“The Same:” Mary Ward's Jesuit Rhetorical Tradition

With the Catholic Church's acceptance of Mary Ward (1585-1645) and her Institutes, this chapter argues that her work must be considered as part of the Jesuit rhetorical tradition. Beginning with a narrative of how Mary Ward, despite great odds, used the principles of Jesuit education and rhetorical curriculum in an attempt to create a women's Congregation of Jesus, the chapter observes how Ward and her followers continued the traditions despite initial failures and setbacks. The chapter then concludes by arguing for the need to follow the lead of modern feminist rhetoricians to understand how Ward and her followers may have used the tradition of accommodation to teach female students rhetorical strategies regarding how they could be virtuous beings who could stand up for their faith. Such a consideration and gratitude are due to Ward. Similarly, such consideration is due to the field of rhetoric to understand how rhetors accommodated traditions to their various situations.