A few days after being elected Superior of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius and his disciples made a pilgrimage to several churches in Rome, concluding it at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where they went to confession, received Communion, and renewed their vows.
Editorial (16/08/2025 11:01, Gaudium Press) St. Ignatius often received extraordinary mystical graces. “During the celebration of Mass, he often fell into ecstasy and his face emitted heavenly rays while his gaze shone so that it seemed he was immersed in the very bosom of the Divinity.”
Because of the virtues and theological knowledge possessed by members of the Society of Jesus, “from various parts of Europe came requests to the Founder that his disciples be sent there for apostolate.” In response, he sent some to Portugal, India, Germany, Ireland, and Venice.
In the Jesuit headquarters in Rome, the number of novices continued to increase, and St. Ignatius formed them “with a discipline full of kindness and firmness.”
Novice wearing a velvet cloak embroidered in gold
A nephew of his, Antonio de Araoz, left Spain and entered the seminary wearing “a velvet cloak embroidered in gold,” as nobility would dress.
By rule, he began begging in the streets of Rome, serving the sick in hospitals, washing dishes in the house’s kitchen—but always wearing his velvet cloak by the Founder’s command. For a Spanish nobleman, it was a harsh test, which the young man endured gallantly for two years, until the cloak deteriorated.
If a novice would not conform to the Society’s spirit and way of being, he was expelled—even if he belonged to high nobility. For example, a son of the Duke of Braganza and nephew of King Manuel I of Portugal was expelled for sowing disunity among the seminarians.
The King of Portugal breaks relations with the Pope
Due to an ecclesiastical issue, King John III of Portugal broke off relations with Pope Paul III.
This rupture reverberated throughout Europe, and St. Ignatius sought to resolve it. He wrote a letter to Father Simão Rodrigues, Jesuit Provincial in Portugal, and asked him to present it to the monarch.
King John III venerated St. Ignatius and used to say that his word should be regarded as the word of God Himself. After reading the letter, he reconciled with the Pontiff.
Thanks to the preaching of Fathers Pedro Fabro and Antonio Araoz, the number of Jesuit novices in Portugal and Spain grew rapidly. They promoted retreats “based on the Spiritual Exercises,” restored monasteries whose discipline had lapsed, and encouraged clergy with newfound fervor.
Jesuits at the Council of Trent
When the Council of Trent began in 1545, Pope Paul III requested two Jesuit theologians be sent as papal legates. He chose Fathers Diego Laínez and Alfonso Nicolás Salmerón, who had studied at the University of Paris and were frequently consulted by Rome’s foremost theologians—despite being just over thirty years old.
Father Fabro, previously successful in apostolate in Germany, was ordered by the Pope to act at the Council of Trent as pontifical delegate.
Though he was ill and in Spain at the time, he was told going to Rome would likely lead to his death.
“It is not necessary to live,” he replied, “but to obey.”
After a painful three-month journey, he arrived in the Eternal City exhausted, and shortly thereafter, “in the arms of his revered spiritual Father,” he gave his soul to God on August 1, 1546. He received the honour of the altars, and his memory is celebrated on August 1.
Great saints: Francis Borgia and Peter Canisius
In that same year, 1546, a noble Spaniard joined the Society of Jesus: Francis Borgia, Duke of Gandía and Viceroy of Catalonia.
He had married Leonor de Castro Mello y Meneses and had eight children. She died in May 1546, and a few months later, Francis entered as a Jesuit novice and became the Third Superior General in 1565. He practiced all virtues heroically and was canonized. His memory is celebrated on September 30.
Because Protestants were rising in Germany, the Duke of Bavaria wrote to the Founder asking for “defenders of the Faith of the Church, chosen among the bravest of your valiant army” to combat heresy.
To Germany were sent Fathers Alfonso Salmerón, a Spaniard, and Peter Canisius, a Dutchman, to whom the prince entrusted theology lectures at the University of Ingolstadt.
Fifteen minutes before the Tabernacle
Among the earliest disciples of St. Ignatius, who made their vows in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre, Paris, was one overcome by revolutionary spirit: Nicolás de Bobadilla. Driven by pride, he rebelled against the Founder and called him a tyrant, opposing the Constitutions that he thought should be more liberal.
Such was the Founder’s trust in God that he once said:
“If the Society of Jesus were closed through no fault of mine, fifteen minutes before the tabernacle would suffice to restore all my peace.”
Death of the Founder
Feeling death approaching, he requested and received the Pope’s blessing. With hands joined and eyes lifted to heaven, he pronounced the name of Jesus, and his soul was taken to Paradise on July 31, 1556, at age 65. His memory is celebrated on July 31.
“Great remedy of evils, hammer of heresies”
When the fourth centenary of the Society’s founding was celebrated, Dr. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira was invited to speak at the Law Faculty of the University of São Paulo on May 22, 1941. He said:
“The Society of Jesus was ‘destined to be the great sentinel of dangers, especially those no one yet sees; the great remedy of evils, especially those no one yet discerns; the hammer of heresies, especially those whose murmurings or beginnings are imperceptible to most observers. […] It was the advanced watchman, the resistant wall, the elevated tower that allows one to discern the enemy from afar, and break the power of his first, strongest attacks.’”
By Paulo Francisco Martos – Notions of Church History
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
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References:
DAURIGNAC, J. M. S. Santo Inácio de Loyola – Fundador da Companhia de Jesus. Porto: Livraria Católica Portuense, 1896, p. 341.
NADAL CAÑELLAS, Juan. Jerónimo Nadal, Vida e influjo. Bilbao (Spain): Ediciones Mensajeros–Sal Terrae, 2007, pp. 97–98.
CORRÊA DE OLIVEIRA, Plinio. Ascese da Companhia de Jesus – I Vigoroso torreão da Cidade de Deus, in Dr. Plinio. São Paulo, Year X, no. 108 (March 2007), p. 15.
[1] DAURIGNAC, J. M. S. Santo Inácio de Loyola – Fundador da Companhia de Jesus. Porto: Livraria católica portuense.1896, p. 341.
[2] Cf. NADAL CAÑELLAS, Juan. Jerónimo Nadal, Vida e influjo. Bilbao (Espanha): Ediciones Mensajeros-Sal Terrae, 2007. p. 97-98.
[3] Cf. DAURIGNAC. Op. cit., 263-412.
[4] CORRÊA DE OLIVEIRA, Plinio. Ascese da Companhia de Jesus – I Vigoroso torreão da Cidade de Deus. In Dr. Plinio. São Paulo. Ano X, n. 108 ((março 2007), p. 15.
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