St.

Ignatius Loyola
Founder of the Jesuits

Jesuits are members of a Religious Order called The

Society of Jesus. In short, “S.J”. The Society of Jesus was
founded by St. Ignatius Loyola along with his nine
companions in 1540. The members of the Society of Jesus
are also well known as JESUITS. The members can choose
to be priests who are ordained or Brothers who do not opt
for ordination.
His Early Life :
St. Ignatius Loyola Inigo Lopez de Loyola was
the original name of St. Ignatius
and Loyola. He was born in 1491 in
The Jesuits Azpeitia in the Basque province of
northern Spain. He was the youngest
of thirteen children. Most of his
childhood and youth were spent in
royal courts. At the age of sixteen
he was sent to serve as a Page to
Juan Velazquez, the treasurer of the
kingdom of Castile. As a member of
the Velazquez household, he was frequently at court and
developed a taste for all it presented, especially the ladies
and an attraction to gambling. Later he was sent to Don
Antonio, the duke of Najera who had become the viceroy
of Navarre. Here he was simply a gentleman who served
the viceroy, carrying out errands, he was not a professional
soldier but when occasion arose he took delight especially
in the exercise of arms.

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 Eventully he found himself at the age of 30 in May 1521 His Conversion :
as an officer defending the fortress of the town of Pamplona
against the French, who claimed the During the long weeks of recuperation, he was
territory as their own against Spain. extremely bored and asked for some romantic novels to pass
This event utterly changed the course the time. There were no such books in the castle of Loyola,
of his life. The Spaniards were terribly but he was given two books to read : “The Golden Legend”
outnumbered and the commander of a collection of stories of the saints, and a “Life of Christ”.
the Spanish forces wanted to Desperate to pass the time, Ignatius began to read them.
surrender, but Ignatius Loyola The more he read, the more he considered the exploits of
convinced him to fight on for the honor the saints worthy of imitation. However, at the same time
of Spain, if not for victory. During this he continued to have daydreams of fame and glory, along
hotly contested battle, which Inigo led, with the fantasies of winning the love of a certain noble
he showed great bravery against lady of the court.
heavy odds, but when he was hit by While reading these books, Ignatius challenged himself
a cannon ball that broke his right shin, the Spanish capitulated. to follow the examples of the Saints especially the examples
Because they admired his courage, the French soldiers looked of St. Francis and St. Dominic. He would constantly repeat
after the young captain’s wounds and then sent him in a litter to himself, “if St. Francis did this, why can’t I ? St. Dominic
to his father’s castle, some fifty miles away. The shattered did that! So must I”. He was also deeply moved by the love
bone, badly set, was now rebroken and set again, a crude of Jesus as the only true king who deserved all service and
operation which left the end of a bone protruding. love. These used to be the thoughts that engaged his mind:
His leg was set but did not heal, so they had to break it What have I done for Christ ?
and reset it, all without anaesthesia. Ignatius grew worse and What am I doing for Christ ?
was finally told by the doctors that he should prepare for death. What more shall I do for Christ ?
On the feast of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June), his He noticed, however, that after reading and thinking of
condition took an unexpected turn for the better. The leg the saints and Christ, he was at peace and felt satisfied. Yet
healed, but when it did, the bone protruded below the knee when he finished his long daydreams of his noble lady, he
and one leg was shorter than the other. This was unacceptable would feel restless and unsatisfied. This experience was
to Ignatius, who considered it a fate worse than death not to the beginning of his conversion.
be able to wear the long tight-fitting boots and hose of the He began to discipline his body, rising at midnight to
courtier. Therefore he ordered the doctors to saw off the spend hours mourning for his sins. How grave these sins
offending knob of bone and lengthen the bone by systematic may have been we do not know, but as a young soldier he
stretching. Again, all of this was not a successful procedure. may well have shared in the loose and careless life around
All his life he walked with a limp because one leg was shorter him. His eldest brother, Don Martin, who on the death of
than the other.
