two jesuits, two ways

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Jan 23, 2008

Here's what Jesuit Father Adolfo Nicolás, newly elected the Superior General of his order, had to say in 2005 about the "liberating ways of religious wisdom":

The real spiritual Masters of all ages are more keen in teaching the way to God, than in giving answers to questions about God. Asia has produced an incredible wealth of such "Ways". The search for wisdom or for the Divinity is a very concrete search and the Masters continue to guide people in the journey of the heart. It is in this context that we Christians have to think and reconsider our Christian practices, from simple devotions to Sacramental celebrations.

Here's what the late Jesuit Father Jean Daniélou had to say on the same subject:

For syncretism, those who are saved are the inward-looking souls, whatever the religion they profess. For Christianity, they are the believers, whatever level of inwardness they may have achieved. A little child, an overworked workman, if they believe, stand at a higher level than the greatest ascetics. "We are not great religious personalities", Guardini once said; "we are servants of the Word." Christ himself had said that St. John the Baptist might well be "the greatest among the children of men", but that "the least among the sons of the kingdom is greater than he." It is possible for there to be great religious personalities in the world even outside of Christianity; it is indeed very possible for the greatest religious personalities to be found outside Christianity; but that means nothing; what counts is obedience to the Word of Christ.

That passage from Daniélou is quoted by Joseph Ratzinger, in support of his own arguments, in his study of Christian belief and world religions called Truth and Tolerance.

Not the same.