La historia secreta de los jesuitas
Publisher's Introduction
There is no other person more qualified to introduce Edmond Paris' book, The Secret History of the Jesuits," than Dr. Alberto Rivera, a former Jesuit priest under the extreme oath and induction, who was trained in the Vatican and briefed on the history of the Jesuits.
The information in this book is factual and fully documented, and it
should be read by every Bible-believing Christian in the United States and Canada. The Bible says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6)
J.T. C
Dr. Rivera's Introduction
The most dangerous of men are those who appear very religious,
especially when they are organized and in a position of authority. They have the deep respect of the people who are ignorant of their ungodly push for power behind the scenes.
These religious men, who pretend to love God, will resort to murder, incite revolution and wars if necessary to help their cause. They are crafty, intelligent, smooth religious politicians who live in a shadowy world of secrets, intrigue, and phony holiness. This pattern, seen in "The Secret History of the Jesuits," spiritually speaking can be seen in the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees at the time of Jesus Christ. This same evil spirit directed the Roman emperors to issue the ten murderous decrees to persecute the early Christian church.
The "Early Fathers" observed most of the ancient Babylonian system plus Jewish theology and Greek philosophy. They all perverted most of the teachings of Christ and His apostles. They paved the way for the Roman Catholic machine that was to come into existence. Piously, they attacked, perverted, added to and took away from the Bible. This religious antichrist spirit working through them is seen again when Ignatius de Loyola created the Jesuits to secretly accomplish two major goals for the Roman Catholic Institution: 1) universal political power, and 2) a universal church,
in fulfillment of the prophecies of Revelation 6, 13, 17 and 18.
By the time Ignatius de Loyola arrived on the scene, the Protestant
Reformation had seriously damaged the Roman Catholic system. Ignatius de Loyola came to the conclusion that the only way his "church" could survive was by enforcing the canons and doctrines on the temporal power of the pope and the Roman Catholic institution; not by just destroying the physical life of the people alone as the Dominican priests were doing through the Inquisition, but by infiltration and penetration into every sector of life.
Protestantism must be conquered and used for the benefit of the popes. That was Ignatius de Loyola's personal proposal, among others, to Pope Paul III. Jesuits immediately went to work secretly infiltrating ALL the Protestant groups including their families, places of work, hospitals, schools, colleges, etc. Today, the Jesuits have almost completed that mission.
The Bible puts the power of a local church into the hands of a Godly pastor. But the cunning Jesuits successfully managed over the years to remove that power into the hands of denomination headquarters, and have now pushed almost all of the Protestant denominations into the arms of the Vatican. This is exactly what Ignatius de Loyola set out to accomplish: a universal church and the end of Protestantism.
As you read "The Secret History of the Jesuits," you will see there is a
parallel between the religious and political sectors. The author, Mr. Paris, reveals the penetration and infiltration of the Jesuits into the governments and nations of the world to manipulate the course of history by setting up dictatorships, and weakening democracies such as the United States of America, by paving the way for social, political, moral, military, educational and religious anarchy.
The man, Edmond Paris
In the prophetical works of the Book of Revelation, Edmond Paris became a martyr for Jesus. In exposing such a conspiracy, he put his life at stake for truth of the prophetical signs to be known. Edmond Paris never knew me, but I knew him without meeting him personally when I, with other Jesuits under the extreme oath and induction, was being briefed on the names of institutions and individuals in Europe who were dangerous to the goals of the Roman Catholic Institution.
His name was given to us.
Works by Edmond Paris
LE VATIAN CONTRE LA FRANCE GENOCIDE IN
THE SATELLITE CROATIA THE VATICAN
AGAINST EUROPE
The Edmond Paris works on Roman Catholicism brought about the pledge on the part of the Jesuits to: 1) destroy him, 2) destroy his reputation, including his family, and 3) destroy his work. And even now these great works of Edmond Paris are being tampered with, but we are praying that God will continue to preserve them when they are most needed for the salvation of
Roman Catholic people.
YOURS FOR THE SALVATION OF THE
ROMAN CATHOLIC PEOPLE,
DR. ALBERTO RIVERA (EX-JESUIT PRIEST)
"The love of truth is our only salvation"
Jean Guehenno of the
French Academy
"Wherefore putting away lying,
speak every man truth ....
(Eph. IV, 25.)
Foreword
A last century writer, Adolphe Michel, recalled that Voltaire estimated the number of works published over the years, on the Jesuits, to be about six thousand. "What number have we reached a century later?", asked Adolphe Michel, only to conclude immediately: "No matter. As long as there are Jesuits, books will have to be written against them. There is nothing new left to be said on their account, but new generations of readers come every day...
Will these readers search old books?"(l) Adolphe Michel: "Les Jesuites" (Sandoz et Fischbacher, Paris 1879).
The reason just mentioned would be enough to justify us taking up again this oft-told subject. In fact, most early books retracing the history of the Jesuits cannot be found any more. Only in public libraries can they still be consulted, which makes them out of reach for most readers. With the aim of succinctly informing the public at large in mind, a summary of these works seemed necessary.
There is another reason, as good as the one just mentioned. At the same time as new generations of readers come, new generations of Jesuits come to light. And these work today with the same tortuous and tenacious methods, which so often in the past set to work the defensive reflexes of nations and governments. The sons of Loyola are today—and may we say more than ever—the leading wing of the Roman Church. As well if not better disguised than of old, they remain the most eminent "ultramontanes", the discreet but efficacious agents of the Holy See throughout the world, the camouflaged champions of its politics, the "secret army of the Papacy".
Asesinato de hombres Fosas comunes Masacre de Mizocz
For this reason, the subject of the Jesuits will never be exhausted and, even though the literature concerning them is so plentiful, every epoch will have the duty to add a few pages to it, to mark the continuity of this occult system started four centuries ago "for the great glory of God", but in fact for the glory of the pope. In spite of the general move towards an ever increasing "laicization", in spite of the ineluctable progress of rationalism which reduces a little more every day the domain of "dogma", the Roman Church couldn't give up the great purpose which has been her goal from the beginning: to gather under her crozier all the nations of the universe.
This monumental "mission" must go on, whatever happens, amongst "pagans" as well as amongst "separated Christians". The secular clergy having, in particular, the duty to hold the acquired positions (which is quite arduous nowadays), it is up to certain regular orders to increase the flock of the faithful by converting the "heretics" and "pagans", a work even more arduous. The duty is to preserve or acquire, to defend or attack, and at the front of the battle there is that mobile force of the "Society of Jesus"—the Jesuits. Properly speaking, this society is not secular, nor regular in terms of its Constitution, but a kind of subtle company intervening where and when it is convenient, in the church and outside the church, in short "the agent most skilful, most persevering, most fearless, most convinced of the papal
authority...", as wrote one of its best historians.(2)A. Michel, op.cit.
We will see how this body of "janissaries" was formed, what service
without price it rendered the papacy. We will see also how so much
effectual zeal was to make it indispensable to the institution it served,
exerting such an influence over it that its General was named with good reason the "black pope", as it became more and more difficult to distinguish, in the government of the church, the authority of the white pope and that of its powerful coadjutor. It is then at the same time a retrospective and a bringing up to date of the history of "Jesuitism" which is found in this book. As the majority of works regarding the Jesuits do not refer to the paramount part they took in the events which have subverted the world during the past fifty years, we thought it was time to fill up the gap or, more precisely, to start with our modest contribution a deeper study into the subject, and do this without concealing the obstacles which will be met by the non-apologist authors wanting to make public writings on this burning subject. Of all the factors which have played a part in the international life of a century full of confusion and upheavals, one of the most decisive— nevertheless best recognized—resides in the ambition of the Roman Church. Her secular desire to extend her influence towards the East made her the "spiritual" ally of Pan-Germanism and its accomplice in the attempt to gain supreme power which twice, in 1914 and 1939, brought death and ruin to the peoples of Europe. 2a (See Edmond Paris: Le Vatican contre l'Europe (Fischbacher, Paris), (also P.T.S., London), and L. Duca "L'Or du Vatican" (Laffront, Paris).
Vea las fotos del Holocausto en: http://www.ajzanier.com.ar/geno1.htm
Ejecuciones Niños en Auschwitz Burlas a los judíos
The public is practically unaware of the overwhelming responsibility
carried by the Vatican and its Jesuits in the start of the two world wars—a
situation which may be explained in part by the gigantic finances at the
disposition of the Vatican and its Jesuits, giving them power in so many
spheres, especially since the last conflict.
In fact, the part they took in those tragic events has hardly been
mentioned until the present time, except by apologists eager to disguise it.
