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[[Image:Brzozowski.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Tadeusz Brzozowski.]] |
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[[Image:T.Brzozowski.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Tadeusz Brzozowski.]] |
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'''Tadeusz Brzozowski''' ([[October 21]], [[1749]] – [[February 5]], [[1820]]) was a [[Poland|Polish]] [[Jesuit]], elected 19th [[Superior General of the Society of Jesus]]. |
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'''Tadeusz Brzozowski''' (October 21, 1749 – February 5, 1820) was a [[Poland|Polish]] [[Jesuit]], elected 19th [[Superior General of the Society of Jesus]]. |
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===Early years and formation=== |
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===Early years and formation=== |
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Born in [[Königsberg]] of Polish descent, Brzozowski entered the [[Jesuit]] order in 1765, and studied Rhetoric, Greek, French and classical literature in Slutsk (Belarus)(1767-70) followed by Philosophy and Mathematics in Nesviz (1770-73). After the [[Suppression of the Society of Jesus]] (1773) he carried his Theological studies in [[Vilnius]] where he was ordained priest in 1775. |
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Born in [[Königsberg]] of Polish descent, Brzozowski entered the [[Jesuit]] order in 1765, and studied Rhetoric, Greek, French and classical literature in Slutsk (Belarus)(1767-70) followed by Philosophy and Mathematics in Nesviz (1770-73). After the [[Suppression of the Society of Jesus]] (1773) he carried his Theological studies in [[Vilnius]] where he was ordained priest in 1775. |
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===Return to the Jesuits=== |
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===Return to the Jesuits=== |
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===Superior General=== |
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===Superior General=== |
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At the death of Gruber, in 1805, the Regional (Polish) Congregation IV met at Polatsk and elected Tadeusz Brzozowski as Superior General of the Society in Russia. The new elected General immediately sent a message to [[Pope Pius VI]] thanking him for having restored the Society in Sicily. By then a steady stream of young men was coming to Russia to join the Society. Between 1803 and 1805, 103 candidates entered the novitiate of Polatsk, 23 among them being priests. The total number of Jesuits was 333, mostly engaged in educational activities (7 high schools in Russia only) but moving also into pastoral work in [[Latvia]] and Lithuania. |
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At the death of Gruber, in 1805, the Regional (Polish) Congregation IV met at Polatsk and elected Tadeusz Brzozowski as Superior General of the Society in Russia. The new elected General immediately sent a message to [[Pope Pius VI]] thanking him for having restored the Society in Sicily. By then a steady stream of young men was coming to Russia to join the Society. Between 1803 and 1805, 103 candidates entered the novitiate of Polatsk, 23 among them being priests. The total number of Jesuits was 333, mostly engaged in educational activities (7 high schools in Russia only) but moving also into pastoral work in [[Latvia]] and Lithuania. |
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It seemed clear that the suppression would eventually be undone. in 1812 Polatsk was upgraded by [[Tsar Alexander I]] into a university academy, allowing thus affiliation of all the Jesuit schools and protecting them from undue local interference. |
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It seemed clear that the suppression would eventually be undone. in 1812 Polatsk was upgraded by [[Tsar Alexander I]] into a university academy, allowing thus affiliation of all the Jesuit schools and protecting them from undue local interference. |
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In October 1806, the ex-jesuits of Maryland were fully incorporated into the Society and Brzozowski allowed an [[United States|American]] [[novitiate]] with ten novices to be opened at [[Georgetown University|Georgetown]]. Later that year, [[Bishop]] [[Joseph-Octave Plessis]] of [[Québec]] wrote to Pius VII and to Brzozowski, begging that Jesuits be sent from [[Great Britain]] not only for [[City of Halifax|Halifax]] but to work among the [[Aboriginal peoples in Quebec|aboriginal people]] in [[Upper Canada]] as well. Brzozowski sent four men—two from Russia and two from England—but the war in Europe and the dangers of travel made their mission impossible. |
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In October 1806, the ex-jesuits of Maryland were fully incorporated into the Society and Brzozowski allowed an [[United States|American]] [[novitiate]] with ten novices to be opened at [[Georgetown University|Georgetown]]. Later that year, [[Bishop]] [[Joseph-Octave Plessis]] of [[Québec]] wrote to Pius VII and to Brzozowski, begging that Jesuits be sent from [[Great Britain]] not only for [[City of Halifax|Halifax]] but to work among the [[Aboriginal peoples in Quebec|aboriginal people]] in [[Upper Canada]] as well. Brzozowski sent four men—two from Russia and two from England—but the war in Europe and the dangers of travel made their mission impossible. |
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On the other hand there were growing internal tensions as the foreign Jesuits, not conversant with the political situation of the empire, were criticizing Brzozowski for certain decisions taken that, they felt, were too liberal (such as allowing the Orthodox faith to be taught in Jesuit schools). |
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On the other hand there were growing internal tensions as the foreign Jesuits, not conversant with the political situation of the empire, were criticizing Brzozowski for certain decisions taken that, they felt, were too liberal (such as allowing the Orthodox faith to be taught in Jesuit schools). |
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===Restoration of the Society=== |
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===Restoration of the Society=== |
