Society of Jesus

The Society of Jesus (Societas Iesu/Jesu (S.J.) in Latin) is a Christian religious order of the Roman Catholic Church in direct service to the Pope. Its members, known as Jesuits since the Protestant Reformation, have been called "Footsoldiers of the Pope" in part because the Society's founder, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, was a Basque nobleman and soldier before his conversion. Today, Jesuits number over 20,000 and comprise the largest religious order in the Catholic Church. Jesuit priests and brothers are engaged in ministries in 112 nations on six continents. Their work is focused on education and intellectual contributions, primarily at colleges and universities.

External links

Jesuit Documents

• The Jesuit Ratio Studiorum of 1599
• The Jesuit Mission Press in Japan, 1591-1610
• Letter of the Jesuit Social Justice Secretariat to the leaders of the G8, July 2005

Sites

• J.H. Pollen, "The Jesuits (Society of Jesus)" in the Catholic Encyclopedia (1912)
• Jesuit University system in the Philippines
• Jesuits in Canada
• Jesuits in the Philippines
• United States Jesuit Conference
• Jesuit Volunteers of America
• Jesuit Refugee Service
• Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
• Jesuits in the United Kingdom
• Jesuits in Ireland
• Jesuits in Indonesia
• Jesuits in Australia
• Jesuits in South Africa
• The Mission(Movie): The Mission is a 1986 film which tells the story of a Spanish Jesuit priest who goes into the South American jungle to convert the Native Americans, who must defend his charges against the cruelty of Portuguese colonials.
• Sacred Space: famous Jesuit prayer site, in 18 different languages, maintained by Jesuits of the Irish Province

Media

• Documentary by the Society of Jesus Province of Chicago (Windows Media Player)