What does LJ know of SJ...?

[desperance]

One of the joys of my job: I have been working all morning and I'd just hit not a problem but a pause, a time for thinking. Specifically, my narrator was just off to a formal reception where she simply had to be for reasons of credibility, but I didn't have a story reason for her to be there, it was going to take up pages and I couldn't see how it would advance the reader's engagement with the plot or the character or the setting; so I went for a walk. Halfway round the graveyard - of course! Among the people she meets there are the Catholic priests who will play such a significant part later on, I knew they had to turn up somewhere, obviously this is it...

So I walk on, cheerfully at one with myself and my craft; and five minutes later, in the hospital grounds, I suddenly think, oh hey, how's about if they're Jesuits? Not at all unlikely, in context, and it adds that extra layer of richness. But. Do they introduce themselves as Jesuits, is that what Jesuits do? And if not, is there a button, a pin, a ring, some outward and visible sign of their inward and spiritual grace...?

Wiki doesn't know. It says there's no particular habit of dress these days, so that's out, no identifiable cut of cassock. Does LJ know? Anyone...?

Comments

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

Or do you have to rely on your Jesuit-dar?

[esmeraldus-neo.livejournal.com]

My Jesuits wouldn't give up their cassocks for anything. They'd love wearing them, because they probably started out as gamers and, while being completely devout, are also sometimes pretending to be the cleric in an AD&D campaign setting--Jesuits are known for humor.

No. I am not kidding.

[euphoricstimuli.livejournal.com]

yeah, my uni was run by jesuits. about half of them wore cassocks, the other half just wore normal stuff, with the white colar thing for special occasions. All jesuits are totally into learning ,so anything to do with accademia is a good way of getting them introduced.Also I do partially agree with the post above, none of the ones I knew were gamers, but they did all have amazing senses of humour, & quite a few of the younger ones were totally into homebrew.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

The only time I met a Jesuit (but how would I know!) he was introduced to me as "This is Brother Guy Consolmagno, he's a Jesuit and a specialist in meteorites." (You can't put him in a book, nobody would ever believe in him.) So you could always try that. Or perhaps you could have some of them be Jesuits and one of them be some other variety of priest, and then you can go for the "You would say that! You're a Jesuit!" kind of rejoinder, to which your protag can then ask "Are you really a Jesuit?" and he can reply smilingly "Yes I am and so is Father James, but Brother Thomas here is a Franciscan, for his sins."

[desperance.livejournal.com]

The only time I met a Jesuit (but how would I know!) he was introduced to me as "This is Brother Guy Consolmagno, he's a Jesuit and a specialist in meteorites." (You can't put him in a book, nobody would ever believe in him.)

I believe in him already. Damn, why is it always other people who get to meet the really interesting ones...?

Or perhaps you could have some of them be Jesuits and one of them be some other variety of priest, and then you can go for the "You would say that! You're a Jesuit!" kind of rejoinder, to which your protag can then ask "Are you really a Jesuit?" and he can reply smilingly "Yes I am and so is Father James, but Brother Thomas here is a Franciscan, for his sins."

...which must obviously have been many, and very wicked. But seriously, thank you; that's neat. I can use that...

ETA (before posting, yet: see what you did, how I went so suddenly shooting off at a tangent?): Eureka! I have it - and it is the maxims of Balthasar Gracian (http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/aww/) which I have! He can quote, she can recognise - by virtue of the nuns of her upbringing - not only the source but the significance. She can accuse, he can confess, they can be quite delighted with themselves and each other for being so clever, and there we go...

Thanks, Jo.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

That's how it works. I'm glad it was the right sort of oblique angle you needed.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Of course - this being Taiwan - she could just have glanced at the business card he greets her with, and seen 'SJ' after his name. But this way is just so much more elegant, they start off outsmarting each other; only trouble now is that I have a seriously interesting character barging into the middle of my story, which is completely not ready to deal with him. God only knows what he's going to do in there, but something...

[affreca.livejournal.com]

I believe in him, but I've had lunch with Guy. He was good friends with my research adviser, and I got invited out. He's got his own book out, "Brother Astronomer".

[desperance.livejournal.com]

See? Everybody gets to meet the cool guys. Sigh...

Still, at least I can read the book. Thanks for the heads-up.

[farwing.livejournal.com]

You just need to come to Boskone...then you could meet him quite easily! At least this year. (Not that I've really met him, but I have heard him speak on panels and such.)

[martyn44.livejournal.com]

From the (few, compared to my brother) Jesuit priests I've known, one give away would be how well travelled he/they is/are. If the story is at all contemporary, there will be South American stamps in their passport. The chances are they will be intimidatingly well read in some interestingly obscure areas and have senses of humour that would draw blood were it not for the smiles.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

The chances are they will be intimidatingly well read in some interestingly obscure areas and have senses of humour that would draw blood were it not for the smiles.

Thank you; that's lovely. And useful.

[handworn.livejournal.com]

They don't go up to you and begin quibbling?

[bee01.livejournal.com]

Hi Chaz
Not sure if this a good way to contact you but I was having problems with the email link.
I am a mature student doing a Creative writing degree at Derby University.I was pointed in your direction by Alex Davies. I am in my third year and I am doing my dissertation on the supernatural in contemporary fiction.(along the lines of the supernatural seems to be a phenomena in literature,TV and film at the moment so why is it so popular,aren't we a bit to technically advanced to believe in ghosts?)I was wondering if you would answer about ten questions for me on this subject which would help me with my research into this area.We could do this via email if you were willing to help me.
I write alot about ghosts,hauntings and haunted houses so this is a subject close to my heart.
This is the point where I could beg but it might be a bit undignified needless to say I would be very grateful and it would be of huge assistance in the preparation of my dissertation.
my email is beemarshall@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks
Bee(Barbara Marshall)

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Bee - no need to beg. Am e-mailing you separately, but yes, of course I'll answer your questions. Bring 'em on...