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their father had become lord of Loyola, now returned from few days, but he remained for
the wars. He tried his best to keep Inigo in the world, for he ten months of the year 1522. Ignatius at
needed the strength and intelligence of this young brother in Manresa cave
He spent hours each day
the management of their great estate. Inigo, however, was
now set on his course. When he recovered from his wounds in prayer and also worked in a
enough to travel, he left Loyola castle in March of 1522. hospital. He wrote his deep
spiritual experiences he had at
As soon as his condition permitted, he mounted a mule Manresa in a notebook, which
and went on a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Montserrat, a shrine later became The Spiritual
in the mountains above Barcelona. One episode of this journey Exercises. This book forms the
shows us that his understanding of his religion was still far basis for Jesuit spirituality and
from perfect. He fell out with a Moorish horseman, and as way of life. It was here in
they jogged along they talked of Manresa on the banks of river Cardoner that he had a
their respective faiths. When the vision – an encounter with God, an experience that enabled
Moor spoke against the Virgin Ignatius to find God in everything. This grace, finding God
Mary, Inigo was aroused to fury. in all things, is one of the central characteristics of Jesuit
After the two had angrily spirituality.
separated at a certain crossroad,
Inigo let the mule follow its own Ignatius in He finally arrived at Barcelona, took a boat to Italy, and
bent: if it took the road towards pilgrim’s took necessary permissions to make a pilgrimage to the Holy
Montserrat, he would forget the attire Land. Once he arrived in Jerusalem, he wanted to remain
Moor; if it followed after him, he there. He wanted to live in the land where Jesus lived and
would fight and, if possible, kill the died. He wanted to live, work and die like the disciples of
man. The mule, we are told, Jesus. But the authorities ordered Ignatius to leave, because
providentially took the road that led the situation was too dangerous due to war with the Turks
to the pilgrimage place. On who were occupying Jerusalem. Ignatius insisted that he would
arriving, Inigo took off his rich attire, left his sword at the stay on despite the danger. But as he was threatened with
altar, donned the pilgrim’s sackcloth, provided himself with a excommunication, he obediently departed.
staff and gourd. He took a vow to lead henceforth a life of His Return to School :
penance and devotion to God.
After his visit to the Holy Land, he “dreamed” of doing
His Experience at Manresa : greater things for God, but realized that he was only a soldier
A few miles away was the small town of Manresa, without proper education. By now he was 33 years old and
where Inigo retired to a cave for prayer and penance. He determined to study. However, he was ignorant of Latin, a
stayed in a cave outside the town, intending to linger only a necessary preliminary to university studies in those days.
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So he went back to school At the University of Paris, he began school again,
studying Latin grammar with studying Latin grammar and literature, philosophy and
young boys in a school in theology. He would spend a couple of months each summer
Barcelona. There he begged for begging for the money he would need to support himself in
his food and shelter. After two his studies for the rest of the year. It was in Paris Ignatius
years he moved on to the shared a room with Francis Xavier and Peter Faber. Xavier
University of Alcala. There his was the hardest nut to crack, interested as he was mainly in
zeal got him into trouble, a worldly success and honors. He greatly influenced a few
problem that continued fellow students directing them in the way he experienced
throughout his life. He would God in his life through the Spiritual Exercises. By this time
gather students and adults to six other students of theology at Paris associated themselves
explain matters about religion and teach them how to pray. regularly with him. They were Peter Faber, Francis Xavier,
His efforts attracted the attention of the Church authorities. Nicholas Bobadilla, Diego Laynez and Alfonso Salmeron,
He was thrown into jail for 42 days. His crime was teaching also Spaniards and fine scholars, and Simon Rodriguez, a
religion without proper education ! They found no error in Portuguese. They now agreed to take a vow of perpetual
his teaching. So, when he was released, he was told to avoid poverty and chastity and, as soon as their studies were
instructing others. completed, go to Jerusalem, or, if that proved impossible, to
offer themselves to the Pope to be used as he saw fit. This
Because he could not live without helping others,
vow they solemnly took in a chapel on Montmartre on the
Ignatius moved on to the University of Salamanca. There
feast of the Assumption on 15 August 1534.
within two weeks he was thrown into prison again. Again
since no one found any error in his teaching, he was released
with a warning that he could only teach children. Not satisfied Prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola
with this, he took to the road, this time for Paris.