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Brzozoswki worked tirelessly to obtain the universal restoration of the Society, personnally and through his delegate in Rome, Father Luigi Panizzoni. This is one of the first things [[Pope Pius VII]] did after returning from Napoleonic exile to Rome. On [[August 7]], [[1814]], almost exactly forty-one years to the day since Clement XIV suppressed the Society, Pius VII celebrated mass in the [[Church of the Gesú]], and formally promulgated the [[Papal bull|bull]] of restoration, ''Sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum''. The newly reconstituted Jesuits deemed a general congregation unnecessary: Brzozowski retained the title and became [[Superior General of the Society of Jesus]] in the full sense. He was the link which bound the two parts of the Society together. |
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Brzozoswki worked tirelessly to obtain the universal restoration of the Society, personnally and through his delegate in Rome, Father Luigi Panizzoni. This is one of the first things [[Pope Pius VII]] did after returning from Napoleonic exile to Rome. On August 7, 1814, almost exactly forty-one years to the day since Clement XIV suppressed the Society, Pius VII celebrated mass in the [[Church of the Gesú]], and formally promulgated the [[Papal bull|bull]] of restoration, ''Sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum''. The newly reconstituted Jesuits deemed a general congregation unnecessary: Brzozowski retained the title and became [[Superior General of the Society of Jesus]] in the full sense. He was the link which bound the two parts of the Society together. |
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===Political complications=== |
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===Political complications=== |
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The restoration came at a time when Russia was experiencing a strong nationalist movement, calling, among other things for a strengthening of the [[Orthodox Church]]. The Jesuits were seen as an obstacle to that. Alarmed at the new growth of the Jesuits, Alexander published an edict on [[December 20]], [[1815]] expelling them from [[Saint Petersburg|St. Petersburg]] and taking over their High School on the ground that the Jesuits were using it to convert Russian nobles to Catholicism. Brzozowski was detained and forbidden to return to Rome, despite his ailing health and his protests. Sensing that the days of the Society in Russia were numbered Brzozowski sent several Jesuits to a number of countries in Western Europe to speed up the reestablishment of the order. |
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The restoration came at a time when Russia was experiencing a strong nationalist movement, calling, among other things for a strengthening of the [[Orthodox Church]]. The Jesuits were seen as an obstacle to that. Alarmed at the new growth of the Jesuits, Alexander published an edict on December 20, 1815 expelling them from [[Saint Petersburg|St. Petersburg]] and taking over their High School on the ground that the Jesuits were using it to convert Russian nobles to Catholicism. Brzozowski was detained and forbidden to return to Rome, despite his ailing health and his protests. Sensing that the days of the Society in Russia were numbered Brzozowski sent several Jesuits to a number of countries in Western Europe to speed up the reestablishment of the order. |
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===The end=== |
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===The end=== |
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Brzozowski died on [[February 5]], [[1820]] and was buried in [[Polatsk]], Belarus. However, to make sure that the Congregation that would elect his successor would meet in Rome he had nominated an Italian, Luigi Petrucci, as his Vicar General. |
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Brzozowski died on February 5, 1820 and was buried in [[Polatsk]], Belarus. However, to make sure that the Congregation that would elect his successor would meet in Rome he had nominated an Italian, Luigi Petrucci, as his Vicar General. |
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The [[13 March]] [[1820]], the Jesuits were expelled from Russia... |
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The 13 March 1820, the Jesuits were expelled from Russia... |
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==References== |
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==References== |
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*INGLOT, M., ''La Compagnia di Gesù nell'impero Russo (1772-1820)'', Rome, 1997. |
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* INGLOT, M., ''La Compagnia di Gesù nell'impero Russo (1772-1820)'', Rome, 1997. |
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*ROUET de JOURNEL, M.-J., ''La Compagnie de Jésus en Russie; un collège jésuite à Saint Petersbourg (1800-1816)'', Paris, 1922. |
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* ROUET de JOURNEL, M.-J., ''La Compagnie de Jésus en Russie; un collège jésuite à Saint Petersbourg (1800-1816)'', Paris, 1922. |
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*ZALENSKI, S., ''Les Jésuites de la Russie blanche'' (2 vol.), Paris, 1886. |
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* ZALENSKI, S., ''Les Jésuites de la Russie blanche'' (2 vol.), Paris, 1886. |
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*{{Wikisource1911Enc|Brzozowski, Thaddeus}} |
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* {{Wikisource1911Enc|Brzozowski, Thaddeus}} |
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{{start box}} |
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{{start box}} |
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{{succession box | before=[[Gabriel Gruber]] | title=[[Superior General of the Society of Jesus#Notes|Superior General of the Society in Russia]] | after=''restoration'' | years=1805–1814}} |
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{{succession box | before=[[Gabriel Gruber]] | title=[[Superior General of the Society of Jesus#Notes|Superior General of the Society in Russia]] | after=''restoration'' | years=1805–1814}} |
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{{succession box | before=''suppression'' | title=[[Superior General of the Society of Jesus]] | after=[[Luigi Fortis]] | years=1814 – 1820}} |
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{{succession box | before=''suppression'' | title=[[Superior General of the Society of Jesus]] | after=[[Luigi Fortis]] | years=1814 – 1820}} |
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{{end box}} |
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{{end box}} |
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