It is with the aim of rectifying this and establishing the true facts that we
present in this and other books the political activity of the Vatican during
the contemporary epoch—activity which mutually concerns the Jesuits.
This study is based on irrefutable archive documents, publications from
well-known political personalities, diplomats, ambassadors and eminent
writers, most of whom are Catholics, even attested by the imprimatur.
These documents bring to light the secret actions of the Vatican and its
perfidious actions in creating conflicts between nations when it served its
interests. With the help of conclusive articles, we show the part played by
the "church" in the rise of totalitarian regimes in Europe.
These testimonies and documents constitute a crushing indictment and,
so far, no apologist has tried to disprove them.
On the first of May 1938, the "Mercure de France" reminded us of what
had been said four years earlier:
"The Mercure de France of the 15th of January 1934 said—and nobody
contradicted it—that it was Pius XII who 'made' Hitler. He came to power,
not so much through legal means, but because the pope influenced the
Centrum (german catholic party)... Does the Vatican think it made a
political error in opening the way to power to Hitler? It doesn't seem so..."
It didn't seem so when that was written, which was on the day following
the "Anschluss' when Austria was united to the third Reich—nor later
when Nazi aggressions multiplied—nor during the whole of the Second
World War. In fact, on the 24th of July 1959 the successor of Pius XII,
John XXIII, conferred on his personal friend Franz Von Papen the
honorary title of secret chamberlain. This man had been a spy in the United
States during the first world war and one of those responsible for the
Hitler's dictatorship and the Anschluss. One must suffer from a peculiar
kind of blindness not to see such plain facts.
Mr. Joseph Rovan, Catholic writer, comments on the diplomatic
agreement between the Vatican and the nazi Reich on the 8th of July 1933:
"The Concordat brought to the national-socialist government,
considered nearly everywhere to be made up of usurpers, if not brigands,
the seal of an agreement with the oldest international power (the Vatican).
In a way, it was the equivalent of a diploma of international honorability".
(Le catholicisme politique en Allemagne, Paris 1956, p.231, Ed. du Seuil).
Thus the Pope, not satisfied with giving his "personal" support to Hitler,granted in this way the moral support of the Vatican to the nazi Reich! At the same time as the terror was beginning to reign on the other side of the Rhine and was tacitly accepted and approved, the so-called "Brown shirts"
had already put 40,000 persons into concentration camps. The pogroms were
multiplying to the accents of this nazi march: "When the Jewish blood
streams from the knife, we feel better again." (Horst-Wessel-Lied).
In the following years, Pius XII saw even worse without being stirred. It is
not surprising that the catholic heads of Germany vied with each other in their
servility towards the nazi regime, encouraged as they were by their Roman
"Master". One must read the dishevelled ravings and verbal acrobatics of
opportunist theologians such as Michael Schmaus. He was later made a
"prince of the church" by Pius XII, and described as "the great theologian of
Munich" by the publication "La Croix" on the 2nd of September 1954—
or again a certain book entitled Katholisch-Konservatives Erbgut, of
which someone wrote:
"This anthology brings together texts from the main Catholic theorists of
Germany, from Gorres to Vogelsang; it makes us believe that nationalsocialism
was born purely and simply out of Catholic ideas."
(Gunther
Buxbaum, "Mercure de France", 15th of January 1939).
Experimentos con niños / Asesinato de familia
Concordat, always tried to excel each other in their "devotion":
"Under the nazi regime, we constantly find the fervent support of the
bishops in all the correspondence and declarations from ecclesiastical
dignitaries". (Joseph Rovan, op.cit. p.214).
In spite of the obvious difference between Catholic universalism and
hitlerian racism, these two doctrines had been "harmoniously reconciled)),
according to Franz Von Papen; the reason for this scandalous accord was
because "Nazism is a Christian reaction against the spirit of 1789".
Let us come back to Michael Schmaus, professor at the Faculty of
Theology in Munich, who wrote:
"Empire and church is a series of writings which should help the building up
of the third Reich as it unites a national-socialist State to Catholicchristianity...
"Entirely German and entirely Catholic, these writings explore and
favour relations and meetings between the Catholic Church and nationalsocialism;
they open the way for a fruitful cooperation, as outlined in the
Concordat... "The national-socialist movement is the most vigorous and
massive protest against the spirit of the 19th and 20th centuries... The idea of a
people of one blood is the focal point of its teachings and all Catholics who
obey the instructions of the German bishops will have to admit that this is
so... The laws of national-socialism and those of the Catholic Church have the
same aim..."
(Begegnungen zwischen Katholischem Christentumund nazional-sozialistischer Weltanschauung Aschendorff, Munster 1933).
This document proves the primordial part played by the Catholic
Church in the rise to power of Hitler; in fact, it was a pre-established
arrangement. It illustrates fully the kind of monstrous agreement between
Catholicism and nazism. The hatred of liberalism, which is the key to
everything, comes out very clearly.
In his book "Catholiques d'Allemagne", Mr Robert d'Harcourt of the
French Academy writes:
"The most vulnerable point, in all the episcopal declarations which
followed the triumphant elections of the 5th of March 1933, is found in the
first official document from the church containing the signatures of all the
German bishops. We are referring to the pastoral letter of the 3rd of June
1933, in which the whole of the German episcopate is involved.
"What form does this document take?" How does it start? On a note of
optimism and with this cheerful declaration: 'The men at the head of this new
government have, to our great joy, given us the assurance that they place
themselves and their work on Christian ground. A declaration of such deep
sincerity deserves the gratitude of all Catholics'. " (Paris, Plon, 1938, p. 108).
Since the start of the first world war, several popes have come and gone, but
their attitude has been invariably the same towards the two factions which
confronted each other in Europe.
Many Catholic authors couldn't hide their surprise—and grief—when
writing about the inhuman indifference shown by Pius XII in the face of the
worst kind of atrocities committed by those in his favour. Amongst many
testimonies, we will quote one of the most moderate in its wording, brought
against the Vatican by Mr. Jean d'Hospital, correspondant of "Monde":
"The memory of Pius XII is surrounded with misgiving. First of all, there is
this burning question asked by observers from every nation, and even within
the walls of the Vatican: Did he know of certain atrocities committed
during this war, started and led by Hitler?
"Having at his disposition at all times, and from every quarter, the
regular reports from the bishops... could he ignore what the german
military heads could never pretend to: the tragedy of the concentration
camps—the civilians condemned to deportation—the cold-blooded
massacres of those who 'stood in the way'—the terror of the gas chambers
where, for administrative reasons, millions of Jews were exterminated? And
if he knew about it why didn't he, as trustee and first chorister of the Gospel,
come out dressed in white, arms extended in the shape of the cross, to
denounce a crime without precedent, to shout: No!?...
"Pious souls will search in vain encyclical letters, speeches and addressesof the late pope; there is no trace of any condemnation of this 'religion of
blood' instituted by Hitler, this Antichrist... they will not find the
condemnation of racism, which is an obvious contradiction to the Catholic
dogma". "Rome en confidence" (Grasset, Paris 1962, pp.91 ss).
In his book "Le silence de Pie XII" published by du Rocher, Monaco
1965, the author Carlo Falconi writes in particular:
"The existence of such monstrosities (exterminations en masse of ethnic
minorities, prisoners and deported civilians) overthrows every standard of
good and evil. They defy the dignity of their individual being and society in
general to such an extent that we are compelled to denounce those who
could have influenced public opinion, be they ordinary civilians or Heads of
States.
"To keep quiet in the face of such outrages would amount in fact to
downright collaboration. It would stimulate the villainy of the criminals,
stirring up their cruelty and vanity. But, if every man has the moral duty to
react when confronted with such crimes, it is doubly so of the religious
societies and their heads, and above all the head of the Catholic Church.
"Pius XII never expressed a direct and explicit condemnation of the war of
aggression, even less about the unspeakable crimes commited by the
Germans or their accomplices during that war.
"Pius XII did not keep quiet because he did not know what was
happening: he knew of the gravity of the situation from the start, maybe
even better than any other head of state in the world..." (pp.12 ss).
There is better still! The Vatican gave a helping hand to the carrying out of
these crimes by "lending" some of its prelates to be made into pro-nazi
agents; these were Messeigneurs Hlinka and Tiso. It also sent to Croatia its
own legate—R.P. Marcone—who, with the help of Monseigneur Stepinac,
had to keep an eye on the "work" of Ante Pavelitch and his oustachis.
Wherever we look, the same "edifying" spectacle presents itself.
