It is interesting to be aware of the fact that during this unique time in history Pope Francis, or Jorge Bergoglio, is the first pope to be a member of the Society of Jesuits, that is, he is the first Jesuit pope. He also happened to be the first pope from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope to be raised outside Europe since the 8th century papacy of the Syrian pope Gregory III.
In the fact that Pope Francis is the first Jesuit pope, it is interesting to note the initiation oath of this order, which can be found in the ‘Divine Calendar,’ Vol. 11, edited by Augusta Cook and published by Dank and Sons in 1916, this was the initiation oath of the Jesuit Order. Please note that I do not think that this is an oath that is done by all Jesuit priests. For example, I know a few local Jesuit priests who do an excellent job in parishes and in local communities. If this oath is still practised, then this is something that has to do with the higher up in the hierarchy of the Jesuit order:
“I now in the presence of the Almighty God, the blessed virgin Mary, the blessed Michael the Archangel, the blessed St. John the Baptist, and my ghostly father, the superior general of the Society of Jesus, founded by St. Ignatius Loyola, do by the womb of the Virgin, swear that His Holiness the Pope is Christ’s vice-regent, and is the true and only Head of the Catholic or Universal Church, I do now renounce and disown any allegiance is due to any heretical King, Prince or State, named Protestant or Liberal, or obedience to any of their laws or magistrates, or officers.
I do further declare the doctrine of the Church of England, and Scotland, and of Calvanists, Huguenots, and others of the name of Protestant or Liberal, to be damnable, and themselves to be damned, who will not forsake the same. I do further promise and declare that, notwithstanding I am dispensed with, to assume any religion heretical for the propagation of Mother Church’s interest, to keep secret and private all her agents, counsels, from time to time, as they interest me, and not divulge directly or indirectly by word, writing, or circumstances whatever.
I do furthermore promise and declare that I will, when opportunity presents, make and wage relentless war secretly or openly, against all heretics, Protestants, and Liberals, as I am directed to; extirpate them from the face of the earth; and that I will spare neither age, sex, or condition, and that I will hang, burn, waste, boil, flay, strangle and bury alive those infamous heretics; rip up the stomachs and wombs of the women, and crush their infants’ heads against the walls in order to annihilate their inexorable race. That when the same cannot be done openly, I will secretly use the poisonous cup, the strangulating cords, the steels of the poinard, or the leaden bullets, regardless of the honour, rank, dignity, or authority of the persons, whatever may be their condition in life, either public or private, as I at any time may be directed to by any agent of the Pope, or the superior of the Holy Father of the Society of Jesus.
In confirmation of which I hereby dedicate my life, my soul, and my corporeal powers; and with this dagger, which I now receive, I will subscribe my name written in my blood in testimony thereof; and should I prove false, or weaken in my determination may my brethren and fellow-soldiers of the militia of the Pope, cut off my hands and my feet, and my throat from ear to ear, rip my belly open, and sulphur burn therein, and all the punishments that can be inflicted on me on earth, and my soul be tortured by demons in an eternal hell for ever.
In testimony thereof I take this most holy and blessed sacrament of the Eucharist, and witness the same further with my name written with the point of this dagger, dipped in my own blood, and sealed in the face of the holy covenant.”
Doesn’t this oath show similarities with the blood oaths of freemasonry?
https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2478231803/view?partId=nla.obj-2478232434#page/n0/mode/1up