Take O Lord, and receive
Prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola for Generosity all my liberty, my memory,
my understanding, and my entire will,
Dear Lord, teach me to be generous. all that I have and possess.
Teach me to serve you as You deserve. You have given all to me :
To give and not to count the cost, to you, O Lord, I return it.
To fight and not to heed the wounds, All is yours,
To toil and not to seek for rest, dispose it wholly according to Your will.
To labour and not to ask for reward, Give me only Your love and Your grace,
save that of knowing that I may do Your will. for this is sufficient for me.
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 Soon after his studies at such a moving experience for Ignatius that it affected the
Paris, Ignatius went back to his rest of his life. Seeing himself and his companions at the
native land for the sake of his service of Christ, Ignatius insisted that his blossoming
health. Instead of staying in his religious order be known as “the Company of Jesus.”
family’s castle, however, he stayed
in a hospital nearby and went on The 9 Companions of Ignatius Loyola
with his work of serving the sick when the Society of Jesus was founded
and teaching Christian doctrine.
The seven men did not lose touch 1 Diego James Laynez 6. Alfonso Salmeron
with one another and two years 2. Francis Xavier 7. Paschase Broet
later they all met in Venice. They 3. Peter Faber 8. John Codure
waited for a year since no ship was 4. Nicholas Bobadilla 9. Claude Jay
able to take them to Jerusalem St. Ignatius Loyola 5. Simon Rodriguez
because of the war. While waiting,
they worked in hospitals and taught In 1539, the 10 companions gathered in Rome spent
catechism in various cities of many weeks of prayer and discussion about their future. And
northern Italy. It was during this time that Ignatius was they decided to form themselves into a group (Society of Jesus)
ordained a priest on 24 June 1537. in which they would take vows of poverty, chastity and
The Society of Jesus : obedience. The cardinals appointed by the Pope to examine
the new organization were at first inclined to disapprove it, on
Realizing that going to Jerusalem was not possible, the ground that there were already too many orders in the
Ignatius and his nine companions decided to go to Rome Church. Eventually they changed their mind, and Pope Paul
and place themselves at the disposal of the Pope for the III approved it by a Papal bull called Regimini militantis
service of the Church as they had vowed. (It was then that Ecclesiae’dated September 27, 1540. Ignatius, unanimously
the group called themselves the Companions of Jesus). It was elected the first Superior General of the Society of Jesus
was on the way to Rome – a few miles outside the city that on April 7, 1541, reluctantly accepted the office.
Ignatius had the second most significant mystical experience.
While praying in a little chapel at La Storta, on the road to Ignatius was now fifty years old. The remainder of
Rome, Ignatius had a vision. This vision included the God his life was passed in Rome, where he directed the activities
the Father with His Son Jesus, who was carrying His cross. of the Society of Jesus. He established a house for loose
He witnessed the Father ask Jesus to take Ignatius as His women who were anxious to reform. When told that the
servant. Then Jesus, brearing His cross, posed the request conversion of such women was seldom sincere or permanent,
to Ignatius, “we want you to serve us”. Jesus also said to he answered, “To prevent only one sin would be a great
Ignatius, “I will be favourable to you at Rome.” It was happiness, though it cost ever so much pain.” He set up two
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houses for poor orphans’ and children, directing adults in the
another as a home for young Spiritual Exercises, and The Motto of
women whose poverty exposed working among the poor and in the Society of Jesus
them to danger. Many princes the hospitals, would for the most
and cities in Italy, Spain, part sacrifice this love for the
Germany, and the Low Countries next fifteen years – until his
begged Ignatius for Jesuits. He death – directing this new
made it a rule that anyone sent Society throughout the world.