As we have already shown, it is not only this monstrous partiality and
complacency that we object to. The Vatican's unpardonable crime lies in the
decisive part played in the bringing about of two world wars.(3) E. Paris, "The Vatican against Europe" (P.T.S. London))
Listen to what Mr. Alfred Grosser, professor at the Institute of political
studies of Paris University, says:
"The very concise book of Guenter Lewy "The Catholic Church and nazi
Germany" (New York McGrawhill-1964) says that all the documents agree to
show the Catholic Church cooperating with the Hitler regime...
"In July 1933, when the Concordat forced the bishops to swear an oath of
allegiance to the nazi government, the concentration camps were already
open... the reading of quotations compiled by Guenter Lewy proves this
overwhelmingly. We find in them some crushing evidence from personalities such as Cardinal Faulhaber and the Jesuit Gustav Gundlach."(4) Saul Friedlander: "Pie XII et le IIIe Reich", (Ed. du Seuil, Paris 1964)
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Catedral de Támpico |
Only empty words can be found to oppose this stack of evidence which
proves the culpability of the Vatican and its Jesuits. Their help was the main
force behind the lightning rise of Hitler who, together with Mussolini and
Franco, who in spite of appearances were but war pawns manipulated by the
Vatican and its Jesuits.
The thurifers of the Vatican must bow their heads in shame when an
Italian member of parliament cries out: "The pope's hands are dripping with
blood". (Speech by Laura Diaz, member of parliament for Livourne,
delivered at Ortona on the 15th of April 1946), or when the students of
Cardiff University College choose as the theme for a conference: "Should the
pope be brought to trial as a war criminal?" ("La Croix", 2nd of April 1946).
* * *
Here is how pope John XXIII expressed himself when referring to the
Jesuits: "Persevere, dear sons, in the activities which have already brought you
well-known merits.. In that way, you will gladden the Church and will grow
with untiring ardour: the path of the just is as the light of dawn... "May that
light grow and illuminate the moulding of the adolescents... In that way, you
will help to carry out our spiritual wishes and concerns... "We give our
Apostolic Blessing with all our heart to your Superior General, to you and
your coadjutors, and to all the members of the Society of Jesus". And from
pope Paul VI:(5).L'Osservatore Romano, 20th of October 1961.
"From the time of its restoration, this religious family enjoys the sweet help
of God, and has enriched herself very quickly with great progress... the
members of the Society have accomplished many important deeds, all to the
glory of God and for the benefit of the Catholic religion... the church needs
soldiers of Christ with valour, armed with a dauntless faith, ready to confront
difficulties... that is why we have great hope in the help your activity will
bring... may the new era find the Society on the same honorable path it
trod in the past...
"Given in Rome, near St. Peter, on the 20th of August 1964, during his
second year as pope".(6)L'Osservatore Romano, 18th of September 1964.
• • •
On the 29th of October 1965, "l'Osservatore Romano" announced: "The
Very Reverend Father Arrupe, General of the Jesuits, celebrated Holy Mass
for the Ecumenical Council on the 16th of October 1965".
Here is the apotheosis of "Papal ethics": the simultaneous
announcement of a project to beatify Pius XII and John XXIII. "To
strengthen ourselves in our striving for a spiritual renewal, we have decided to
start the canonical proceedings for the beatification of these two great and
godly pontiffs who are so dear to us".(7)L'Osservatore Romano, 26th of November 1965.
Pope Paul VI * *
May this book reveal to all those who read it the true nature of this
Roman Master, whose words are as "mellifluous" as his secret actions are
ferocious.
Section I
The Founding of the Jesuit Order
Chapter 1
Ignatius of Loyola
The founder of the Society of Jesus, the Spanish Basque don Inigo Lopez de
Recalde, was born at the castle of Loyola, in the province of Guipuzcoa, in
1491. He was one of the strangest types of monk-soldier ever engendered by the
Catholic world; of all the founders of religious orders, he may be the one
whose personality has left the strongest mark on the mind and behaviour
of his disciples and successors. This may be the reason for that "familiar
look" or "trade-mark", a fact which goes as far as physical resemblance. Mr.
Folliet disputes this fact (1"La Croix", 31 st of July 1956.), but many documents prove the permanence of a
"Jesuit" type through the ages. The most amusing of these testimonies is
found at the Guimet museum; on the golden background of a 16th century
screen, a Japanese artist portrayed, with all the humour of his race, the
landing of the Portuguese, and of the sons of Loyola in particular, on the
Nipponese islands. The amazement of this lover of nature and bright colours
is obvious in the way he depicted those long, black shadows with their
mournful faces on which is congealed all the arrogance of the fanatic ruler. The
likeness between the work of the oriental artist of the 16th century and our
Daumier of 1830 is there for all to see.
Like many other saints, Inigo—who later Romanised his name and
became Ignatius—looked far from being the one predestined to enlighten his
contemporaries (2 Like Saint Augustine, Saint Francis of Assisi and many others.). His stormy youth was filled with mistakes and even "heinous crimes". A police report said he was "treacherous, brutal,
vindictive". All his biographers admit that he yielded to none of his boon
companions regarding the violence of the instincts, then a common thing.
"An unruly and conceited soldier", said one of his confidants—"he led a
disorderly life as far as women, gambling and duels were concerned", added his secretary Polanco (3 R.P. Jesuit Robert Rouquette, "Saint Ignace de Loyola" (Ed. Albin Michel, Paris 1944,
p.6).). All this is related to us by one of his spiritual sons, R.P. Rouquette, who tried somewhat to explain and excuse this
hot temper which was eventually turned "ad majorem Dei gloriam". (To the
greater glory of God).
As is the case for many heroes of the Roman Catholic Church, a violent
physical blow was necessary to change his personality. He had been pageboy to
the treasurer of Castille until his master's disgrace. Then he became a gentleman
in the service of the Viceroy of Navarre; having lived the life of a courtier until
then, the young man started the life of a soldier by defending Pampeluna
against the French commanded by the Count de Foix. The wound which
decided his future life was inflicted during that siege. A leg broken by a bullet,
he was taken by the victorious French to his brother Martin Garcia, at the
castle of Loyola. Now starts the martyrdom of surgery without anaesthesia,
through which he had to go a second time as the work had not been done
properly. His leg was broken again and reset. In spite of all this, Ignatius was
left with a limp. One can understand that he only needed an experience such as
this to cause him a nervous breakdown. The "gift of tears" which was then
bestowed on him "in abundance"—and in which his pious biographers see a
favour from on high—is maybe only the result of his highly emotional nature,
henceforth to affect him more and more.
His sole entertainment, while lying wounded and in pain, was the reading of
the "Life of Christ" and the "Life of the Saints", the only books found in the
castle. As he was practically uneducated and still affected by that terrible shock,
the anguish of Christ's passion and the martyrdom of the saints had an
indelible impact on him; this obsession led the crippled warrior on to the road of
apostolate. "He put the books to one side and day-dreamed. A clear case of the
wakeful dream, this was a continuation into the adult years of the
imaginary game of the child... if we let it invade the psychic realm, the result is
neurosis and surrender of the will; that which is real takes second
place!..."(4 R.P. Jesuit Robert Rouquette, op.cit., p.9. )
At first sight, this diagnosis seems hardly to apply to the founder of such an
active order, nor to other "great mystics" and creators of religious societies,
all of whom had apparently great capacities for organization. But we find that
all of them are unable to resist their over-active imaginations and, for them,
the impossible becomes possible.
Here is what the same author says on this subject: "I want to point out the obvious outcome of the practice of mysticism by someone possessing a brilliant intelligence. The weak mind indulging in mysticism is on
dangerous ground, but the intelligent mystic presents a far greater danger, us
his intellect works in a wider and deeper way... When the myth takes over from
the reality in an active intelligence, it becomes mere fanaticism; an infection
of the will which suffers from a partial enlargement or distortion".(5 Dr Legrain, "Le Mysticisme et la folie" (Ed. de l'ldee Libre, Herblay (S.-et-O.) 1931, pp. 14-16)
Ignatius of Loyola was a first-class example of that "active mysticism" and
"distortion of the will". Nevertheless, the transformation of the gentlemenwarrior
into the "general" of the most militant order in the Roman Church
was very slow; there were many faltering steps before he found his true
vocation. It is not our intention to follow him through all those different
stages. Let us recall the main points: in the spring of 1522, he left the ancestral
castle, with his mind made up to become a saint similar to those whose
edifying exploits he had been reading about in that big "gothic" volume.
