On Friday, famed host of NBC’s “Meet the Press” Tim Russert died of a heart attack. Russert was known for his background in law and politics and, of course, his excellence in journalism. But Russert was also known for something else – his Catholic background and Jesuit education.

Russert was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1950 to Irish Catholic parents. He went to a Jesuit high school, Canisius High School in Buffalo, and later attended John Carroll University, a Jesuit college outside of Cleveland, Ohio. On the university’s Web site, University President the Reverend Robert L. Neihoff said, “The entire John Carroll University community is deeply saddened by the loss of this distinguished alumnus. Tim exemplified the Jesuit Catholic mission. He lived by a simple philosophy – and that is, there is a world beyond yourself.  Tim truly was a man for others.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

And Catholic News Service reported that Russert had been scheduled to give the Catholic Common Ground Iniative’s Philip J. Murnion Lecture in just a couple of weeks at Catholic University. Certainly, Russert identified strongly with his Catholic faith and his Jesuit background.

So just what is a Jesuit?

Before we get to that, let’s define a few terms:

Catholic: the largest Christian denomination; all other denominations fall under the umbrella term “Protestant”

Christianity: the largest world religion; followers believe in God and Jesus Christ

Religious Orders: groups of people set aside from society by following certain religious practices, like Catholic nuns or Buddhist monks

Jesuits are members of the Society of Jesus, a religious order founded by a Catholic named Saint Ignatius Loyola around 1540. Loyola and six students took a vow that they would do whatever missionary work the pope asked of them, going wherever they were needed without question. Eventually, followers of the Society of Jesus were nicknamed “Jesuits,” a term they eventually accepted for themselves (in the same way Latter-Day Saints took on the term “Mormons”). But the idea of their name was to show that they were always focused on imitating Jesus Christ and in devoting themselves to acting as Christ would in the world. Unlike other religious orders who separate themselves from society, Jesuits are meant to live in society, spreading the Catholic faith and strengthening others with their service. They are not a secret society; rather, they seek to be seen and heard in order to bring glory to God and Catholicism.

To become a Jesuit, laypersons (or non-priests) must do ten actions set forth in the Constitutions (or codex legum) produced by Loyola. Among these are admission to the society, scholastic training, vows to serve, and professions or missions in the world. Some Jesuits may become priests, others may remain laypersons, but all are involved in going wherever the pope sends them. Many are also involved in preaching, teaching, and/or writing.

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