What is the Society of Jesus?
The Society of Jesus ( SJ; Latin: Societas Iesu) is a religious order of the Catholic Church headquartered in Rome. It was founded by Ignatius of Loyola with the approval of Pope Paul III in 1540. The members are called Jesuits ( Latin: Iesuitæ ). The society is engaged in evangelization and apostolic ministry in 112 nations.
Who is the head of the Society of Jesus?
The Society of Jesus is consecrated under the patronage of Madonna Della Strada, a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and it is led by a Superior General. The headquarters of the society, its General Curia, is in Rome.
How many Jesuits are in the Society of Jesus Christ?
As of 2018 the society had 15,842 members: 11,389 priests and 4,453 Jesuits in formation, which includes brothers and scholastics. This represents a 56% percent decline since the Second Vatican Council (1965), when the society had a total membership of 36,038, of which 20,301 were priests.
What is a member of the Jesuit Society called?
A member is called a Jesuit (/ ˈdʒɛzjuɪt /; Latin: Iesuita). The society is engaged in evangelization and apostolic ministry in 112 nations. Jesuits work in education, research, and cultural pursuits. Jesuits also give retreats, minister in hospitals and parishes, sponsor direct social ministries, and promote ecumenical dialogue.
What is the history of the Jesuits?
History. The term “Jesuit” (of 15th-century origin, meaning one who used too frequently or appropriated the name of Jesus) was first applied to the society in reproach (1544–52). The term was never used by Ignatius of Loyola, but over time, members and friends of the society adopted the name with a positive meaning.
How successful were the Jesuits in Huronia?
Throughout most of the 1640s the Jesuits had great success, establishing five chapels in Huronia and baptising over one thousand Huron natives. However, as the Jesuits began to expand westward they encountered more Iroquois natives, rivals of the Hurons.