Besides, did not the Madona herself appear to him one night, holding in her
arms the child Jesus? After a thorough confession at the monastry of
Montserrat, he was planning to go to Jerusalem. The plague was rife in
Barcelona and, as all maritime traffic had stopped, he had to stay at Manresa
for nearly a year. There, he spent his time in prayers, orisons, long fasts,
flagellating himself, practicing all the forms of maceration, and never
failing to appear before the "tribunal for penance", even though his
confession at Montserrat had apparently lasted three whole days; such a
thorough confession would have been sufficient to a less scrupulous sinner. All
this depicts quite clearly the mental and nervous state of the man. At last
delivered from that obsession of sin by deciding it was only a trick of Satan, he
devoted himself entirely to the varied and plentiful visions which were
haunting his feverish mind.
"It is because of a vision", says H. Boehmer, "that he started eating meat
again; it is a whole series of visions that revealed to him the mysteries of the
Catholic dogma and helped him to truly live it: in that way, he meditates
upon the Trinity under the shape of a musical instrument with three cords; the
mystery of the creation of the world through "something" hazy and light
coming out of a ray of sunshine; the miraculous descent of Christ into the
Eucharist as flashes of light entering the consecrated water, when the priest
held it up while praying; the human nature of Christ and the holy Virgin
under the form of a dazzling white body; and finally Satan as a serpentine and
shimmering shape similar to a multitude of sparkling and mysterious eyes
(6and (7) H. Boehmer, professor at the University of Bonn, "Les Jesuites" (Armand Colin,
Paris 1910, pp. 12-13)." Is not this the start of the well-known Jesuitic image-making?
Mr. Boehmer adds that the deep meaning of the dogmas was revealed to
him, as a special favour from on-high, through transcendental intuitions.
"Many mysteries of Faith and science became suddenly clear to him and later
he pretended to have learned more in those short moments than during the
whole of his studies; however, he was never able to explain what these
mysteries were which suddenly became clear to him. There was only a hazy
recollection left, a feeling of something miraculous as if, at that moment, he
had become "another man with another intelligence".(7)
All this may be the result of a nervious disorder and can be identified with
what happens to smokers of opium and eaters of hashish: that enlargement
or extension of the ego, that illusion of soaring up beyond what is real, a
flashing sensation leaving only a dazed recollection.
Blissful visions and illuminations were constant companions of this
mystic throughout his life. "He never doubted the reality of these revelations. He chased Satan with a
stick as he would have done a mad dog; he talked to the Holy Spirit as one does
to another person actually; he asked for the approval of God, the Trinity and
the Madonna on all his projects and would burst into tears of joy when they
appeared to him. On those occasions, he had a foretaste of celestial bliss; the
heavens were open to him, and the Godhead was visible and perceptible to
him.(8 H. Boehmer, op.cit., p. 14.)
Is not this the perfect case of an hallucinated person? It will be this same
perceptible and visible Godhead that the spiritual sons of Loyola will
constantly offer to the world—not only for political reasons, leaning on and
flattering the deep-rooted inclination in the heart of man for idolatry— but also
by conviction, having been well and truly indoctrinated. From the start,
mediaeval mysticism has prevailed in the Society of Jesus; it is still the great
animator, in spite of its readily assumed worldly, intellectual and learned
aspects. Its basic axiom is: "All things to all men". The arts, literature,
science and even philosophy have been mere means or nets to catch souls, like
the easy indulgences granted by its casuists and for which laxity they were so
often reproved. To this Order, there is not a realm where human weakness
cannot be worked upon, to incite the spirit and will to surrender and go
back to a more childish and restful devotion. So they work for the bringing
about of the "kingdom of God" according to their own ideal: a great flock
under the Holy Father's crozier. That learned men could have such an
anachronic ideal seems very strange, yet it is undeniably so and the confirmation
of an oft-disregarded fact: the pre-eminence of the emotions in the life of the
spirit. Besides, Kant said that every philosophy is but the expression of the philosopher's temperament or character.
Apart from individual methods, the Jesuitic "temperament" seems more or
less uniform amongst them. "A mixture of piety and diplomacy, asceticism
and worldly wisdom, mysticism and cold calculation; as was Loyola's
character, so is the trade-mark of this Order".(9 J. Huber, professor of catholic theology in Munich, "Les Jesuites" (Sandoz et
Fischbacher, Paris 1875, p. 127)
In the first place, every Jesuit chose this particular Order because of his
natural dispositions; but he really becomes a "son" of Loyola after rigorous
tests and systematic training lasting no less than fourteen years.
In that way, the paradox of this Order has continued for four hundred
years: an Order which endeavours to be "intellectual" but, simultaneously, has
always been, within the Roman Church and society, the champion of the
strictest disposition.
The Spiritual Exercises
When the time came at last for Ignatius to leave Monresa, he couldn't
foresee his destiny, but the anxiety concerning his own salvation was not his
main concern any more; it is as a missionary, and not as a mere pilgrim, that
he left for the Holy Land in March 1523. He arrived in Jerusalem on the 1st
of September, after many adventures, only to leave again soon after, on the
orders of the Franciscan's provincial who was not desirious to see the
precarious peace between Christians and Turks endangered by an untimely
proselytism.
The disappointed missionary passed through Venice, Genoa, and
Barcelona on his way to the University of Alcala where he started
theological studies; it is there also that his "cure of souls" amongst
voluntary listeners began.
"In these conventicles, the most common manifestations of piety
amongst the fair sex were fainting fits; by that, we realise how hard he
applied his religious methods, and how such a fervent propaganda would
soon arouse the curiosity and then the suspicion of the inquisitors... "In
April 1527, the Inquisition put Ignatius in prison to try him on the grounds of
heresy. The inquiry examined those peculiar incidents amongst his
devotees, the strange assertions of the accused concerning the wonderful
power his chastity conferred on him, and his bizarre theories on the
difference between mortal and venial sins; these theories had striking
affinities with those of Jesuit casuists of the subsequent epoch.(10) H. Boehmer, op.cit. pp.20-21, 25.)
Released but forbidden to hold meetings, Ignatius left for Salamanque
and soon started the same activities. Similar suspicions amongst the
inquisitors led to imprisonment again. Release was only on condition of
desisting from such conduct. Thus it was, he journeyed to Paris to continue
his studies at the college of Montaigu. His efforts to endoctrinate his
fellow-students according to his peculiar methods brought him into trouble
again with the Inquisition. Becoming more prudent,he met with just six of his
college friends, two of which will become highly esteemed recruits:
Salmeron and Lainez.
What did he have in himself that so powerfully attracted young people to an
old student? It was his ideal and a little charm he carried on himself: a small
book, in fact a very minute book which is, in spite of its smallness, amongst
those which have influenced the fate of humanity. This volume has been
printed so many times that the number of copies is unknown; it was also the
object of more than 400 commentaries. It is the textbook of the Jesuits and at
the same time the resume of the long inner development of their master: the
"Spiritual Exercises".(11) and (12) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.25, 34-35. )
Mr Boehmer says later:
"Ignatius understood more clearly than any other leader of men who
preceded him that the best way to raise a man to a certain ideal is to become
master of his imagination. We "imbue into him spiritual forces which he
would find very difficult to eliminate later", forces more lasting than all the best
principles and doctrines; these forces can come up again to the surface,
sometimes after years of not even mentioning them, and become so
imperative that the will finds itself unable to oppose any obstacle, and has to
follow their irresistible impulse".(12)
Thus all the "truths" of the Catholic dogma will have to be, not only
meditated, but lived and felt by the one who devotes himself to these
"Exercises", with the help of a "director". In other words, he will have to see and
relive the mystery with the greatest possible intensity. The candidate's
sensitiveness becomes impregnated with these forces whose persistence in his
memory, and even more so in his subconscious, will be as strong as the effort
he made to evoke and assimilate them. Beside sight, the other senses such as
hearing, smell, taste and touch will play their part. In short, it is mere
controlled auto-suggestion. The angels' rebellion, Adam and Eve driven out
of Paradise, God's tribunal, the evangelical scenes and phases of the Passion
are, as one would say, relived in front of the candidate. Sweet and blissful
scenes alternate with the most sombre ones at a skilfully arranged rythm. No
need to say that Hell has the prominent part in that "magic lantern show",
with its lake of fire into which the damned are thrown, the awful concert of
screams, the atrocious strench of sulphur and burning flesh. Yet Christ is
always there to sustain the visionary who doesn't know how to thank him for
not having thrown him already into hell to pay for his past sins.