abroad should be fluent in the He would spend years
language of the country, so that composing the Constitutions of
he could preach and serve Ignatius sending the Soceity and would write
effectively. As early as 1540, Xavier to India thousands of letters to all AMDG
Fathers Rodriguez and Xavier corners of the globe to his Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
had been sent to Portugal, and the latter had gone on to fellow Jesuits, dealing with the For the greater glory of God
India. Father Gonzales went to Morocco to teach and help affairs of the Scoeity, and to
the enslaved Christians there. Four Jesuits made their way other men and women, directing them in spiritual life. From
into the Congo, and, in 1555, eleven reached Abyssinia; others his tiny quarters in Rome, he would live to see in his lifetime
embarked on the long voyage to the Spanish and Portuguese the Society of Jesus grow from 10 to 1000 members, with
settlements of South America. Peter Canisius, famed for schools, colleges and houses all over Europe and as far away
learning and piety, founded Jesuit schools in Germany, as Brazil, Japan and India. He sent Francis Xavier to India
Austria, and Bohemia. Laynez and Salmeron assisted at the
momentous Council of Trent. Before their departure, IHS are the first three letters of
Ignatius admonished them to be humble in all their the name Jesus in Greek :

Ignatius
disputations, to shun
contentiousness and empty
I η σ οµ σ
wriiting the displays of learning. Jesuits IHSOUS (in capital letters)
Constitutions landed in Ireland in 1542, It was the custom during the time of Ignatius
while others bravely
that a lover kept the name of the beloved (at
undertook the hazardous
least the first syllable of the name) close to his
mission to England. heart. Jesus was Ignatius' love and kept
Ignatius whose love it Jesus' name (the first three letters - IHS) close
was to be actively involved to his heart. He used it often and even made
in teaching catechism to it a part of the official seal of the Society he
founded, to which he gave the name of Jesus.
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(the first Jesuit to arrive in India) in 1541 who worked in Saint Ignatius Loyola
India till his death in 3 December 1552. Some important dates
Ignatius as a Man:
1491 : Ignatius is born at Loyola, probably before October 23.
It is probably true that the picture
1506 : He goes to Arevalo, Castile as a page of Juan
of Ignatius that most people have is that
of the a soldier : stern, iron-willed, Velazquez de Cuellar.
practical, showing little emotion – not a 1521 : He is wounded at Pamplona, May 20; receives the
very attractive or warm personality. Yet last sacraments, June 24. August-September: he
if this picture is exact, it is hard to see requests books of chivalry; receives the Life of Christ
how he could have had such a strong by Ludolph and the Lives of Saints by Jacobus de
influence on those who knew him. Luis Voragine. Conversion. October-December:he
Goncalces de Camara, one of his closest makes excerpts from these books.
associates wrote : “He (Ignaitus) was always rather inclined 1522 : He arrives at Montserrat, March 21. On March 25
toward love; moreover, he seemed all love, and because of he goes to Manresa and stays there till February, 1523.
that he was universally loved by all. There was no one in the
Society who did not have great love for him and did not consider August-September : illumination beside the Cardoner.
himself much loved by him.” He begins to compose the Spiritual Exercises.
1523 : In mid-March, he leaves Barcelona for the Holy
His Last Days : Land. He enters Jerusalem, September 4; departs
Due to excessive fasting and penance in the early years for Joppa, September 23.
after conversion, Ignatius suffered from stomach ailments, 1524 : He reaches Venice in January, Barcelona in February.
and they became increasingly troublesome in Rome. Ignatius 1525 : He spends the year in Barcelona, studying Latin
died on 31 July 1556. He was proclaimed a saint in 1622 grammar and engaging in apostolic works.
along with his dear companion Francis Xavier. The Church 1526 : In late March, he leaves Barcelona to study arts at
and the Jesuits celebrate the feast day of St. Ignatius Loyola
Alcala. His activities of teaching catechism lead to
on July 31, the day he died.
suspicion, trial and prison.
The Jesuits today : 1527 : He leaves Alcala for Salamanca, about June 21.
At present (2010) the total number Here again he is imprisoned and forbidden to teach
of Jesuits in the world is 18,266 out of theological matters before studying Theology. Leaves
which there are 4045 Jesuits in 18 for Paris in mid-September.
