Stanislaus Czerniewicz

Stanislaus Czerniewicz

Stanislaus Czerniewicz (15 August 1728, Kaunas, Lithuania - 7 July 1785, Staiki, Belarus) was temporary Vicar General of the Society of Jesus from 1782 until 1785.

Early career

After his Jesuit training in Lithuania - Philosophy (1747-50) and Theology (1753-57) at Vilnius - Czerniewiecz taught Grammar and Poetry in the High School of Kražiai (1750-53) before being called to Rome where he was secretary for the Polish Assistancy of the Society of Jesus (1759-68). This is where he got familiarized with the government of the Society. He returned to his country where he was made Rector of the High School of Polatsk (now in Belarus) in 1770.

After the Suppression of the Society of Jesus

The brief of Clement XIV suppressing the Society (July 1773) could not be promulgated in the Jesuit houses of White Russia (Belarus), as the Czarin Catherina the II of Russia, a non-Catholic, forbade it. She has no wish to see the Jesuits leaving their schools. There were at that time 201 Jesuits in the Russian empire. The Jesuits carried on their work as before. As Rector of the largest community and school Czerniewicz was a sort of 'reference authority' of the group. Perplexed as to what to do he sought in 1775, through indirect contacts, approval from the successor of Clement XIV on the papal throne, Pius VI, who rather cryptically, gave to understand that he was not displeased with the situation. Czerniewicz started then receiving Jesuits coming from other countries of Europe (1776) and soon got also permission (1779) to open a novitiate for new recruits in Polatsk.

Regional (Polish) Congregation I

As all this was rather unofficial and he had no legal authority over the Jesuits, Czerniewicz requested the local bishop (in charge of religious affairs) and Catherina II permission to call a 'Regional Congregation' for the election of a Vicar General of the Society. This was granted; the Congregation met in 1782. On the 17 Octobre Czerniewicz was elected Vicar General with full authority of a Superior General. The opening of the novitiate first, and then the election of a Vicar General created a diplomatic crisis between Russia and the Bourbon's courts in Europe. But Catherina defended 'her Jesuits' with the silent approval of Pius VI.

The Vicar General

Faithful to the Constitutions of Saint Ignatius Czerniewicz quietly prepared the rebirth of the Society, entertaining correspondence with many ex-Jesuits in a number of European countries and keeping them informed of the Russian developments. His good knowledge of the Russian mentality help him also, as well as the Society, to find the right course through very difficult times. He died on the 7 July 1785.

References

*ZALENSKI, S., "Les jésuites de la Russie blanche" (2 vol.), Paris, 1886.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Stanislaw Czerniewicz — Stanislaw Czerniewicz, né le 15 août 1728 à Kaunas (Lituanie) et décédé le 7 juillet 1785 à Staiki (Biélorussie) fut vicaire général de la Compagnie de Jésus en Russie, de 1782 à 1785. Sommaire 1 Biographie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Gabriel Lenkiewicz — (15 March 1722, Polatsk, Belarus 21 Novembre 1798, Polatsk, Belarus) was temporary Vicar General of the Society of Jesus from 1785 until 1798, at a time when, being suppressed in all Catholic countries, the Society of Jesus was still surviving in …   Wikipedia

  • Society of Jesus — Jesuit redirects here. For the American hardcore punk band, see Jesuit (band). For the personal philosophy encompassing the moral teachings of Jesus, see Jesuism. Society of Jesus Abbreviation SJ, Jesuits Motto …   Wikipedia

  • Superior General of the Society of Jesus — The Superior General of the Society of Jesus is the official title of the leader of the Society of Jesus mdash;the Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Jesuits. He is generally addressed as Father General. The position carries the… …   Wikipedia

  • Franciszek Kareu — (10 December 1731, Orsa, Belarus 11 August 1802, Polatsk, Belarus) was Temporary Vicar General of the Society of Jesus in Russia from 1799 to 1801. After Pope Pius VII’s official approval of the Jesuits’ existence in Russia, he was declared… …   Wikipedia

  • Congrégation générale — D’après les Constitutions de la Compagnie de Jésus (8ème partie), la Congrégation Générale est nécessairement convoquée pour élire un successeur au Supérieur Général décédé ou lorsqu’il faut traiter de questions très difficiles concernant tout le …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Pape noir — Supérieur général de la Compagnie de Jésus La Compagnie de Jésus, plus connue sous le nom de ses membres, les jésuites, est dirigée par un Praepositus Generalis, mot latin qui désigne un préposé général ou Supérieur général, communément appelé… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Superieur general de la Compagnie de Jesus — Supérieur général de la Compagnie de Jésus La Compagnie de Jésus, plus connue sous le nom de ses membres, les jésuites, est dirigée par un Praepositus Generalis, mot latin qui désigne un préposé général ou Supérieur général, communément appelé… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Supérieur Général de la Compagnie de Jésus — La Compagnie de Jésus, plus connue sous le nom de ses membres, les jésuites, est dirigée par un Praepositus Generalis, mot latin qui désigne un préposé général ou Supérieur général, communément appelé Père général ou Général, élu à vie à la tête… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Supérieur général — de la Compagnie de Jésus La Compagnie de Jésus, plus connue sous le nom de ses membres, les jésuites, est dirigée par un Praepositus Generalis, mot latin qui désigne un préposé général ou Supérieur général, communément appelé Père général ou… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”