Here is what Edgar Quinet wrote:
"Not only visions are pre-arranged, but also sighs, inhalings, breathing
are noted down; the pauses and intervals of silence are written down like on a
music sheet. In case you do not believe me, I will quote: "The third way of
praying, by measuring the words and periods of silence". This particular
manner of praying consists of leaving out some words between every
breath; and a little further: "Make sure to keep equal gaps between every
breath and choking sob and word". (Et paria anhelituum ac vocum
interstitia observet), which means that the man, being inspired or not,
becomes just a machine which must sigh, sob, groan, cry, shout or catch
one's breath at the exact moment and in the order which experience shows to
be the most profitable". (12a) Michelet et Guinet: "Des Jesuites", (Hachette, Paulin, Paris 1845, pp.185-187). (12b)
Michelet et Guinet: "Des Jesuites", (Hachette, Paulin, Paris, 1845, pp.185-
187).)
It is understandable that after four weeks devoted to these intensive
Exercises, with a director as his only companion, the candidate would be
ripe for the subsequent training and breaking.
This is what Quinet has to say when referring to the creator of such an
hallucinatory method:
"Do you know what distinguishes him from all the ascetics of the past?
The fact that he could observe and analyse himself logically and coldly in that
state of rapture, while for all the others even the idea of reflection was
impossible.
Imposing on his disciples actions which, to him, were spontaneous, he
needed just thirty days to break, with this method, the will and reasoning, in
the manner in which a rider breaks his horse. He only needed thirty days
"triginta dies", to subdue a soul. Note that Jesuitism expanded together with
modern inquisition: while the inquisition dislocated the body, the spiritual
Exercises broke up the thoughts under Loyola's machine".(12b)
In any case, one could not examine his "spiritual" life too deeply, even
without the honour of being a Jesuit; Loyola's methods are to be
recommended to the faithful and ecclesiastics in particular, as we are
reminded by commentators such as R.P. Pinard de la Boullaye, author of
"Mental prayer for all"; inspired by saint Ignatius, this very valuable aid for the
soul would, we think, be more explicit if the title read "alienation" instead of
"prayer".
______
¿No es hoy el papa Benedicto XVI?
Chapter 3
The founding of the Company
"The Society of Jesus" was constituted on Assumption Day in 1534, in the
chapel of Notre-Dame de Montmartre.
Ignatius was then forty-four years old. After communion, the animator and
his companions vowed to go to the Holy Land, as soon as their studies were
finished, to convert the infidels. But the following year found them in Rome
where the pope, who was then organising a crusade against the lurks with the
German Emperor and the Republic of Venice, showed them how impossible
their project was because of it. So Ignatius and his companions
dedicated themselves to missionary work in Christian lands; in Venice, his
apostolate roused again the suspicions of the Inquisition. The Constitution of
the Company of Jesus was at last drafted and approved in Rome, by Paul III,
in 1540, and the Jesuits put themselves at the disposition of the pope,
promising him unconditional obedience, Teaching, confession, preaching
and charitable work were the field of action for this new Order, but foreign
missions were not excluded as, in 1541, Francis Xavier and two companions
left Lisbon to go and evangelise the Far East. In 1546, the political side of their
career was launched, when the pope chose Lainez and Salmeron to represent
him at the Council of Trent in the capacity of "pontifical theologians".
Mr Boehmer writes:
"Then, the Order was employed by the pope only on a temporary basis. But
it performed its functions with so much promptitude and zeal that, already
under Paul III, it had implanted itself very firmly into all chosen kinds of
activities and won the confidence of the Curia for all time".( l 2 d ) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.47-48.)
This confidence was fully justified; the Jesuits, and Lainez in particular,
together with their devoted friend Cardinal Morone, became the cunning and
untiring champions of pontifical authority and intangibility of the dogma, during the three sessions of that Council ending in 1562. By their clever manoeuvres and dialectics, they succeeded in defeating the
opposition and all "heretic" claims including marriage of priests,
communion with the two elements, use of the vernacular in services and,
especially, reform of the papacy. Only the reform of convents was retained on
the agenda. Lainez himself, by a forceful counter-attack, upheld pontifical
infallibility which was promulgated three centuries later by the Vatican
Council. (13) Vatican Council (1870).) The Holy See emerged strengthened from the crisis where it
nearly foundered, thanks to the steadfast actions of the Jesuits. The terms
chosen by Paul III to describe this new Order in his Bull of Authorisation
were then amply justified: "Regimen Ecclesiae militantis".
The fighting spirit developed more and more as time went on as, beside
foreign missions, the activities of Loyola's sons started to concentrate on the
souls of men, especially amongst ruling classes. Politics are their main field of
action, as all the efforts of these "directors" concentrate on one aim: the
submission of the world to the papacy, and to attain this the "heads" must be
conquered first. And to realise this ideal? Two very important weapons: to be
the confessors of the mighty and those in high places and the education of their
children. In that way, the present will be safe while the future is prepared.
The Holy See soon realised the strength this new Order would bring. At first,
the number of its members had been limited to sixty, but this restriction was
promptly lifted. When Ignatius died, in 1556, his sons were working amongst
pagans in India, China, Japan, the New World, but also and especially in
Europe: France, Southern and Western Germany, where they fought against
the "heresy", in Spain, Portugal, Italy and even England, getting in by way of
Ireland. Their history, full of vicissitudes, will be of a "Roman" network they
will constantly try to spread over the world, whose links will be forever torn
and mended.
The Spirit of the Order
"Let us not forget, writes the Jesuit Rouquette, that, historically,
"ultramontanism" has been the practical affirmation of "universalism"... This
necessary universalism would be an empty word if it did not result in a practical
cohesion or obedience of Christianity: this is why Ignatius wanted this team to
be at the disposition of the pope... and be the champion of catholic unity,
unity which can be assured only through an effective submission to Christ's
vicar".(l3a) R.P. Jesuit Rouquette, op.cit. p.44.)
The Jesuits wanted to impose this monarchical absolutism on the
Roman Church and they maintained it in civil society as they had to look
upon the sovereigns as temporal representatives of the Holy Father, true head
of Christianity; as long as those monarchs were entirely docile to their
common lord, the Jesuits were their most faithful supporters. On the other
hand, if these princes rebelled, they found in the Jesuits their worst
enemies.
In Europe, wherever Rome's interests required the people to rise against their
king, or if these temporal princes had taken decisions embarrassing for the
Church, the Curia knew she would not find more able, cunning, or daring
outside the Society of Jesus when it came to intrigue, propaganda or even open
rebellion".( 14 ) Rene Fulop-Muler: "Les Jesuites et le secret de leur puissance" (Librairie Plon, Paris
1933. p.61).
We have seen, through the spirit of the "Exercises", how the founder of this
Company was behind his time in his simplistic mysticism, ecclesiastic
discipline and, generally speaking, his conception of subordination. The
"Constitutions" and "Exercises", fundamentals to this system, leave us
without any doubts on that subject. No matter what his disciples may say—
especially today as modern ideas on this subject are totally different—obedience has a very special place, in fact incontestably the first, in the summary of the Order's rules. Mr. Folliet may pretend to see in it nothing
more than "religious obedience", necessary to any congregation; R.P.
Rouquette writes boldly: "Far from being a diminution of man, this
intelligent and willing obedience is the height of freedom... a liberation from
oneself s bondage..."; one only has to read those texts to perceive the extreme,
if not monstrous character of this submission of soul and spirit imposed to
the Jesuits, making them always docile instruments in their superiors' hands,
and even more from their very beginning the natural ennemies of any kind
of liberty.
The famous "perinde ac cadaver" (as a corpse in the undertaker's hands), can
be found in all "spiritual literature", according to Mr. Folliet, and even in the
East, in the Haschichins' Constitution; the Jesuits are to be in the hands of
their superiors "as a staff obeying every impulse; as a ball of wax which can be
shaped and stretched in any direction; as a small crucifix being lifted and
moved at will"; these pleasant formulas are none the less very enlightening.
Remarks and explanations from the creator of this Order leave us without
any doubt as to their true meaning. Besides, amongst the Jesuits, not only
the will, but also reasoning and even moral scruple, must be sacrificed to the
primordial virtue of obedience which is, according to Borgia, "the strongest
rampart of Society".
"Let us be convinced that all is well and right when the superior
commands it", wrote Loyola. And again: "Even if God gave you an animal
without sense for master, you will not hesitate to obey him, as master and
guide, because God ordained it to be so."
