For many years, the religious institute with the most members in the Church. Far more than any other. Today they are about to be overtaken by the Salesians. Very close. Only 74 members separate them now.
That unmitigated decline has been brought about by the wonderful generalate of Arrupe, and we’ll see how they keep selling it to us. Arrupe and Arrupe-ism have sunk them. To the point of being overtaken by the Salesians. Who have weathered the storm much better than they have. And not because they are better. Not even less bad. They’re somewhere in between. But they have managed to maintain the congregation somewhat better. For now. Because the struggle is not between one good and one bad, but between two bad ones. And the current Salesian mediocrity has nothing to do with how glorious the Society of Jesus once was. Although today almost nothing remains of that.
(The photograph is of the Salesian General Council)