Great Risks Had to Be Taken: The Jesuit Response to Vatican II

In this review of Great Risks Had to Be Taken the author offers a clear, firsthand account of how the Society of Jesus responded to the Second Vatican Council. This historical memoir is best for readers interested in Catholic history, ecclesiology, and the internal renewal of religious orders; the single biggest reason to buy is Patrick Howell's direct perspective on how rediscovering Ignatian spirituality and restructuring mission shaped modern Jesuit identity. The tone is reflective rather than polemical, making it a useful primary-source informed narrative for students and engaged lay readers.

Key Features

• Firsthand memoir: Howell provides personal insight into the Jesuits' experience during and after the Council, giving readers an eyewitness perspective on turbulent years.
• Historical scope: The narrative covers decades of change from 1958 to 2018, helping readers trace long-term developments rather than isolated events.
• Focus on renewal: It explains how the Council's mandate to return to founders influenced a renewed Jesuit mission centered on contemporary needs.
• Ignatian heritage: The book underscores the role of St. Ignatius of Loyola and Jesuit spiritual tradition as anchors for institutional reform.
• Balanced tone: Howell's approach mixes hope and consternation, which helps readers understand internal debates without one-sided rhetoric.

Who It's For

This book is ideal for readers of Catholic history, theology students, and clergy who want an insider account of how a major religious order navigated the postconciliar era. It is also suitable for lay readers engaged in church renewal who want to understand the practical implications of the Council for religious life and mission.

Those looking for a detached academic monograph full of footnotes or a purely chronological institutional history should look elsewhere; Howell writes as a participant-observer, so readers seeking exhaustive archival apparatus or strictly neutral analysis may find this memoir's personal tone less fitting.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides an authentic eyewitness perspective on the Jesuits during a critical period of change.
• Connects Ignatian spirituality to practical decisions about mission and structure, helping readers see continuity amid reform.
• The long temporal span gives a measured view of developments from the Council into the 21st century.

Cons

• The memoir format means it is more reflective than exhaustively documented, so readers seeking detailed citations may be disappointed.

Specifications

Title	Great Risks Had to Be Taken: The Jesuit Response to the Second Vatican Council, 1958-2018
Author	Patrick J Howell
Subject	Jesuit history and postconciliar renewal
Time period covered	1958-2018
Perspective	Personal memoir and historical reflection

Our Verdict

Great Risks Had to Be Taken is a valuable memoir for anyone wanting an insider's view of how the Jesuits responded to Vatican II; its strength is the combination of lived experience and clear explanation of how Ignatian tradition shaped renewed mission, making it worthwhile for students and engaged readers despite its memoir limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover the period immediately after Vatican II?
Yes. Howell writes about the turbulence right after the Council and traces developments from the late 1950s onward.

Is the book scholarly or personal?
It is primarily a personal historical memoir that offers reflective analysis rather than an extensively cited academic study.

Who wrote the book?
The book is written by Patrick J Howell, who writes from direct experience within Jesuit renewal movements.