General Congregation 35

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General Congregation 35 ( Jan 7th
Mar 6th, 2008 ) Part - I
Inaugural Mass Resignation
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An Arial View of St. Peters Basilica, the
Square, and the Jesuit Curia Generalate
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Jesuit Generalate at Borgo S. Spirito
Venue for GC 35
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General Congregation 35 opens with the Inaugural
Eucharist in the Gesu Church, at 10.30 am on Jan
7th 2008, with 217 electors from around the world
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Fr. Nico
The Delegates vested in alb and stole, and in
procession entering the Gesu Church
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The main celebrant was Cardinal Franc Rodé,
former Archbishop of Slovenia and currently
Pro-Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of
the Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic
Life. Father General Kolvenbach (left) and Father
Frank Case (right) Secretary of the Society.
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The entire Congregation at the Mass, including
Jesuits residing in Rome and many Religious and
lay people of Rome.
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Jesuits of Gesu and Bellarmino Colleges at the
choir led by Fr. Vlasto of Slovakian Province
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Three Jesuit Cardinals- Roberto Tucci, Thomas
Spidlik and Urbano Navarrete- attending the
Inaugural Eucharist at Gesu Church.
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At the end of the Mass, Fr. Kolvenbach
proceededto the side altar where St. Ignatius of
Loyola is buried. The very large painting in the
niche above the altar was gradually lowered in
silence, revealing behind it the magnificent
baroque silver statue of St. Ignatius.
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According to the artistic tendencies of the time,
Bro. Pozzo conceived the altar as a dramatic
presentation composed of various scenes.
Following the taste of the day, he created a
piece of cloth which usually concealed the statue
of Saint Ignatius. On given occasions, by means
of a clever mechanism, the cloth would slide down
and the statue would appear in all its splendour.
This piece of cloth has great artistic value. The
passing of time and the humidity of Rome caused
the cloth to deteriorate but now it has been
restored.
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At the end of the Inaugural Mass, a lamp was lit
by Father Kolvenbach at the altar of Saint
Ignatius in the Gesù Church. The lamp will be
burning during the time the Congregation meets.
Similar lamps will be lit in Jesuit chapels all
over the world as symbol of the continuous prayer
for the success of the Congregation.
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(No Transcript)
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Aula of the GC35 where the Delegates met at 9
every morning and began the day with a 15 minute
prayer service well conducted on appropriate
themes!
Official languages of the Aula were Spanish,
English and French (Italian as well). (Latin was
used for taking oaths)
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Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach Resigns..! The
14th of January was the day designated by the
Steering Committee for the formal consideration
and vote on Father Generals expressed desire to
resign. Father Valentín Menéndez as the chair,
invited the electors to ask the four Assistants
ad providentiam for clarifications regarding the
reasons given by Father General for his
resignation. At the end of the questions there
was a brief period of silent personal prayer
before ballots were cast.
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Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, the 29th General of
the SJ, reads out his resignation before the
Delegates of the GC 35 it was a moment of rapt
attention, deep admiration and profound gratitude
experienced in the Aula
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Fr. Valentin Menendez read out in return a
beautiful note of heart felt appreciation and
gratitude to Father Kolvenbach on behalf of the
whole Society.
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Thank you, Father General ! Thank you, Father
Kolvenbach for the marvelous way you have loved
and served our Society in the last 25 years.!
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How Edified We Are..! First of all, we wish
to tell you how edified we are with your manner
of submitting your resignation, namely, in that
freedom of spirit that frames the Gospel and the
Exercises. The example you give us today, of
course, is very different from what commonly is
found in a world characterized by the clinging
to, and fighting for, positions of power and
prestige. Our charism and legislation are not
good merely because they propose beautiful
ideals, but precisely because there are people
who know how to embody and live them..!
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In response to the warm and long applause by the
delegates Father Kolvenbach said wittily, Thank
you for the elegant way you have found to fire
me.