Around the 1500s, the Reformation began, causing a massive uproar throughout all of Europe, and as a result many Catholics converted to Protestantism. One group of the Counter-Reformers who tried to go against this movement were the Jesuits. The Jesuits were mostly active in Europe; however, they also sent missionaries all over the world to places such as India, Brazil, and Ethiopia, to gain attention through their new practice. Counter-Reformation included the Council of Trent, the Spanish Inquisition, and the creation of several other groups. The Society of Jesus, the main Jesuit organization, was established in 1534 by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, and it still exists today. Ignatius of Loyola, a Spanish soldier, made Catholicism more appealing,
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The Jesuits inspired a type of education that placed value on both purity and good habits, as well as religious doctrine. The Jesuits also believed that their students would gain excellence from their studies by learning to direct themselves to the service of God (O’Malley 212). One of the many developments that the Jesuits took part in was the founding of colleges. One college, St. Francis Xavier, located in Goa, India, helped to expand the Jesuits’ teachings with aid from its missionaries in India, and the Jesuits encouraged these colleges among other religious groups as well. Furthermore, in 1581, Claudius Acquaviva, the fifth Superior General, decided to research and gather information into one manual, so that anyone given it would know what the Jesuits meant by “education” (“The Jesuit Model of Education”). By defining exactly what their teachings were, the Jesuits’ reputation among the international community improved, and their order became more well-known. Because of the Jesuits’ focus on education, more people attended their colleges, which caused a quick growth of the order. With more followers, the Jesuit colleges provided people with many opportunities to learn about Catholicism, which brought the students closer to God. The Jesuits used education to help strengthen …show more content…
To spread religion and their order, the Jesuits would go to different Protestant countries in disguises and convince people to remain as Catholics. The Jesuit missionaries would also help convert the Protestants to Catholics. Most of them were sent to different places in Europe, and some traveled to India, Brazil, the Congo region, and Ethiopia. However, with the rise of nationalism, European countries tried to suppress the Jesuits. They often preceded other Europeans in their invasion of foreign lands and societies (“Jesuit Order Established”). With the increased number of Jesuits missionaries who helped convert Protestants, the order thrived and strengthened, and Catholicism was practiced more frequently and became better
The Jesuits inspired a type of education that placed value on both purity and good habits, as well as religious doctrine. The Jesuits also believed that their students would gain excellence from their studies by learning to direct themselves to the service of God (O’Malley 212). One of the many developments that the Jesuits took part in was the founding of colleges. One college, St. Francis Xavier, located in Goa, India, helped to expand the Jesuits’ teachings with aid from its missionaries in India, and the Jesuits encouraged these colleges among other religious groups as well. Furthermore, in 1581, Claudius Acquaviva, the fifth Superior General, decided to research and gather information into one manual, so that anyone given it would know what the Jesuits meant by “education” (“The Jesuit Model of Education”). By defining exactly what their teachings were, the Jesuits’ reputation among the international community improved, and their order became more well-known. Because of the Jesuits’ focus on education, more people attended their colleges, which caused a quick growth of the order. With more followers, the Jesuit colleges provided people with many opportunities to learn about Catholicism, which brought the students closer to God. The Jesuits used education to help strengthen …show more content…
To spread religion and their order, the Jesuits would go to different Protestant countries in disguises and convince people to remain as Catholics. The Jesuit missionaries would also help convert the Protestants to Catholics. Most of them were sent to different places in Europe, and some traveled to India, Brazil, the Congo region, and Ethiopia. However, with the rise of nationalism, European countries tried to suppress the Jesuits. They often preceded other Europeans in their invasion of foreign lands and societies (“Jesuit Order Established”). With the increased number of Jesuits missionaries who helped convert Protestants, the order thrived and strengthened, and Catholicism was practiced more frequently and became better