1521–1556

Ignatius Loyola and the founding of the Society of Jesus

The Basque nobleman Ignatius Loyola was wounded defending Pamplona in 1521. He then underwent a spiritual conversion and dedicated himself to the Virgin at Montserrat.

Loyola wrestled with doubts about the completeness of his confession. At Manresa he had an experience somewhat similar to Luther's. But it led him to complete submission to the church hierarchy. The result was the "Spiritual Exercises".

After a failed attempt at mission in Palestine, he spent twelve years studying in Barcelona, Alcalá, Salamanca and Paris. In Paris future companions gathered around him, including Francis Xavier. In August 1534 at Montmartre a group of nine men took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to the pope.

In 1540 Pope Paul III approved the new order – the Society of Jesus. By Loyola's death in 1556 it had over a thousand members in Europe, Brazil, India, the Congo and Ethiopia. It had become the chief instrument of Catholic reform, the struggle against Protestantism, and overseas missions.