The Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order), AD 1540

In 1540, Ignatius de Loyola, author of the Spiritual Exercises, met with Francis Xavier and five others in Montmartre outside Paris to found this religious order. The Jesuits had three missions. First, they created schools staffed with Jesuit teachers (rigorously trained in classical studies and theology), initially throughout Europe and later, throughout the world. Next, they worked as missionaries, traveling throughout the world to bring non-Christians into the Church. Finally, the worked to stop the spread of Protestantism, and were able to keep Poland and southern Germany Catholic. The order was strengthened and developed by its third Superior General, St. Francis Borgia.

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