Polanco
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[edit] Early Life and Joining the Society of Jesus
Juan Alfonso de Polanco, arguably one of the most important and influential Jesuits, was born in Burgos Spain in the year 1517. The son of a wealthy merchant, author John O’Malley suggests that Polanco’s family were ‘New Christians’ (former Jews), although this has never been proven. With the intention to join the clergy, he studied at University of Paris and the University of Padua, where he excelled in studies of classics, literature and philosophy. Against the advice of his family, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1541. For this decision, he was briefly jailed due to his brother’s willing and subsequently excommunicated by his family.
Just seven years after becoming a Jesuit, Polanco was appointed the secretary of the General by St. Ignatius of Loyola in 1547. This was a position Polanco would continue to hold after Ignatius’ death and during the terms of two subsequent Generals, Diego Lainez and Francis Borgia.
[edit] Works: The Constitutions, Chronicon, Directoriam and Methodus
The work of Juan de Alfonso Polanco is often overlooked, although it is extremely beneficial to historians studying the early years of the Society, and also shows great insight into the formation and practices of Jesuit ideals in their early stages. As St. Ignatius’ secretary, Polanco was a “trusted subordinate” (Donnelly) whose work enhanced relations with higher clergy people and administrations, due to the publications of correspondence and documents explaining the aims and missions of the new Society. Although his job included the recording of thousands of letters, the most notable complete works completed by Polanco are The Constitutions and the Monumenta Historica Societatis Jesu, which include the works of the Chronicon, Methodus and Directoriam.
The Constitutions are a complete outline of the Society of Jesus in terms of their spiritual direction and mission, and include ten parts on the rules, regulations and reasoning for joining the Society and also the action and mission one undertakes when doing so. Although Ignatius had to sign off on all of Polanco’s writings, Polanco was more skilled than he was in the art of language and concise writing. Polanco drew up a list of pros and cons of sorts when drafting the Constitutions, and Loyola would pick and chose from the information that was provided. Priest and scholar John Patrick Donnelly wrote, “The better the style in the letter, the more quotations from classical authors or Church Fathers, the greater the role Polanco probably played in its composition. Polanco also made major contributions to the Jesuit constitutions.” (Donnelly)
The Chronicon is an in depth history of the early years of the society, as it was growing rapidly and there was much to record. Polanco wrote it not with the intention that it would be published, but rather that it would be of good use to future historians. “Polanco’s account tends toward triumphalism; still, he does not hide Jesuit failures and shortcomings.” (Donnelly) For example, Polanco spent time focusing on the failure of Portugal as a Jesuit province, one that had once held great potential. He also compared and contrasted rural to cosmopolitan Catholics, and how their practices and responses to the Society. Because of his willingness to expose both the successes and failures of the founding and early years of the Society, O’Malley contests that “the Chronicon destroys the stereotype of religious order under strict military discipline.” (O'Malley) This history is not intentionally glorified, which makes it unique and makes Polanco an important figure in Jesuit history.
The works of Directoriam and Methodus contain important writings on consolation, as they deal respectively with confession and death. It focused on the qualities of “knowledge, humility and prudence.” (O'Malley)
[edit] Death and Legacy
Juan Alfonso de Polanco died in Rome in 1576. There are no known portraits of him. Throughout his time as Secretary to the General, Polanco wrote thousands of pages worth of manuscript, history and correspondence of the Jesuits. Without his work, the early years of the Society of Jesus would largely remain a mystery.
[edit] References
John Patrick Donnelly, ed., Year by Year with the Early Jesuits (1537-1556): Selections from the “Chronicon” of Juan de Alfonso Polanco. St Louis: Institute of Jesuit Resources, 2004
O’Malley, John W. The First Jesuits Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1993
John Patrick Donnelly. Ignatius of Loyola: Founder of the Jesuits. New York: Pearson Longman, 2004
James Broderick. The Origin of the Jesuits. Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1986
