The Jesuits – who are we?

Wherever in the Church, even in the most difficult and extreme fields,  in the crossroads of ideologies, in the front line of social conflict, there has been and there is confrontation between the deepest desires of the human person and the perennial message of the Gospel, there too, there have been, and there are, Jesuits.

 Pope Paul VI
Allocution to the 32nd General Congregation

Whoever desires to serve as a soldier of God beneath the banner of the cross in our society, which we desire to be designated by the name of Jesus, and to serve the Lord alone and the Church, his spouse, under the Roman pontiff, the vicar of Christ on earth, should, after a solemn vow of perpetual chastity, poverty and obedience, keep what follows in mind . . . .

The Formula of the Institute
Foundational document of the Society of Jesus, 1540
 

He is a member of a Society founded chiefly for this purpose: to strive especially for the defence and propagation of the faith and for the progress of souls in Christian life and doctrine, by means of public preaching, lectures, and any other ministration whatsoever of the word of God and further by means of the Spiritual Exercises, the education of children and unlettered persons in Christianity and the spiritual consolation of Christ's faithful through hearing confessions and administering the other sacraments.

Moreover, he should show himself no less ready to reconcile the estranged, compassionately assist and serve those who are in prisons or hospitals and, indeed, to perform any other works of charity, according to what will seem expedient for the glory of God and the common good.

The Formula of the Institute
Foundational document of the Society of Jesus, 1540

St Ignatius Loyola

Iñigo Lopez de Loyola—subsequently known as Ignatius (of) Loyola—was born in 1491, and was a soldier until he was 30 years old. After being injured, he found himself contemplating spiritual matters more, and after a period of reflection in the caves of northern Spain, developed his Spiritual Exercises. While studying for the priesthood in Paris, he met Francis Xavier and Pierre Favre, and the foundations of the Society of Jesus were laid. St Ignatius Loyola died on 31 July 1556.

Blessed Pierre Favre

Pierre Favre (1506-46) is another of the original companions who helped to form the Society of Jesus. He was an effective preacher and giver of the Spiritual Exercises, working in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany. He was instrumental in establishing the Society of Jesus in Portugal, and was appointed by Pope Paul III to be one of the papal theologians at the Council of Trent.

St Francis Xavier 

Francis Xavier was born on 7 April 1506, and after meeting Ignatius Loyola and Pierre Favre in Paris, he became one of the seven men who took vows at Montmatre in 1534 that led to the founding of the Society of Jesus. After working among the poor in Italy, he sailed for the Far East in 1541. For the next 14 years, Francis brought the Gospel to India, Japan and other parts of Asia, and is recognised as the greatest Christian missionary since St Paul. He died on the island of Sancian near China on 2 December 1556.

Following the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament that was foiled on 5 November 1605, Catholics were pursued and accused of being accomplices. Among them were Fr Edward Oldcorne SJ and Brother Ralph Ashley SJ. They were arrested in Worcester, tortured in the Tower of London, and eventually executed on 7 April 1606.

For the most up-to-date information about events and further news about the Society of Jesus, visit the British Jesuits web site: http://www.jesuit.org.uk