The Jesus company originated in 1534 under the impulse of its founder, Ignatius of Loyolaand his main collaborator, Francisco Javierboth canonized in 1622.
On the death of its founder, in 1556, the Jesuits they were 1,000; in 1581, they were 5,000; and in 1615, 13,000. This brilliant growth of Jesus company during its first century of existence it was produced under the direction of only five generals, not counting Ignatius, two of them, the fathers Aquaviva Y vitelleschiThey governed it for more than 30 years each.
At first, the Jesuits they spread throughout Italy and the Iberian Peninsula; later, through the Netherlands, southern Germany, France and Poland. They preceded the Catholic Habsburg reconquest of central Europe and sent bold missions to Protestant countries and even Russia.
They crossed the seas and founded provinces in Latin America, planted their crosses in the great Asian empires, such as China and Japan, and reached Canada. The might of Jesus company illuminates the entire history of the Roman Church during this period, because in fact they were the men of culture and science par excellence, capable of dialoguing with the most humanistic of thinkers and the most revolutionary scientists, such as Galileo.
The lines of apostolic action of the Jesuits they were fixed in 1556. In the first place, missions had to be created in the “pagan” countries. Saint Francis Xavier gave the initial impetus to this gigantic task, which would never decline.
In Europe, Jesuits They were up against heresy. They consecrated their theology to it, which was soon imposed: at the Council of Trent, at the Poissy colloquium, in the universities of Germany, where they relieved the old generation of opponents of Luther.
The Jesuits quickly understood that one of the means of resisting growing Protestantism was to take charge of the education of youth. From the success obtained with the college of Messina, in 1548, every important new implantation of the Society in the world resulted in the foundation of a college.
In these schools, Jesuits introduced a new pedagogy, the ratio studiorum in 1599. Essentially, it was based on the progressive character of studies (classes), individual effort and emulation (compositions), without forgetting sports, dramatic shows, etc. In addition, the Jesuits they understood the importance of women also receiving an adequate education, promoting education for women.
People welcomed these “reformed priests” with real sympathy, they were considered as the continuators of Renaissance humanism. However, they encountered resistance from various sectors of society.
The local clergy and the universities soon felt that the Jesuits they were a threatening competition to their traditional activities. Governments, including the devout Philip II, fretted at the immunities enjoyed by this international order and absolute superior obedience only in Rome.
If you ever think that there is too much talk about Jesuitswe must never forget its immense influence, especially during its first century of existence.
They were found in all the fields of the catholic renewal: mysticism, theology, pastoral action; almost always they were the ones who inspired the new ideas. It can be affirmed that in the field of pedagogy and morality they were the teachers of an entire civilization. In art, finally, they were, if not the initiators, at least the propagators of the style that responded to the Catholicism of the time: the baroque.
Sources: Venard, M.: The Beginnings of the Modern World, XVI and XVII centuries, The World and its History, Argos.