2008 Woodie Awards
In the Land of the Bulldogs
Understanding our Jesuit Education and University
Chris Sparks
Issue date: 9/1/06 Section: Faith
You've arrived at Gonzaga, and you're settling in. Classes are starting, people are friendly and all is well. But why does this place have a name your uncle can only manage to say as "Gahzanhga" or (horror of horrors) "Gahzoingie"? What's this whole Jesuit identity thing? What difference does it make? And what is this strange place you've landed in? Regardless of any attempts I may make to cast light on the subject, this place will always seem more than a little strange. (You'll understand a lot better during Knights and Setons initiation week, trust me. And if Fr. Ganz ever gets you with his Super Soaker, I had absolutely nothing to do with the arming of that Jesuit...well, nothing much, at least.) However, there are explanations for some of the things unique to Gonzaga. Trust me.
GONZAGA WHO?
Gonzaga is named after St. Aloysius Gonzaga (1568-1591). According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, he was a Jesuit priest who died while nursing plague victims in Milan, Italy. After his death and subsequent canonization, Aloysius was named the patron saint of youth, and thus is the perfect patron and namesake for our Jesuit university.
CATHOLIC, JESUIT AND HUMANISTIC
The Society of Jesus (later called the Jesuits) was founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola and several of his college companions in 1540. Ignatius initially intended the Jesuits to be a missionary organization serving in the Holy Land, but the continued war between Muslims and Christians made that near-impossible. So the Society members offered their services to Pope Paul III, who charged them with other kinds of missionary work. Over time, education came to play a large role in their efforts and ultimately became their main focus. They founded colleges all over the world, the oldest of which is the famous Gregorian University in Rome.
A Jesuit college must be a Catholic college, since all things Jesuit come from the Catholic faith, and as such have certain basic requirements to meet. According to Ex Corde Ecclesiae, the Constitution for Catholic Universities written by Pope John Paul II, some of the requirements are:
GONZAGA WHO?
Gonzaga is named after St. Aloysius Gonzaga (1568-1591). According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, he was a Jesuit priest who died while nursing plague victims in Milan, Italy. After his death and subsequent canonization, Aloysius was named the patron saint of youth, and thus is the perfect patron and namesake for our Jesuit university.
CATHOLIC, JESUIT AND HUMANISTIC
The Society of Jesus (later called the Jesuits) was founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola and several of his college companions in 1540. Ignatius initially intended the Jesuits to be a missionary organization serving in the Holy Land, but the continued war between Muslims and Christians made that near-impossible. So the Society members offered their services to Pope Paul III, who charged them with other kinds of missionary work. Over time, education came to play a large role in their efforts and ultimately became their main focus. They founded colleges all over the world, the oldest of which is the famous Gregorian University in Rome.
A Jesuit college must be a Catholic college, since all things Jesuit come from the Catholic faith, and as such have certain basic requirements to meet. According to Ex Corde Ecclesiae, the Constitution for Catholic Universities written by Pope John Paul II, some of the requirements are:
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