The Bohemia Jesuitica 1556-2006 Book Published by the Karolinum Publishing House












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            On January 13, 2011, the new publication Bohemia Jesuitica 1556-2006 was introduced at an 

            place in the ceremonial halls of the Karolinum building. The aim of the book is not only t
            450th anniversary of the Society of Jesus (or Jesuits) in Bohemia. According to its author
            delivers impartial, comprehensive and historically relevant view of the history of Jesuits

            the fields of science, culture and art, striving to eliminate many historiographic myths a
            towards the Jesuit order.


            According to the Dean of the Charles University Catholic Theological Faculty, Dr. Prokop B
            the ceremony, the book shows that history of religion can be interpreted differently than 

            the past 200 years.
            Among the guests were members of the academic community, the Catholic Theological Faculty,
            Province of the Society of Jesus, the Karolinum publishing house, and notable astronomers,

            historians and other scholars. They were greeted by Rector of Charles University, Professo



            “The role of Jesuits in the history of Charles University is significant and was essential
            the 17th and 18th centuries. They played a key role in overcoming of the long and chronic 
            end of the Middle Ages. They contributed not only to the fields they are traditionally con

            as theology and philosophy, but also to the fields of natural science, such as geography o
            publication we are launching today and the conference that preceded it, have been one of t
            scholarly works of the Catholic Theological Faculty in the past years. The feedback from t

            the volume itself prove that it is a great achievement on an international level.”
            The 1512-page publication was six years in the making and contains 10 chapters in 7 differ
            humanities and social sciences, written by a team of over 100 authors. It is being publish

            that collect papers from an international conference hosted by the faculty in April 2006, 
            presenting speakers from 15 countries and 3 continents.
            “In history, it is impossible to ask for an objective view”, said one of the editors, Prof

            Horyna from the Institute of Art History of the Charles University Faculty of Arts. “We ar
            in a particular point in history and we are observing it from the inside. It is therefore 
            consider history an object of study independent of us. Changing times therefore change our

            which are moreover deliberately skewed by political and other interests, and new questions
            writing of history is a never ending labour, but while we are writing it, we cultivate our
            what we are supposed to be – become what our creator intended us to be.”

            Dean emeritus of the Catholic Theological Faculty and the spiritual father of the book, Pr
            Ambruster, described it as a “reconciliation of the nation’s history”.


            “Each university will have to have a copy of this collection”, said Professor Ambruster. “
            Jesuits will from now on have to refer to it as a source of knowledge. The book is not an 
            the Jesuit order – they were people like everybody else, with good and bad experiences and

            sides. But hopefully, these volumes will help us approach Jesuits without prejudice and be
            the history and influence of the order in Bohemia.”
            The Bohemia Jesuitica 1556-2006 book was given to Pope Benedict XVI as an official Christm

            the Czech Republic.

            Cemus, Petronilla: Bohemia Jesuitica 1556-2006

            Hardcover, 1512 pages, 1st edition from December 2010, ISBN 978-80-246-1755-8, recommended
            650 CZK, online price: 520 CZK.
             (Marie Kohoutová)

            Translation: Jaroslav Švelch