Chapter I

1500-40.

ORIGIN OF THE ORDER.

State of Europe in the Sixteenth Century—Italy the Centre
of Civilisation—Alexander VI.—Julius II.—Leo X.—His
Indifference in matters of Religion—Obliged by the Court to
Excommunicate Luther—Reformation in Germany, England, and
Switzerland—Ignatius of Loyola—His Birth and Education—Wounded
at Pampeluna—He decides upon becoming a Saint—The _Spiritual
Exercises_—Origin of the Book—Crétineau—Joly—Analysis of the
_Spiritual Exercises_ by Cardinal Wiseman—Some Quotations from
it—Pilgrimage of Loyola to Palestine—His Return—His Attempts
at Proselytism in Barcelona—In Alcada—In Paris—The First
Ten Companions of Loyola—They take the Vow of Obedience at
Montmartre in 1534—They depart for Italy—Projected Missions in
the Holy Land—Pierre Caraffa, afterwards Paul IV.—Loyola and
his Companions in Rome—They conquer all Opposition, and the
intended Society is approved of by a Bull of Paul III., 1540, 5

CHAPTER II.

1540-52.

CONSTITUTIONS OF THE SOCIETY.

State of the Roman Church at the Epoch of the Establishment
of the Society—Adrian VI.’s extraordinary Avowal—Loyola’s
remarkable Cleverness in framing the Constitutions—Analysis of
this Work—Passive Obedience—Poverty—Instruction given gratis,
and why—Ways by which the Jesuits get at Wealth, 30

CHAPTER III.

1540-53.

HIERARCHY.

The Members of this Society are divided into Four
Classes—Gioberti and Pellico upon a Fifth Secret Class—The
Novices—Their Trials—Their Vows—Scholars—Qualities they must
possess—Coadjutors Temporal and Spiritual—Their several
Duties—Their Vows—Professed Members—The First Class in the
Society—They take a Fourth Vow of implicit Obedience to the
Holy See—Ceremony in taking the Vows—They as well as the
Coadjutors are bound to live by Alms—The General of the
Order—How Elected—His Attributions—His Powers—The Provincial
and other inferior Officials of the Order—Their Attributions, 45

CHAPTER IV.

1541-48.

PROGRESS OF THE ORDER, AND ITS FIRST GENERAL.

Ignatius elected General, at first refuses the
office—Afterwards accepts of it—His Zeal and Activity in
promoting the Interests of the Order—Charitable Institutions
in Rome—He co-operates in re-establishing the Inquisition—The
Albigenses—Rules of the Tribunal—Terror which it spread through
Italy—The Jesuits in Missions in various parts of Europe—The
first Jesuits in Great Britain—Instructions given them by
Loyola—Their Proceedings, 57

CHAPTER V.

1547-1631.

THE FEMALE JESUITS.

Their origin—Donna Isabella—Rosello—Trouble which they gave
to Ignatius—He refuses to take charge of them—Attempts of
some Women to establish the Order of Female Jesuits—They are
Suppressed in 1631—They Revive as the Sisters of the Holy
Heart, 71