Provinces and 2 Regions of South Asia. 1528 : He enters Paris, February 2. Studies Latin in the
The present superior General of the Jesuits College of Montaigu.
is Rev. Fr. Adolfo Nicolas SJ
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1529 : He enters the College of Sainte Barbe, October 1, and September 3 : Pope Paul III verbally approves the
studies the Arts. Meets Peter Faber and Francis Xavier. Formula of the Institute and orders a bull to be prepared.
1533 : He passes the examination for the Licentiate in Arts, 1540 : Rodrigues departs for Portugal and India on March 4,
March 13. Begins Theology under the Dominicans, and Xavier on March 16.
April 13. Meets Laynez and Salmeron. September 27 : the bull ‘Regimini militantis
1534 : He receives the degree of Master of Arts in April. Ecclesiae’ approves the Society as an institute of clerics
The seven companions pronounce vows of Chastity, regular but restricts its professed members to 60.
poverty and the travel to Jerusalem (and if it not 1541 : March 4, the companions in Rome meet to begin
possible to offer themselves to the Pope) at composition of the Constitutions. They entrust the work
Montmartre, August 15. to Ignatius and Codure, who begin on March 10.
1535 : He meets but does not win Nadal. In March he April 8, Ignatius unanimously elected general. He
shows the Spiritual Exercises to the Inquisitor. In refuses, is re-elected, and accepts on April 19. First
early April he leaves Paris for Azpetia. solemn profession in St. Paul’s-Outside-the-Walls,
1536 : He spends the year at Venice, visiting hospitals, April 22.
studying theology, and giving the Exercises. Has an 1542 : Ignatius sends members to begin colleges at Coimbra
unpleasant meeting with Gian Pietro Carafa, in and Padua. Various apostolic activities.
December. 1543 : December : Ignatius begins the first professed house.
1537 : He is ordained a priest, June 14. With Faber and 1544 : January, he begins the Constitutions of the Society,
Laynez, leaves in July for Vicenza. Departs for starting with the vow of poverty.
Rome in late October. Mid-November: vision of La March 14 : The bull ‘Iniunctum Nobis’ confirms the
Storta. His entrance into Rome. Society and removes the restriction to 60 members.
1538 : In and near Rome, the companions give the Spiritual 1545 : February 27, last entry still extant in the Spiritual Diary.
Exercises, conduct apostolic works, sustains persecutions. November 29, he admits Nadal.
1539 : Mid-March to June 24, the “Deliberations of the First December 25, profession of Isabel Roser and her
Fathers” about founding a new religious order. They companions. At the end of the year he assigns Laynez
seek the Pope’s permission to establish a new type and Salmeron to Trent, as the Pope desired.
of religious life. 1546 : ‘Exponi Nobis’ - permitting reception of spiritual and
Late April, the Pope sends some of the companions temporal coadjutors into the Society. In October Isabel
to various places in Italy. Those in Rome compose Roser is freed from her vows. October 9, admits Francis
the “First Sketch of the Institute of the Society of Jesus” Borgia. October 25, Province of Portugal is created.
which became the Formula of the Institute.

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1547 : He summons Polanco to be secretary of the Society. 1556 : January - February: Pope Paul IV authorizes the
Receives bull of November 4, founding the University of Roman College to grant any degrees.
Gandia. Polanco begins serious work on the Constitutions July 31, Ignatius dies.
of the Society; composes “lndustriae” and other 1558 : July 6, General Congregation I convenes. July 2, Pope
documents; guided by Ignatius, he completes text ‘a’ of Paul V orally confirms the Society’s Institute. September
the Constitutions, 1547-1550. 10, the Congregation approves the Spanish text and
1548 : March, sends Jesuits to found the College of Messina. Polanco’s Latin translation of Ignatius’ Constitutions.
The Spiritual Exercises are approved by Paul III, July 1583 : Pope Gregory XIII approves the Jesuit Institute,
31, and published. During the year Ignatius writes including the Constitutions, in the bull “Quanto
the Declarations on the Examen. ftuctuosius” (Feb. I, 1583), and again in “Ascendente
1549 : June 27, he thinks of founding the Roman College. He Domino” (May 25, 1584).
has Polanco compose the “Constitutiones collegiorum.” 1595 : The processes are begun for Ignatius’ beatification.
