The Jesuits | July 13, 2004
The Spanish churchman Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) is the founder of the catholic order “Society of Jesus”, also known as the Jesuits. This order was founded in 1540. He organized the order in accordance with his spiritual experiences. The order is noted for highly centralized governance, strong ties to the papacy and practical zeal shown in missions, schools, study of theology, science, humanities and retreat work. Their rapid growth and quality made them leaders in the Catholic Reformation and afterward a strong influence. Dissolved in 1773 owing to pressures from monarchs, and reestablished in 1814, the society is now the largest Roman Catholic religious order of men. Today there are about 24,000 Jesuits.
Posted by admin at July 13, 2004 10:47 AM