And something even better: the Jesuit must see in his superior not a
fallible man, but Christ Himself. J. Huber, professor of Catholic theology in
Munich and author of one of the most important works on the Jesuits, wrote:
"Here is a proven fact: the "Constitutions" repeat five hundred times that one
must see Christ in the person of the General".(15) J. Huber. "Les Jesuites" (Sandoz et Fischbacher, Paris 1875, pp. 71 & 73))
The discipline of the Order, assimilated so often to that of the army, is then
nothing compared to the reality. "Military obedience is not the equivalent of
Jesuitic obedience; the latter is more extensive as it gets hold of the whole man
and is not satisfied like the other, with an exterior act, but requires the
sacrifice of the will and laying aside of one's own judgment".(16) J. Huber: "Les Jesuites" (Sandoz et Fischbacher, Paris 1875, pp. 71 & 73).)
Ignatius himself wrote in his letter to the Portuguese Jesuits: "We must see
black as white, if the Church says so".
Such is this "height of freedom" and "liberation from one's own
bondage", praised earlier on by R.P. Rouquette. Indeed, the Jesuit is truly liberated from himself as he is totally subjected to his masters; any doubt or
scruple would be imputed to him as sin.
Mr. Boehmer writes:
"In the additions to the "Constitutions", the superiors are advised to
command the novices, as God did with Abraham, things apparently
criminal, to prove them; but they must proportion these temptations to
each one's strength. It is not difficult to imagine what could be the results of
such an education".(17) Gabriel Monod, in Introduction aux "Jesuites", de H. Boehmer, p. XVI (Armand Colin,
Paris) (18) Pierre Dominique: "La politique des Jesuites" (Grasset, Paris 1955, p.37).)
The Order's life of ups and downs—there is not one country from which it
wasn't expelled—testifies that these dangers were recognised by all
governments, even the most Catholic. By introducing men so blindly
devoted to their cause to teaching among the higher classes, the
Company—champion of universalism, therefore ultra-montanism—was
inevitably recognised as a threat to civil authority, as the activity of the
Order, by the mere fact of their vocation, turned more and more towards
politics.
In a parallel way, what we call the Jesuitic spirit was developing amongst
its members. Nevertheless, the founder, inspired mainly by the needs of
foreign and home "missions", had not neglected skilfulness. He wrote in his
"Sententiae asceticae": "A clever carefulness together with a mediocre
purity is better than a greater holiness coupled with a less perfect
skilfulness. A good shepherd of souls must know how to ignore many
things and pretend not to understand them. Once he is master of the wills,
he will be able wisely to lead his students wherever he may choose. People
are entirely absorbed by passing interests, so we must not speak to them too
pointedly about their souls: it would be throwing the hook without the
bait".
Even the desired countenance of Loyola's sons was emphatically stated:
"They must hold their heads slightly down, without bending it to the left or
right; they must not look up, and when they speak to someone, they are not
to look them straight in the eyes so as to see them only indirectly..."(18)
Loyola's successors retained this lesson well in their memory, and
applied it very extensively in the pursuit of their plans.
Fascist Franco of Spain Generals coming up to kiss the Pope's ring finger expressing 100% submission in the Vatican in 1939. Pope Pius XII - Born Ugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli AKA "Hitler's Pope"
The privileges of the Company
After 1558, Lainez, the subtle tactician of the Council of Trent, was made
general of the Congregation with the power to organise the Order as he was
inspired. The "Declarations" which he himself composed with Salmeron,
were added to the "Constitutions" to form a commentary; they accentuated
even more the despotism of the general elected for life. An admonitor
procurator and assistants, residing in Rome too, will help him generally to
administer the Order divided then into five congregations: Italy, Germany
France, Spain, England and America. These congregations were
themselves divided into Provinces grouping the different establishments of the
Order. Only the admonitor (or overseer) and assistants are nominated by the
Congregation. The general appoints all other officials, promulgates the
ordinances which are not to modify the Constitutions, administers the wealth
of the Order according to his own wishes and directs its activities for which he is
responsible to the pope only.
To this militia so tightly knit in the hand of its chief and which needs the
greatest autonomy to make its actions effective, the pope concedes
privileges which may seem exorbitant to other religious Orders.
By their Constitutions, the Jesuits were exempt from the cloistered rule
which applied to monastic life in general. In fact, they are monks living "in
the world" and, outwardly, nothing distinguishes them from the secular
clergy. But, contrary to this and other religious congregations, they are not
subjected to the bishop's authority. As early as 1545, a bull of Paul II
enabled them to preach, hear confession, dispense the sacraments, and say
mass; in short, exercise their ministry without having to refer to the bishop The
solemnisation of marriages is the only thing they are not allowed to
perform.
They have the power to give absolution, change vows for others which are
easier to fulfil, or even cancel them.
Mr Gaston Bally writes:
"The general's power concerning absolution and dispensations is even wider.
He can lift all punishment inflicted on the members of the Society before or after
them entering the Order, absolve all their sins, even the sin of heresy and
schism, the falsification of apostolic writings, etc... "The general absolves, in
person or through a delegate, all those who are under his obedience, of the
unhappy state arising from excommunication, suspension or interdict, provided
these censures were not inflicted for excesses so enormous that others, beside
the papal tribunal, knew about them.
He also absolves the irregularity issuing, from bigamy, injuries done to
others, murder, assassination... as long as these wicked deeds were not publicly
known and the cause of a scandal".(19) Gaston Bally: "Les Jesuites" (Chambery, Imprimerie Nouvelle, 1902, pp.11-13). (20)
Gaston Bally, op.cit., pp.9-10, 16-17. (21) Pierre Dominique, op.cit., p.37.)
Finally, Gregory XIII bestowed on the Company the right to deal in
commerce and banking, a right it made use of extensively later on.
These dispensations and unprecedented powers were fully guaranteed to
them.
"The popes called even upon princes and kings to defend these privileges; they
threatened with the great excommunication "latae sententiae" all those who
would try to infringe them. In 1574, a bull of Pius V gave the general the right to
restore these privileges to their original scope, against all tempts to alter or
curtail them, even if such curtailments were authoritatively documented by
papal revocation... By granting the Jesuits such exorbitant privileges which run
counter to the Church's antiquated constitution, the papacy wanted, not only to
supply them with powerful weapons to fight the "Infidels", but especially use
them as a bodyguard to defend her own unrestricted power in the Church and
against the Church". "To preserve the spiritual and temporal supremacy they
usurped during the middle ages, the popes sold the Church to the Order of Jesus
and, in consequence, surrendered themselves into their hands... If the papacy
was supported by the Jesuits, the whole existence of the Jesuits depended on the
spiritual and temporal supremacy of the papacy. In that way, the interests of
both parties were intimately bound together".(20)
But this select cohort needed secret auxiliaries to dominate civil society: this
role fell on those affiliated to the Company called Jesuits. "Many important
people were connected in that way with the Society: the emperors Ferdinand II
and Ferdinand III, Sigismond III, king of Poland, who had officially belonged to
the Company; Cardinal Infant, a duke of Savoy. And these were not the least
useful".(21)
It is the same today; the 33,000 official members of the Society operate all
over the world in the capacity of her personnel, officers of a truly secret army
containing in its ranks heads of political parties, high ranking officials,
generals, magistrates, physicians, Faculty professors, etc., all of them striving
to bring about, in their own sphere, "l'Opus Dei", God's work, in reality the
plans of the papacy.
Section II
The Jesuits in Europe during the 16th and
17th centuries
Chapter 1
Italy, Portugal, Spain
"France", wrote Mr. Boehmer, "is the cradle of the Society of Jesus, but in
Italy it received its programme and constitution. Therefore in Italy it first took
root and from there it spread abroad".(1 ) H. Boehmer, op.cit., p.82.)
The author notes the increasing number of colleges and Jesuit academies
(128 and 1680); "but", says he, "the history of Italian civilisation during the
16h and 17th centuries shows the results of it most strikingly. If a welllearned
Italy thus embraced again the faith and ordinances of the Church,
received a new zeal for asceticism and missions, composed again pious
poems and hymns for the Church, dedicated conscientiously the painters'
brushes and sculptors' chisels to exalt the religious ideal, is it not because
the cultivated classes were instructed in Jesuits' colleges and
confessionals?"(2) and (3) Boehmer, op.cit., p.82-83.)
Gone were "childish simplicity, joy, vivacity and the simple love of
nature..."
The Jesuits' pupils are far too clerical, devout, absorbed to preserve
these qualities. They are taken up with ecstatic visions and illuminations;
they literally get drunk with the paintings of frightful mortifications and
the martyrs' atrocious torments; they need the pomp, glittering and
theatrical. From the end of the 16th century on, Italian art and literature
reproduce faithfully this moral transformation... The restlessness, the
ostentation, the shocking claim which characterise the creations of that
period promote a feeling of repulsion instead of sympathy for the beliefs
they are supposed to interpret and glorify".(3)
It is the mark sui generis of the Company. This love for the distorted,
finicky, glittering, theatrical could seem strange amongst mystics formed by
the "Spiritual Exercises" if we did not detect in it this essentially Jesuitical aim to impress the mind. It is an application of the maxim: "The end justifies the means" applied with perseverance by the Jesuits in the arts, literature as well as politics and morals.
