Jean-Baptiste Janssens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jean-Baptiste Janssens |
|
|---|---|
| 27th Superior General of the Society of Jesus | |
.jpg) |
|
| Enthroned | 15 September 1946 |
| Reign ended | 5 October 1964 |
| Predecessor | Wlodimir Ledóchowski |
| Successor | Pedro Arrupe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 December 1889 Mechelen, Belgium |
| Died | 5 October 1964 (aged 74) |
| Buried | Campo Verano, Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Alma mater | Facultés universitaires Saint-Louis |
Jean-Baptiste Janssens (born December 22, 1889 – died October 5, 1964) was a Belgian priest. He belonged to a religious group called the Jesuits. He became the 27th leader of the Jesuits, known as the Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was born in Mechelen, Belgium.
Contents
Early Life and Studies
Janssens first went to school at the Diocesan Secondary School in Hasselt. He then studied at the University Faculty in Brussels. There, he was very good at philosophy and classical languages.
In 1907, he joined the Jesuit order in Drongen. He took his first promises to the order in 1909. After studying philosophy, he earned a special degree in civil law from the Catholic University of Louvain.
From 1921 to 1923, he studied more at the Gregorian University in Rome. He earned another degree, this time in Canon law.
Teaching and Leadership Roles
After his studies, Janssens taught canon law at the Jesuit college in Leuven from 1923 to 1929. He became the head of that college, called its rector, in 1929.
Later, in 1935, he became a "Tertian Master," which is a role for training new Jesuits. In 1938, he was chosen to be the Provincial for the Jesuits in Northern Belgium. This meant he was in charge of all the Jesuits in that region.
In 1939, Janssens visited Jesuit missions in the Belgian Congo. During World War II, in 1945, he helped hide many Jewish children in the Jesuit Provincial's house in Brussels. Because of this brave act, he was given the special title of Righteous among the nations.
Becoming the Jesuit Leader
The previous Jesuit leader, Wlodimir Ledóchowski, died in 1942 during World War II. Because of the war, the Jesuits could not choose a new leader right away. The temporary leader, Norbert de Boynes, was in charge for three years.
After the war ended in 1945, the Jesuits could finally hold a meeting to choose a new leader. This meeting, called the 29th General Congregation, happened in Rome in 1946. Janssens, as a Provincial, attended this meeting.
On September 15, 1946, Jean-Baptiste Janssens, who was 57 years old, was chosen as the 27th Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He became the worldwide leader of the Jesuits.
Leading the Jesuits
Because of his health, Janssens needed a quiet place to rest outside of Rome. So, the Jesuits bought a property called Villa Cavalletti in the Alban Hills. This place became a peaceful retreat for Janssens and other Jesuits.
In 1949, Janssens wrote an important message called Instruction on the Social Apostolate. In this message, he told Jesuit schools to focus more on helping poor people. He said that Jesuits and their students should not seem to be only friends with rich people. He wanted them to care about the working class as much as, or even more than, the wealthy. This message had a big impact on Jesuit education.
In 1957, after leading for eleven years, Janssens called another big meeting of Jesuits. At this meeting, they chose a Canadian Jesuit named John Swain to be his assistant.
Janssens also worked to improve Jesuit schools around the world. He created new offices to help coordinate the schools in different countries. He encouraged international meetings for educators to share ideas. This helped Jesuit education become more connected and work together better globally.
Pope John XXIII called the Second Vatican Council in 1962. This important meeting aimed to solve many of the same problems that Janssens was dealing with as Jesuit leader. Janssens wanted Jesuits to do more direct work helping the poor.
Final Years
Jean-Baptiste Janssens served as the Superior General for 18 years and one month. He passed away on October 5, 1964, at the age of 74. His body was buried in the Jesuit tomb at Campo Verano in Rome, Italy.
See also
In Spanish: Jean-Baptiste Janssens para niños
