JESUIT RATIO STUDIORUM OF 1599
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Letter of Transmission of the Ratio of 1599
Rules of the Provincial
Common Rules of Professors of the Higher Faculties
Rules of the Prefect of Lower Studies
Rules for Written Examinations
Laws for Prizes
Common Rules for the Teachers of the Lower Classes
Rules of the Scholastics of the Society
Instruction for Those Engaged in the Two-Year Review of Theology
Rules of the Academy
Notes to the Translation
A comprehensive program for our course of studies began to take shape about fourteen years ago. Work on it has now been completed and copies of its final form are being sent to the various provinces of the Society. On account of its great potential value for our schools, Our Very Reverend Father General had hoped that the program would have been completed and implemented long before now. This, however, proved to be impossible. The undertaking was so ambitious and was fraught with so many problems that it was felt to be unwise to put it in force until the provinces would have an opportunity to study its implications and suggest improvements. Father General decided that it would never do to impose a set of regulations on the whole Society until every effort had been made to insure willing acceptance on the part of all concerned. The six priests to whom the task of formulating a program of studies was entrusted spent long and arduous years in research and discussion. They finally completed their work, and the results were forwarded to all provinces of the Society to be weighed and evaluated by our teachers and educational experts. These men were requested to examine the document for the purpose of noting and eliminating defects or of introducing improvements. They were then to make a report expressing their views on the plan as a whole and to explain the principles which supported these views. All of the provinces cooperated eagerly and resolutely, and forwarded their criticisms and their suggestions to Rome. There the chief professors of the Roman College and a special committee of three Fathers edited these reports and submitted their findings to Father General. In conference with the Fathers Assistant, he carefully scrutinized the new version of the plan of studies, approved it, and forwarded copies to all the provinces with orders that it was to be scrupulously followed.
2 Father General reminded the Provincials that since new procedures to be reliable, must be tested in the light of actual experience, they should note the day-by-day results of the new plan and make a report to Rome. He himself would then be in a position to put the finishing touches to the work and send it out with the stamp of his final approval. When the Provincials came to Rome for the Fifth General Congregation, they brought with them the memoranda of defects which daily experience in the classroom had detected in the second draft of the Ratio. The chief complaint was that the new plan was too cumbersome. Hence it was decided to face the huge task of reviewing the whole project. This required that the members of the Roman committee study the reasoning which prompted the various suggestions, that they ponder well what decision to make in each instance, and finally that they endeavor to reduce the whole document to smaller and more manageable dimensions. Finally the task was completed and we have good reason to hope that the final version will meet with the approval of all. This revised edition of the Ratio which is now being sent out is to supersede all previous experimental editions and is to be followed faithfully by all members of the Society. It is therefore incumbent on all our teachers to carry out all its provisions. I am quite convinced that if the members of our Society realize how much this project means to our Father General, they will comply cheerfully with his wishes. Since responsibility for the success of this Ratio Studiorum lies squarely on the shoulders of superiors, Father General urges them to make every effort to secure from their subjects ready and complete dedication to this program which breathes the spirit of our Constitutions and promises to be of untold advantage to our students.
Rome James Dominic January 8, 1599 Secretary
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