Italy had been hardly touched by the Reformation. Nevertheless, the
Waldenses, who had survived since the middle ages in spite of persecutions
and established themselves in the north and south of the peninsula, joined the
Calvinist Church in 1532. On a report from the Jesuit Possevino, Emmanuel
Philibert of Savoy launched another bloody persecution against his
"heretic" subjects in 1561. The same thing happened in Calabria, at Casal
di San Sisto and Guardia Fiscale. "The Jesuits were implicated in these
massacres; they were busy converting the victims..."(4) J. Huber, op.cit., p. 165.)
As for Father Possevino: "... he followed the Catholic army as their
chaplain, and recommended the extermination by fire of the heretic pastors as a
necessary and holy act".(5) H. Boehmer, op.cit., p.89.)
The Jesuits were all powerful in Parma, at the court of the Farnese, as well
as in Naples during the 16th and 17th centuries. But in Venice, where they had
been loaded with favours, they were banished on the 14th of May 1606, "as
the most faithful servants and spokesmen of the pope..."
They were nevertheless allowed to return in 1656, but their influence in the
Republic was to be from now on but a shadow of the one they had in the
past. Portugal was a choice country for the Order. "Already under John III
(1521-1559), it was the most powerful religious community in the
kingdom".(6) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.85, 86, 87, 88.)
Its influence grew even more after the revolution of 1640
which put the Braganza on the throne. "Under the first king of the house of
Braganza, Father Fernandez was a member of the government and, under the
minority of Alphonse VI, the counsellor most heeded by the regent Queen
Louise. Father de Ville was successful in overthrowing Alphonse VI in 1667,
and Father Emmanuel Fernandez was made a deputy to the "Cortes" in
1667 by the new King Peter II... In spite of the fact that the Fathers were
not fulfilling any public duty in the kingdom, they were more powerful in
Portugal than in any other country. Not only were they spiritual
advisers to all the royal family, but the king and his minister consulted
them in all important circumstances. From one of their own testimonies,
we know that not one place in the administration of the State and Church
could be obtained without their consent; so much so that the clergy, the
high classes and the people contended with each other to win their favours
and approval. Foreign politics were also under their influence. Any
sensible man would see that such a state of affairs was unprofitable to the good of the kingdom".(7) and (8) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.85, 86, 87, 88.)
In fact, we can see the results by the decadent state into which this
unfortunate land fell. All the energy and perspicacity of the marquess of
Pombal, in the middle of the 18th century, were needed to tear Portugal out of
the Order's deadly grip.
In Spain, the Order's penetration was slower. The higher clergy and the
Dominicans opposed it for a long time. The sovereigns themselves, Charles V
and Philip II, while accepting their services, distrusted these soldiers of the
pope and feared encroachments on their authority. But, with much craftiness,
the Order eventually defeated this resistance. "During the 17th century, they
are all-powerful in Spain, among the high classes and at Court. Even
Father Neidhart, former German cavalry officer, fully governed the
kingdom as Counsellor of State, prime minister and Grand Inquisitor... In
Spain as in Portugal, the kingdom's ruin coincided with the rise of the
Order..."(8)
This is what Edgar Quinet had to say about it:
"Wherever a dynasty dies, I can see, rising up and standing behind her, a
kind of bad genie, one of those dark figures that are the confessors, gently
and paternally luring her towards death..."(9) Michelet et Quinet, op.cit., p.259.)
Indeed, one cannot impute Spain's decadence to this Order only.
"Nevertheless, it is true that the Company of Jesus, together with the
Church and other religious orders, hastened her fall; the richer the Order
became, the poorer Spain was, so much so that when Charles II died, the
State's coffers did not even contain the necessary amount to pay for 10,000
masses usually said for the salvation of a deceased monarch's soul."( 1 0 ) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.85, 86, 87, 88.)
Chapter 2
Germany
"It was not southern Europe, but central Europe: France, Holland,
Germany, Poland, which were the site for that historical struggle between
Catholicism and Protestantism. So these countries were the main fields of
battle for the Society of Jesus." (11) and (12) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.89, 104, ,112, 114. (13) Rene
Fulop-Miller, op.cit., II, pp.98, 102.)
The situation was particularly grave in Germany. "Not only notorious
pessimists, but also thinking and wise Catholics considered the old church's
cause in all German lands as almost lost. In fact, even in Austria and
Bohemia, the break with Rome was so general that the Protestants could
reasonably hope to conquer Austria within a few decades. Then how is it this
change did not take place and the country was divided into two sections
instead? The Catholic party, at the close of the 16th century, had no
hesitation in answering this question, for it always acknowledged that the
Witelsbach, Habsburg and Jesuits were responsible for this happy turn of
events."(12)
Rene Fulop-Miller wrote about the Jesuits' role in these events: "The
Catholic cause could hope for a real success only if the Fathers were able to
influence and guide the princes, at all times and in all circumstances. The
confessionals offered the Jesuits the means to secure a lasting political
influence, therefore an effectual action" .(13)
In Bavaria, the young duke Albert V, son of a zealous Catholic and
educated at Ingolstadt, the old Catholic city, called on the Jesuits to
combat effectively the heresy:
"On the 7th of July 1556, 8 Fathers and 12 Jesuit teachers entered
Ingolstadt. It was the start of a new era for Bavaria... the State itself
received a new Seal.... the Roman Catholic conceptions directed the politics of
princes and the behaviour of the high classes. But this new spirit got hold of the higher classes only. It did not gain the hearts of ordinary people...
Nevertheless, under the iron discipline of the State and the restored Church, they
again became devout Catholics, docile, fanatic, and intolerant towards any
heresy..."
"It may seem excessive to attribute such prodigious virtues and actions to a mere
handful of strangers. Yet, in these circumstances, their force was in inverse ratio to
their numbers and they were immediately effective as no obstacles were met.
Loyola's emissaries won the country's heart and mind from the start... From the
next generation on, Ingolstadt became the perfect type of the german Jesuit
city".(14) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.89, 104, 112, 114. (15)
Rene Fulop-Miller, op.cit., II, pp.98, 102. (16) H.
Boehmer, op.cit., pp.89, 104, 112, 114.) One can judge the state of mind the Fathers introduced to this
stronghold of faith by reading the following:
"The Jesuit Mayrhofer of Ingolstadt taught in his "Preacher's mirror": "We will not
be judged if we demand the killing of Protestants, any more than we would by
asking for the death penalty on thieves, murderers,
counterfeiters and revolutionaries."(15)
The successors of Albert V, and especially Maximilian I (1597-1651), completed
his work. But Albert V already was conscientious in his "duty" of assuring his
subjects' "salvation".
"As soon as the Fathers arrived in Bavaria, his attitude towards Protestants and
those favourable to them became more severe. From 1563 on, he pitilessly
expelled all recalcitrants, and had no mercy for the anabaptists who had to suffer
drownings, fire, prison and chains, all of which were praised by the Jesuit
Agricola... In spite of all this, a whole generation of men had to disappear before
the persecution was crowned a complete success. As late as 1586, the moravian
anabaptists managed to hide 600 victims from the duke Guillaume. This one
example proves that there were thousands and not hundreds who were driven out,
an awful breach into a thinly populated country.
"But", said Albert V to the Munich City council, "God's honour and the salvation
of souls must be placed above any temporal interests". 16)
Little by little, all teaching in Bavaria was placed in the Jesuits' hands, and that
land became the base for their penetration in eastern, western and northern
Germany.
"From 1585 on, the Fathers converted the part of Westphalia depending on
Cologne; in 1586, they appear in Neuss and Bonn, one of Cologne's archbishop's
residences; they open colleges at Hildesheim in 1587 and Munster in 1588. This
particular one already had 1300 pupils in 1618... A large part of western Germany
was reconquered in that way by Catholicism, thanks to the Wittelsbach and Jesuits.
"The alliance between the Wittelsbach and Jesuits was maybe even more
important for the "Austrian lands" than for western Germany".(17) and (18) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.117, 120. (19) J.
Huber, op.cit., pp. 180-183.)