1551 : Early in the year, meeting of the professed to examine 1609 : December 3, his beatification by Pope Paul V.
Text ‘A’ or the Constitutions. 1622 : March 12, canonization of Ignatius and Francis Xavier
February 22, Ignatius inaugurates the Roman College. by Pope Gregory XV.
He plans many colleges throughout this year.
December 19, he summons Nadal for the experimental
promulgation of the Constitutions.
1552 : March 25, Theheroom of Ignatius
receives Nadal’s profession and
commissions him to promulgate the Constitutions in Sicily.
1553 : March 26, writes “letter on Obedience” to Portugal.
April, names Nadal commissary to promulgate the
Constitutions in Spain and Portugal. August, begins
to dictate his Autobiography.
1554 : January 7, names Borgia commissary of Spain, over
three provincials. February 1, he desires to finish the
Constitutions; but he continues to work on them, in
Text ‘B’, the rest of his life.
1555 : January 26, Jesuits in Rome number 150. May 23,
Carafa (the cheif opponent of Ignatius) elected pope
as Paul IV.

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 Jesuit Mission in India & Jamshedpur 1934 Anandpur Mission.
1947 New Jamshedpur Mission was created (2 February)
1540 Approval of the Society of Jesus by Pope Paul III. 1947 Loyola School, Jamshedpur.
1542 Arrival of St.Francis Xavier in Goa - the first Jesuit to 1948 Jamshedpur was established as an “Independent
arrive in India. Mission” (12 March).
1543 Founded St. Paul’s College, Goa - the first Jesuit 1949 XLRI, Jamshedpur.
College in India. 1953 St. Xavier’s School, Lupungutu, Chaibasa.
1552 Death of St. Francis Xavier on the Chinese island of 1956 De Nobili School, Digwadih, Dhanbad.
Shangchwan (December 3) 1956 St. Joseph’s, Golmuri, Jamshedpur.
1580 The first Jesuit Mission in the Court of Akbar. 1956 Jamshedpur becomes a Vice Province (12 March)
1595 Madurai Mission by Fr. Gonsalvo Fernandez. 1962 Jamshedpur Diocese was erected (12 July).
1606 Fr. Robert de Nobili in Madurai Mission - Indianization 1964 Starting of DSWC (Leprsoy Hospital), Dhanbad
1693 Martyrdom of St. John de Britto at Oriyur. 1969 St. Robert’s, Parsudih, Jamshedpur.
1711 Inculturation of Joseph Constantius Beschi in Tamilnadu. 1970 The beginning of JYOTI, Jamshedpur.
1773 Suppression of the Society of Jesus by Pope Clement XIV. 1976 Loyola B.Ed College, Telco, Jamshedpur.
1814 Restoration of the Society of Jesus by Pope Pius VII. 1980 De Nobili Hindi School, Digwadih, Dhanbad.
1834 Arrival of Jesuits in Bengal. 1981 Tribal Research and Training Centre (TRTC), Chaibasa
1838 Madurai Mission founded by the French Jesuits. 1981 St. Xavier’s, Tundi, Dhanbad Dt.
1844 St. Joseph’s College at Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu. 1982 St. Ignatius School, Rengra, West Singhbhum Dt.
(shifted to Tiruchirapalli in 1883) 1983 St. John’s, Tepasai, West Singhbhum Dt.
