Content

Course Description: SJ History and Achievements of the Jesuits 

The Society of Jesus constitutes a remarkable example of permanence and universality; therefore it is an ideal laboratory for studying the troubled relations national institutions entertained with such a supranational congregation.

Society of Jesus founded in 1540, a radically apostolic order, spread rapidly worldwide. The pursuit of “greater service of God and the universal good” (Const [618]) makes the Jesuits catalysts of what is today called globalization. In retrospect, one discerns the causes for the Suppression of the Society in 1773 lying under its triumphalist growth. This provides a hermeneutic key to reread critically the history of the Society of Jesus. History defines identity. A critical history will help define a realistic identity. 

In this course we will discover the true identity of the Society through an in-depth study of the history of the Institute. From the knowledge of the identity flows the mission of the Society. 

Contents: 

1. The late medieval context in which the Society of Jesus was born, 

2. Jesuit Historiography

2. Nascent Society of Jesus under the direction of Ignatius and his first companions, 

3. The first hundred years, 

4. The expansion of the Society and the simultaneous growth of opposition to it: In the first part the conflicting interests of both parties are analysed; it is then noticed that historically the expulsions form four successive waves and the question of contagion of anti-Jesuits policies is discussed.

5. Suppression and re-establishment of the Society. 

6. The New Society - the Second Society of Jesus - development and spread

7. The Third Society of Jesus (Since 1965)

Time Table

25th November 2020: Historiography, Context in which the Society was founded, early growth, struggles, triumphs and success stories, early Jesuits history

26th November 2020: Early Fathers of the Society, geographical distribution of the members and expansion of the Society, Until the suppression years; New experiments and adventures of the First Jesuits.

27th November 2020: Suppression years, causes, repercussions, its effects and challenges to the World Church, hopes in Russian Empire

30th November 2020 Jesuits and the art and architecture 

01st December 2020: Restoration of the Society, reemergence, expansion, expulsions, struggles, Society of Jesus in India and Africa