Murmurings in Rome

In the America Magazine blog, ‘In All Things’, James Martin SJ explains the wisdom of having days for murmurationes before casting votes for a new Superior General:

St. Ignatius was adamant about removing as many temptations as possible for Jesuits to seek leadership positions in the church, since he had seen what ambition did to some of the churchmen of his time. Thus, when Jesuits pronounce their final vows, they make an additional promise against “ambitioning” for jobs, and even to turn in anyone who has been “ambitioning” or campaigning. So with no electioneering permitted, how to surface names for the right candidates in the General Congregation? The “murmurationes” is an elegant answer to that.

Read the full blog entry on the America website.