Suppression of Jesuits, very brief[1]
- The politico-religious history of theSocietyunder Louis XIV centres round Jansenism (see JANSENIUS AND JANSENISM) and the lives of the king’s confessors, especially Pères Annat (1845-60), Ferrier (1660-74), La Chaise (q.v.) (1674-1709), and Michel Le Tellier (1709-15). On 24 May, 1656, Blaise Pascal published the first of his “Provinciales”. The five propositions of Jansenism having been condemned by papal authority, Pascal could no longer defend them openly, and found the most effective method of retaliation was satire, raillery, and countercharge against the Society.
NB Pascal, like Descartes, was involved in philosophy & theology not only in the secular field of mathematics as we understood today.
- The cause of theJesuitswas also compromised by the various quarrels of Louis XIV with Innocent XI, especially concerning the régale, and the Gallican articles of 1682.
- Quietism (false inactivity) vs Fatalism (Islam)
Quietism (Latin quies, quietus, passivity) in the broadest sense is the doctrine which declares that man’s highest perfection consists in a sort of psychical self-annihilation and a consequent absorption of the soul into the Divine Essence even during the present life. In the state of “quietude” the mind is wholly inactive; it no longer thinks or wills on its own account, but remains passive while God acts within it. Quietism is thus generally speaking a sort of false or exaggerated mysticism, which under the guise of the loftiest spirituality contains erroneous notions which, if consistently followed, would prove fatal to morality.[2]
Fatalism is in general the view which holds that all events in the history of the world, and, in particular, the actions and incidents which make up the story of each individual life, are determined by fate.
The theory takes many forms, or, rather, its essential feature of an antecedent force rigidly predetermining all occurrences enters, in one shape or another into many theories of the universe. Sometimes in the ancient world fate was conceived as an iron necessity in the nature of things, overruling and controlling the will and power of the gods themselves. Sometimes it was explained as the inexorable decree of the gods directing the course of the universe; sometimes it was personified as a particular divinity, the goddess or goddesses of destiny. Their function was to secure that each man’s lot, “share”, or part should infallibly come to him.[3]
Abandonment to Divine Providence is an act of the will. Balance between these two.
Moslem Fatalism
The orthodox view which has prevailed most widely among the followers of the Prophet has been that all good and evil actions and events take place by the eternal decrees of God, which have been written from all eternity on the prescribed table. The faith of the believer and all his good actions have all been decreed and approved, whilst the bad actions of the wicked though similarly decreed have not been approved. Some of the Moslem doctors sought to harmonize this fatalistic theory with man’s responsibility, but the Oriental temper generally accepted with facility the fatalistic presentation of the creed; and some of their writers have appealed to this long past predestination and privation of free choice as a justification for the denial of personal responsibility. Whilst the belief in predestined lot has tended to make the Moslem nations lethargic and indolent in respect to the ordinary industries of life, it has developed a recklessness in danger which has proved a valuable element in the military character of the people.[4]
Aristotle saw people Gaul’s yippy and spirited no disciple. Those of the East disciplined but no spirit.
Quietism tendency of the intellect and will, appetite alone exhibited.
Abandonment to Divine Providence , not a loss of spirit, intellect, and will
Fr. Jacques Phillipe, Interior Freedom, true freedom choosing what you didn’t originally chose.
Interior Freedom, navigate dangerous waters, surrender everything becomes nothing or fatalism change nothing.
Both instances understanding false understanding of how God interacts. Personal and loving.
[1] https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14086a.htm accessed October 26, 2023
[2] https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12608c.htm accessed October 26, 2023
[3] https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05791a.htm accessed October 26, 2023
[4] https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05791a.htm accessed October 26, 2023