When Jesuits were masters of the word: rethoric in accordance with the ratio studiorum

Abstract

Drawing upon the Ratio Studiorum of the Society of Jesus, the article shows
that Jesuit High Schools teaching of rhetoric aimed at the eloquentia perfecta, and
that such goal was achieved by integrating the five parts of the classical rhetorical
program. Jesuit sources on Rhetoric attest the highly relevant role of rhetoric for public life. Far from being a merely academic exercise on the argumentation technique or on literary theory, the shape that Rhetoric takes in such sources is rather one where its social usefulness is consciously enhanced.