Perugia, and then he was appointed as Papal Chamberlain by Pope Pius IV.
[edit] First contacts with Jesuits
He had heard of the Society of Jesus through his friendship with Francis Borgia and Juan de Polanco. He was particularly impressed by the works of the Early Companions during the Plague in 1566 and decided to join the order in 1567.With the blessing of Pius V he asked the then General Borja to be admitted to the noviceship. After completing his studies, he ascended the ranks quickly, his high administrative gifts marking him out for the highest posts. He soon became the provincial superior of Naples and then of Rome; and during this office he offered to join the Jesuit mission to England that set out under Robert Parsons in the spring of 1580.
[edit] General Congregation IV
Upon the death of Everard Mercurian on August 1, 1580, the Fourth General Congregation was called for February 7, 1581. Acquaviva was unanimously elected the next General, being then only thirty-seven years old, to the great surprise of Gregory XIII.; but the extraordinary political ability he displayed, and the vast increase that came to the Society during his long generalate, abundantly justified the votes of the electors.
[edit] Achievements as General
He, together with Lainez, may be regarded as the real founder of the Society as it is known to history. He secured all authority in his own hands, and insisted that those who prided themselves on their obedience should act up to the profession.
In his first letter "On the happy increase of the Society" (July 25, 1581), he treats of the necessary qualifications for superiors, and points out that government should be directed not by the maxims of human wisdom but by those of supernatural prudence (fortiter in re, suaviter in modo!). He successfully quelled a revolt among the Spanish Jesuits, which was supported by Philip II, and he made use in this matter of Parsons. A more difficult task was the management of Sixtus V, who was hostile to the Society. By consummate tact and boldness Acquaviva succeeded in playing the king against the pope, and Sixtus against Philip. For prudential reasons, he silenced Mariana, whose doctrine on tyrannicide had produced deep indignation in France; and he also appears to have discountenanced the action of the French Jesuits in favour of the League, and was thus able to secure solid advantages when Henry IV. overcame the confederacy.
During his period as General, Jesuit Missions were set up in Paraguay, and he promoted the Jesuit Missions situated throughout Europe.
[edit] The Ratio Studiorum
To him is due the Jesuit system of education in the book Ratio atque institutio studiorum (1586). But the Dominicans denounced it to the Inquisition, and it was condemned both in Spain and in Rome, on account of some opinions concerning the Thomist doctrines of the divine physical premotion in secondary causes and predestination. The incriminated chapters were withdrawn in the edition of 1591. In the fierce disputes that arose between the Jesuit theologians and the Dominicans on the subject of grace, Acquaviva managed, under Clement VIII and Paul V, to save his party from a condemnation that at one time seemed probable.
Claudio Acquaviva died at Rome in 1615, leaving the Society numbering 13,000 members in 550 houses and 15 provinces. The subsequent influence exercised by the Jesuits, in their golden age, was largely due to the far-seeing policy of Acquaviva, who is undoubtedly the greatest general that has governed the Society.
| Preceded by: Everard Mercurian |
Superior General of the Society of Jesus 1581–1615 |
Succeeded by: Mutio Vitelleschi |
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