1850 Starting of St. Mary’s School, Dindigul, Tamilnadu 1983 Jamshedpur Vice-Province becomes Province.
1856 Arrival of German Jesuits in Mumbai. 1984 Human Life Centre, Bhubaneswar.
1859 Bengal Mission was entrusted to the Belgian Jesuits. 1985 Jesu Bhavan, Novitiate, Mango, Jamshedpur.
1868 Arrival of Fr. Stockmann in Chaibasa, Jharkhand 1987 Xavier Institute of Management (XIM), Bhubaneswar
1873 First tribal baptisms of Chotanagpur in Khuntpani, W. Singhbhum 1987 CSWC, Amda, Raj Kharswan.
1878 Arrival Venetian Jesuits in Mangalore, Karnataka. 1992 Loyola Hindi School, Jamshedpur.
1882 Bandgaon Mission, Jharkhand. 1992 Loyola Academy, Jilling, West Bengal.
1885 Movement of Fr. Constant Lievans, Chotanagpur 1993 St. Thomas School, Gande Dungri, E. Singhbhum
1891 Chakradharpur Mission 1995 St. Xavier’s School, Rutungia, Kandhamal, Orissa
1893 Inauguration of Jesuit Mission in Gujarat. 1996 St. Joseph’s School, Kendrapaara, Orissa.
1910 St. Mary’s, Bistupur, Jamshedpur. 1997 Loyola School, Chaira, Dhalbhumgarh.
1911 Adra Mission 1998 St. Xavier’s School, Basahatu, West Singhbhum.
1921 Beginning of Patna Mission. 2001 Loyola Hospital, Bhubaneswar.
1923 St. Xavier’s College at Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu 2001 Loyola School, Bhubaneswar.
1925 Loyola College at Chennai, Tamilnadu. 2002 Loyola School, Sankhabanga, Baripada, Orissa.
1928 St. Antony’s Dhanbad. 2003 Xavier Institute of Tribal Education (XITE), Gamharia

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 Amazing Statistics about Jesuits Some Jesuit Scientists :
• Fr. Matteo Ricci SJ : Mathematician and Astonomer at
• There are 49 Saints and 148 Blesseds in the Jesuits Order. the Chinese Court.
• The highest numbers of Martyrs for the faith are from the Jesuits. • Fr. Scheiver SJ : discovered the sun-spots.
• Jesuits have spent more man-years in jail than members • Fr. Georgoire de St. Vincent SJ : Founder of the analytical
of any other order have. geometry along with Descartes and Fermiot.
• In the election to name the successor of Pope Paul III • Fr. Gusamao SJ : invented the first air-balloons.
five members voted for Ignatius. • Fr. Secchi SJ : did the topographical survey of the moon,
• There are 1825 Jesuit Houses in 112 countries. special studies of nebulai and the first classification of stars.
• There are 90 Jesuit Colleges in 27 countries. • Fr. De Vico SJ : discovered several comets and was one
• There are also 430 Jesuit High Schools in 55 countries. of those who observed the transit of Venus.
• 35 Lunar craters have been named after Jesuit scientists. • Fr. Cecil Saldanha SJ : Taxonomist. He has done extensive
• 2 Jesuits along with Galileo prepared a map of the moon research and published volumes on Hassan and Karnataka
which was later used in voyages to the moon. Flora.
• By 1750 AD, 30 of the world’s 130 astronomical • Fr. Santapau SJ : Taxonomist, had collected more than
observatories were run by Jesuits astronomers 100,000 specimens and was an internationally recognized
• The Gregorian calendar was the work of the Jesuit authority on Plant-taxonomy and Systematics. He led a
Christopher Clavius. delegation of Indian Botanists to USSR and Edinburgh.
• Ferdinand Verbiest determined the elusive Russo-Chinese He was bestowed with 'Padma Shri' Award.
border.
• China has recently erected a monument to the Jesuit Some renowned Jesuits :
scientists of the 17th century. • Fr. Rudolf Aquaviva SJ and Companions were in the court
• Jesuits explorers first charted five of the major rivers of of Akbar at the Emperor's request.
the world. • Br. Anthony Moscheni SJ embellished the St. Aloysius
• Two of the statues in Statuary Hall in Capitol in Washington College Chapel, Mangalore, Karnataka with his paintings.
are of Jesuits – Eusebio Kino and Jacquest Marquette. • Br. Peter Rayappan SJ of Shembaganur served in postal
• 500 postal stamps have been published on Jesuits in 40 services for 36 years and the Government of India
countries. recognized him nationally as managing "the best post office
• The Spiritual Exercises written by St. Ignatius Loyola has in India" and conferred on him the "Padma Shri".
been published some 4500 times, an average of once a • Fr. Guy Rajendra SJ was the Vice Chancellor of Batticolao
month for the past 400 years. The number of copies printed University, Sri Lanka.
has been estimated to be some 4.5 million. • Fr. Henrique Henriques SJ composed a Tamil Grammar
in 1555.
