If you are new to the Jesuits, you may be a little confused about the variety of names and titles used for them. Here is a brief explanation.
The Spanish words do not have the proper accents or markings.
Inigo: The name of Ignatius given to him by his family.
Ignatius: The name Inigo took, in part, after the Ignatius of Antioch, one of the church fathers.
Companeros: The Spanish word for companions, which is how the first group of "amigos/brothers" saw themselves.
Compagnia: The Spanish word for company. Put some companions together and they are a Company.
Compagnia de Jesu (or Gesu): The Spanish phrase for Company of Jesus.
Societas Jesus: This is the Latin translation of Compangnia de Gesu.
Company of Jesus and Society of Jesus: The English equivalents.
Jesuits: A term first used by their critics to describe the members of the Society of Jesus.
Jebs: A nickname for the Jesuits that American students began to use.
Jays: A nickname for the Jesuits that British students began to use.
Brian K. Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com
Brian,
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, I learned a few things.
JMJ
Joe