In Memoriam: James H. Swetnam, S.J.

CBA mourns the passing of Rev. James H. Swetnam, S.J., who was called to eternal life on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at St. Ignatius Hall in Florissant, Missouri. He was 97 years old, a Jesuit for 79 years, a priest for 66 years, and a CBA member for 60 years.

Jim’s Jesuit life was dedicated to studying and teaching God’s word. Except for three years while studying in Oxford and a year’s sabbatical later on, he was a scholar at the Biblicum in Rome from 1962 to 2010. By his own count, he educated about 1,500 students from eighty-five countries in introductory Greek over his half-century at that venerable institution. Besides Greek, he offered seminars in the New Testament, edited various publications, and served frequently in administration, including as founding director of the Biblicum’s Alumni Association. At times he also taught at Mother Teresa’s Roman novitiate, and he assisted with the composition of her congregation’s constitutions. By the time he left Italy, he had also done pastoral work during fifty Holy Weeks in fifty different dioceses in all the provinces of the country (including Sardinia and Sicily). At the age of 82, he moved to Jesuit Hall in St. Louis (2010-22), which included four years as a part-time resident at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, and then to St. Ignatius Hall in Florissant (2023-25). In these post-Roman years he was titled “professor in residence,” teaching, writing, giving retreats, and running two websites, “James Swetnam’s Close Readings” and “James Swetnam’s Thoughts on Scripture.”

Jim’s accomplished academic life was the product of much discipline. He was a prodigious worker, rising at 4:00 a.m. and retiring by 8:00 p.m. He was athletic, often training to run the half-marathon. He was proficient in languages, including Italian, German, French, Spanish, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and others. During his many years at the Biblicum, he held almost every academic and community position available. With all those with whom he interacted, he was unfailingly pleasant and effective. He could not keep away from the classroom, and in the latter years of his life he became an adjunct professor at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, while celebrating Mass for Mother Teresa’s sisters in north St. Louis.

Jim was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 18, 1928, and was baptized at Mary Queen of Peace Church in Glendale, Missouri, on the April 1. He attended grade school at Holy Redeemer Parish in Webster Groves, Missouri (1932-41), and went on to St. Louis University High School (1941-45). From there he entered the Society of Jesus at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant on August 8, 1945, and pronounced his first vows on August 15, 1947. After two years of juniorate (1947-49), he studied at Saint Louis University and earned a B.A. in Greek and both a master’s degree and a licentiate in Philosophy (1949-52). Theology studies brought him to St. Mary’s College in St. Marys, Kansas (1955-59), where he was ordained a priest on June 18, 1958. Building on his S.T.L. from St. Mary’s, he obtained a licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome (1960-62) and, some years later, a Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of Oxford in England (1975-78), centering on the Epistle to the Hebrews.

[Source: memorial letter by Fr. Steven Schoenig, U.S. Central and Southern Province, Society of Jesus]

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Please remember and pray for those who have gone before us. If you are aware of the recent passing of a CBA member please inform the CBA office: cba-office@cua.edu or 202-319-5519.