Saint Louis University was founded in the Jesuit tradition, but issues of legal wordplay and business decisions have caused some in the University community to question the relevance of this tradition in contemporary times. A handful of Jesuit leaders and ideals remain speckled across SLU’s campus as reminders of the institution’s founding principles.
Jesuit priests occupy a few prominent administrative positions, the University’s mission statement repeatedly evokes Jesuit ideals, every student is required to take theology courses and Jesuit scholastics-men who hope to one day become Jesuit priests-come from across the country to study and pray at SLU.
Jesuit scholastics, not to be confused with the diocesan seminarians, are Jesuits usually in their 20s or 30s, who are studying for the priesthood.
The Bellarmine House of Studies, along with the College of Philosophy and Letters, offers scholastics a chance to study the required amounts of philosophy and theology before moving on to work, study theology and, later, be ordained.
The scholastics wear vestments typically associated with priests, but they take several classes alongside undergraduate and graduate students.
Ronny O’Dwyer, S.J., and Robert Murphy, S.J., two scholastics currently studying in the College of Philosophy and Letters, said that walking alongside students is an important aspect of their studies at SLU, one of three Jesuit universities in the country that offer such philosophical training.
“I think [studying here] plays into one of St. Ignatius’ trademarks: to work alongside those that you minister to,” Murphy said.
O’Dwyer is engaged with the student body at an especially visible level as the Student Government Association’s representative for the College of Philosophy and Letters.
David Miros, Ph.D., archivist at the Midwest Jesuit Archives and professor in SLU’s department of theology, said that the presence of the scholastics on campus is an integral part of their learning experience.
“Not only are [the scholastics] teaching students something . they’re learning something,” Miros said.
The scholastics spend a great deal of their time at SLU within the community of the Bellarmine House of Studies. Outside of their individual obligations to private prayer and reflection, they attend daily Mass together, eat dinner together and engage in group social periods.
All of the scholastics are required to perform six to eight hours of service each week. But that isn’t to suggest that the scholastics don’t take a break.
“St. Ignatius coined the phrase [of] being a ‘contemplative in action,'” O’Dwyer said. This lends itself to the “holistic approach” taken toward the daily life of the scholastics that Murphy said includes academics, spirituality, service, community and downtime.
“We do normal things,” Murphy said. “We don’t work all the time.”
Murphy said that there are currently 26 scholastics, one Jesuit brother and five priests living at the Bellarmine House, which includes four residential houses that are located behind the Coronado apartments on Westminster Place.
Murphy and O’Dwyer said that most of the Jesuit scholastics who leave the program do so in the novitiate, an early phase of the process that comes before their period of study on campus. By the time they reach SLU, they have already taken their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
“[Leaving is] not something taken lightly . after you’ve taken your vows,” Murphy said.
Murphy, who had already had a career before deciding to become a Jesuit, said that the Society of Jesus appealed to him because he could integrate his desire for spiritual fulfillment and pursue his occupational passions, including physical therapy and athletic training.
“I felt like I had achieved the American dream . all these things the American dream says you should have . the problem was that I was not happy, and I didn’t have peace in my heart,” Murphy said. “I determined God was calling me to the priesthood.”
Miros said that young men often feel called to be a part of the Jesuits because of their zest for life.
“There’s . an element of adventure [for Jesuit scholastics]-doing something that’s unconventional,” Miros said. “Jesuits today choose the road less traveled and the world is better for it.”
Both Murphy and O’Dwyer cite popular culture as a pressing challenge they face in their pursuit of a religious lifestyle. O’Dwyer said his challenge is a question of challenging widely held contemporary beliefs.
“Being a 25-year-old religious in today’s culture, how do I witness authentically . to a world that says you can’t be happy without sex . money . and individualism?” O’Dwyer asked.
Despite those challenges, Murphy said, “We’re happy living this life … I found my peace.”