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• Fr. Thomas Stephens SJ wrote a Kannada Grammar in
1640, the first ever grammar of an Indian language to be MAGIS
printed in India.
• Fr. Robert de Nobili SJ (1577-1656) is the first European Magis is a Jesuit word in Latin means “more” and
Sanskrit scholar and he was proficient in Tamil and Telugu. is equated with such feelings as generosity, magnanimity
• Fr. Camil Bulcke (1909-1982) is a scholar in Hindi and
and selflessness. The concept of Magis is dervied from
Sanskrit. His English-Hindi dictionary is a well known
stardard work. the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola, and
• Fr. John Deeney SJ (1921-2010) immensely contributed focuses more on the way we make choices. When we
to the growth of Ho tribal language in Chaibasa, choose, it should not be “what’s in it for me ?” but what
Jharkhand; composed the English-Ho Dictionary and the more will it contribute towards making our lives one of
Ho Grammar book. love and service. A person needs to ask “Given my
• Fr. Ignacimuthu SJ is the first Jesuit and a priest Vice- responsibilities, my gifts and talents, my weaknesses and
Chancellor of a University in India. limitations, how can I best embrace this desire to be a
man or a woman for others?”
The Jesuits connected with U.N.O. in New York
· Fr. Jerome D’Souza SJ, India, was several times (1949, It is further explicitated in the motto of the Jesuits
1951-52, 1955, 1957) a member of the Indian Delegation “Ad majorem Dei gloriam” [AMDG] which means “for
to the General Assembly. He was also a member of the the greater glory of God”. Magis refers to the philosophy
Constituent Assembly and contributed much to the minority of doing more for God, and therefore others. It is an
rights in the Constitution of India. expression of an aspiration and inspiration. Ignatius Loyola
· Fr. Theo Matheas SJ, India (XLRI, Jamshedpur), was sent would encourage people around him during his time by
by the Government to represent India at the UN.
· Fr. Stany D’Souza SJ, India, well known demographer, who asking, “What have I done for God? What am I doing
worked on a number of demography projects forAsia andAfrica. for God? and What MORE can I do for God?”
· Fr. Emmanuel de Breuvery SJ, France, Head of the Section
of Energy and Water Resources (1952). Director of the I need to ask myself :
Resources and Transport Section (1960-64). √ What MORE effort do I need to put into
· Fr. Francois Russo SJ, France, Representative of the Holy my work / studies, so that I could contribute
See to the UN Conference on the Seas (1975, 1978) and
member of the Holy See at the UN Conference on diplomatic MORE to God, life and humanity ?
relations (1961) and Human Establishments (1976). √ What MORE do I need to achieve MORE
· Fr. Josse Van der Rest SJ, Belgium-Chile), Director of the excellence in all things ?
Latin American and Asia Service for Popular Housing.
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 ADVICE OF Fr. PEDRO ARRUPE, SJ “Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is,
than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way.
TO THOSE WHO WISH TO BECOME
JESUITS What you are in love with, what seizes your
imagination, will affect everything. It will decide
what will get you out of bed in
the morning, what you will do
with your evenings, how you will
spend your weekends, what you
read, who you know, what breaks
your heart, and what amazes you
with joy and gratitude.
• Stay at home, if the idea of becoming a Jesuit Fall in love, stay in love and it
makes you unsettled or nervous. will decide everything.”
• Do not come to us, if you love the Church like
Fr. Pedro Arrupe SJ (1907-1991)
a stepmother rather than a mother.
Former Superior General of the Jesuits
• Do not come, if you think that in joining us you
will be doing a favour to the Society of Jesus.
• Come, if serving Christ is at the very centre of
your life. The Motto
• Come, if you have broad and sufficiently of the Jesuits
strong shoulders.
• Come, if you have an open spirit, a reasonably AMDG
open mind and a heart larger than the world. Ad Majorem Dei Glorium (in Latin)
• Come, if you know how to tell a joke and can FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD
laugh with others and on occasion you can
laugh at yourself. bZ'oj dh egÙkj efgek ds fy,