See also: Acquaviva

Claudio Acquaviva (September 14th 1543, Atri (Italy) - January 31st 1615, Rome) was an Italian Jesuit elected in 1581 the fifth Supérieur general of the Society of Jesus than it directed until his death. He is the first Italian general superior. During its mandate, manpower of the company passed from 5.000 to 13.000.

It is at the origin of the atque Ratio institutio studiorum known as Ratio Studiorum, teaching a “Somme” made up in 1586 following a vast consultation made in all the colleges Jesuits of the time and which became the handbook of the Pédagogie Jesuit for several centuries.

Formation and entry among Jesuits

Claudio Acquaviva is youngest wire of noble Giovanni Antonio Donato d' Aragona, duke of Atri. After its humanities (Latin, Greek and Hebrew) and studies of mathematics, he studied Jurisprudence with Perugia (Italy). He was then named by the Pape Pie IV like papal Chamberlan.

He heard of the Society of Jesus through his friendship for François Borgia and Juan de Polanco. He was particularly impressed by works of the first companions during the Peste of 1566 and decided to join the Order in 1567. With the blessing of Black and white V, it required of the Supérieur general, François Borgia, to be allowed with the Noviciat. After having finished its studies, he lives himself quickly conferred important responsibilities, his talents of administrators distinguishing it for the high positions. He became Provincial of Naples, then of Rome; and during its mandate, he proposed to join the Mission Jesuit in England which was created with Robert Parsons in spring 1580.

General superior

The fourth general Congregation

With died of Everard Mercurian on August 1st, 1580, the fourth general Congregation was convened for on February 7th, 1581. Acquaviva was elected, with the young age of thirty-seven years, the great surprise of Gregoire XIII. But, the extraordinary direction of governorship which it showed particular when its command was blamed - the apostolic vitality of the Jesuits as the regular growth of their number during his long mandate 24 years, abundantly justified the vote of its voters.

Its achievements of General

In its first letter On the happy growth of the Company of July 25th, 1581, it treated qualifications necessary for the superiors, and enacted that the government should not be inspired by the maxims of human wisdom but by those of supernatural prudence ( fortiter in Re, suaviter in modo ).

It successfully put an end to a revolt Spanish Jesuits, who was supported by Philippe II. In one of the very rare cases of convocation of a general Congregation imposed by a general Superior (Ve in 1593). The work methods of Aquaviva were aggressively blamed, but its open-minded and its real humility acquired the Delegates to him and it left the assembly completely avenged.

A more difficult spot was the management of Sixte V, which was hostile with the Company. Avce a great tactical direction and a real vision, Acquaviva succeeds in playing the King against the Pope, and Sixth against Philippe. By prudence, it reduces to the silence Juan de Mariana, whose doctrines on the tyrannicide had started a major indignation in France; and it also seems to have to disapprove the action of the French Jesuits in favor of the Ligue, and was thus able to ensure a solid favors in favor of Henri IV.

During its mandate, the Missions Jesuits were established with the Paraguay, and he encouraged everywhere the missions in Europe.

The Studiorum Ratio

See also: Ratio Studiorum

The promulgation of the atque Ratio institutio studiorum in 1586 income, synthesizing to him years of experiment in the educational field and organizing them in a system Jesuit of education . But the Dominicains denounced it with the Inquisition and he was condemned in Spain and to Rome, because of opinions questioning the doctrines Thomistes on the divine physical presence and predestination. The accused chapters were withdrawn from the edition of 1591. In the wild discussion which emerges between theologists Jesuits and Dominican about the grace, Acquaviva succeeds, under the popes Clément VIII and Paul V to save his party of a judgment which seemed inescapable.

Claudio Acquaviva died in Rome in 1615, leaving the Company with 13.000 members in 550 houses and 15 provinces. The considerable influence that the Jesuits exerted, in their golden age, were due largely to the political vision in the long run of Acquaviva, which was certainly one of largest the Superior generals of the Order.

Notes and references of the article

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