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St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), founder of the Society of Jesus |
St. Ignatius & the Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, is an order rooted in the life and inspiration of its founder, St. Ignatius Loyola. At the University of Paris, St. Ignatius shared his experiences with others through the Spiritual Exercises that he developed through the years. Six men who Ignatius had had a significant impact on, became his committed companions. On August 15th 1534, 6 of these men (Peter Favre, Francis Xavier, Diego Lainez, Alfonso Salmeron, Nicolas de Bobadilla, and Simao Rodriguez) joined Ignatius in professing vows at Montmartre. Their vows included an attempt to go to the Holy Land where they would live forever. But barring that possibility, they would present themselves to the Pope and place themselves in his service. Jerusalem would never happen. Joined now by Claude Jay, Paschase Broet, Jean Codure, and Diego Hoces, this band who chose to be known as companions of Jesus (La Compania de Jesus, or in Latin: Societas Jesu), was officially approved as an order in the Church. Their mission was simple, to labor with Christ wherever the need was greatest. Ignatius was named the first general of the order at the age of 50.
By the time of Ignatius' death, July 31st 1556, this small band of men who had been assigned to works around Rome, had spread across much of the known world and beyond. Their works that began as preaching in the piazzas and ministering to the dying in hospitals in the Eternal City extended to schools, missionary efforts, theological consultants to bishops, and many more ways of serving where the need was greatest.
 By the late 18th Century, the Jesuits were a powerful influence around the world and every conceivable arena. But the Society was not exempt from politics. Due to the machinations of a powerful European potentates and a weak and frightened pope, Clement XIV, the Society was suddenly suppressed in 1773. The 23,000 men who were serving as Jesuits were disbanded, all of its properties were taken, its vast libraries were broken up and even some of its leadership imprisoned. This was a world-wide suppression with the exception of Russia where the empress refused to have allow the suppression to be promulgated. Here 200 Jesuits remained to work as Jesuits. Those who were already priests were allowed to remain priests but were made to find other orders or find a bishop to receive them into a diocese. Most of these did so, but remained faithful to the Jesuit ways. Among these were Jesuits in nascent America, including John Carroll who would become the first mission superior, then the first bishop and then first Archbishop in America .
In 1814, 41 years later, the Society was restored by Pope Pius the VII. Though they were in many ways starting from scratch, there was enormous appeals for their service. The work of the society flourished up to the present time.
Today there are over 20,000 Jesuits serving in 112 countries. They serve in 430 high schools, 90 Jesuit colleges and universities and 1,887 parishes around the world. They work as educators, scientists, theologians, philosophers, missionaries, parish priests, direct service to the poor and marginalized, artists, spiritual directors, chaplains to the military, hospitals, airports, and so many more apostolic labors. Even as a Jesuit grows old and/or infirm they are still on mission to pray for the world, the church and the Society.
The Society of Jesus continues its single mission to labor in the world at the side of their companion, Jesus.
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