The archduke Charles of Styrie, last son of emperor Ferdinand, married
in 1571 a Bavarian princess "who brought into Gratz castle the narrow
Catholic tendencies and the friendship for the Jesuits which prevailed at the
Court of Munich". Under her influence, Charles worked hard to "extirpate the
heresy" from his kingdom and when he died, in 1590, he made his son and
successor, Ferdinand, swear that he would go on with this work. In any case,
Ferdinand was well prepared for this. "For five years, he had been a pupil of
the Jesuits at Ingolstadt; besides, he was so narrow-minded that, to him,
there was no nobler task than the reestablishment of the Catholic Church in
his hereditary States. That this task was advantageous or not to his lands was
of no concern to Him. "I prefer", said he, "to reign over a country in ruins,
than over one which is damned". (18)
In 1617, the archduke Ferdinand was crowned king of Bohemia by the
emperor. "Influenced by his Jesuit confessor Viller, Ferdinand started at once
to combat Protestantism in his new kingdom. This signalled the start of that
bloody war of religion which, for the next thirty years, kept Europe in
suspense. When, in 1618, the unhappy events in Prague gave the signal for
open rebellion, the old emperor Mathias tried at first to compromise, but he
did not have enough power to make his intentions prevail against king
Ferdinand, who was dominated by his Jesuit confessor; so, the last hope to
settle this conflict amicably was lost". "At the same time, the lands of Bohemia
had taken special measures and solemnly decreed that all Jesuits should be
expelled, as they saw in them promoters of civil war".(19)
Soon after, Moravia and Silesie followed this example, and Protestants of
Hungary, where the Jesuit Pazmany ruled with a rod of iron, rebelled also.
But the battle of the White Mountain (1620) was won by Ferdinand, who had
been made emperor again after the death of Mathias.
"The Jesuits persuaded Ferdinand to inflict the most cruel punishment on
the rebels; Protestantism was rooted out of the whole country by means too
terrible for words... At the end of the war, the country's material ruin was
complete".
"The Jesuit Balbinus, Bohemia's historian, wondered how there could still
be some inhabitants left in that country. But moral ruin was even more
terrible... The flourishing culture found amongst the nobles and middle
classes, the rich national literature which could not be replaced: all this had been
destroyed, and even nationality had been abolished. Bohemia was open to the Jesuits' activities and they burned Czech literature en-masse; under their influence, even the name of the nation's great saint: John Huss, gradually
grew dimmer until it was extinct in the hearts of the people... "The height of the
Jesuits' power", said Tomek, "coincided with the country's greatest decadence in
her national culture; it is because of the influence that Order had, that this
unfortunate land's awakening came about one century too late..."
"When the Thirty Years War came to an end, and a peace was concluded assuring
German Protestants the same political rights enjoyed by the Catholics, the Jesuits
did their uttermost to continue the fighting; it was in vain".(20) Rene Fulop-Miller, op.cit., II, pp. 104-105.)
But they obtained from their student Leopold the First, then reigning
emperor, the promise to persecute the Protestants in his own lands, and
especially in Hungary. "Escorted by imperial dragoons, the Jesuits
undertook this work of conversion in 1671. The Hungarians rose to action and
started a war which was to last for nearly a whole generation... But that
insurrection was victoroius, under the leadership of Francis Kakoczy. The
victor wanted to drive the Jesuits out of all the countries which fell under his
power; but influencial protectors of the Order managed to adjourn these
measures, and the expulsion did not take place until 1707...
"Prince Eugene blamed, with a harsh frankness, the politics of the
imperial house and the intrigues of the Jesuits in Hungary. He wrote:
"Austria nearly lost Hungary because of their persecuting of the
Protestants". One day, he bitterly exclaimed that the morals of the Turks
were far superior to those of the Jesuits, in practice at least. "Not only do they
want to dominate consciences, but also to have the right of life and death over
men".
"Austria and Bavaria reaped the fruits of Jesuit domination in full: the
compression of all progressive tendencies and the systematic stultification of
the people".
"The deep misery which followed the war of religion, the powerless
politics, the intellectual decadence, the moral corruption, a frightful
decrease in the population and impoverishment of the whole of Germany:
these were the results of the Order's actions".(21) J. Huber, op.cit., pp.183-186.)
________
The Catholic Church hierarchy - especially Eugenio Pacelli, before and after he became Pope Pius XII - aided the Nazis. Indeed, Pacelli and the Church played a central role in making Hitler the dictator of Germany.
Chapter 3
Switzerland
It was only during the 17th century that the Jesuits succeeded in
establishing themselves successfully in Switzerland, after having been
called, then banished, by a few cities of the Confederation, during the
second half of the 16th century.
The archbishop of Milan, Charles Borromee, who had favoured their
installation at Lucerne in 1578, soon realised what the results of their
actions would be, as we are reminded by J. Huber: "Charles Borromee
wrote to his confessor that the Company of Jesus, governed by heads more
political than religious, is becoming too powerful to preserve the necessary
moderation and submission... She rules over kings and princes, and
governs temporal and spiritual affairs; the pious institution has lost the
spirit which animated her originally; we shall be compelled to abolish
it".(22) J. Huber op.cit., p.131.)
At the same time in France, the famous legal expert Etienne Pasquiet
wrote: "Introduce this Order in our midst and, at the same time, you will
introduce dissension, chaos and confusion".(23) Cite by H. Fulop-Miller: "Les Jesuites et le secret de leur puissance" (Plon, Paris 1933 p.57)
Is it not this identical complaint heard over and over again, and in all
countries, against the Company? It was the same in Switzerland, when the
evidence of her evil deeds broke through the flattering appearances with
which she excelled in covering herself.
"Wherever the Jesuits managed to take root, they seduced great and
small, young and old. Very soon, the authorities would start consulting
them in important circumstances; their donations started flowing in, and it
was not long before they occupied all the schools, the pulpits of most
churches, the confessionals of all high ranking and influential people Confessors looking after the education of all classes of Society, counsellors and intimate friends of members of the Council, their influence grew day after day, and they did not wait long before exercising it in public affairs. Lucerne and Fribourg were their main centres; from there, they conducted the exterior
politics of most Catholic cantons...
Protestantism in Switzerland was assured of the Jesuits' full support...
"In 1620, they were successful in making the Catholic population of the
Veltlin rise against the Protestants and they slaughtered six hundred. The
pope gave indulgence to all those who took part in that horrible deed.
"In 1656, they kindled civil war between members of the various
confessions... Later again a new war of religion was started by the Jesuits.
"In 1712, peace was being discussed in Aarau; Lucerne and Uri had just
accepted it when the Jesuits, on an order from Rome, did all they could to
reverse things. They refused absolution to all those who would hesitate to
take up arms. They proclaimed loudly from their pulpits that one was not
obliged to keep his word, when it was given to heretics; they made moderate
councillors to suspect, tried to remove them from their posts and provoked,
in Lucerne, such a threatening uprising of the people against the
government that the supreme authority resigned herself to break the peace.
The Catholics were defeated in the fight which followed and signed an
ponerous peace. Since that time, the Order's influence in Switzerland became smaller and
smaller".(24) J. Huber, op.cit., pp.188 ss.)
Today, article 51 of the Swiss constitution forbids the Society of Jesus to hold any cultural or educative activity on the territory of the Confederation, and efforts made to abolish this rule have always been defeated.
Poland and Russia
Jesuit domination was nowhere as deadly as it was in Poland. This is
proved by H. Boehmer, a moderate historian who does not bear any
systematic hostility towards the Society.
"The Jesuits were entirely responsible for Poland's annihilation. The
accusation so worded is excessive. The decadence of the Polish State had
started before they came on the scene. But they undoubtedly hastened the
kingdom's decomposition. Of all the States, Poland, who had millions of
orthodox Christians in her midst, should have had religious tolerance as one
of the most essential principles of her interior politics. The Jesuits did not
allow that. They did worse: they put Poland's exterior politics at the service
of Catholic interests in a fatal manner".(25) H. Boehmer, op.cit., p.135.)
This was written at the end of the last century; it is very similar to what
Colonel Beck, former Polish Foreign-Affairs minister from 1932 to 1939
said after the 1939-1945 war:
"The Vatican is one of the main causes of the tragedy of my country. I
realised too late that we had pursued our foreign politics just to serve the
interests of the Catholic Church".(26) Declaration of the 6th of February 1940.)
So, with several centuries in-between, the same disastrous influence has
made its mark once again on that unfortunate nation.
In 1581 already, Father Possevino, pontifical legate in Moscow, has
done his best to bring together the Czar Ivan the Terrible and the Roman
Church. Ivan was not strictly against it. Full of glad hopes, Possevino made
himself, in 1584, the mediator of the peace of Kirewora Gora between
Russia and Poland, a peace which saved Ivan from inextricable difficulties
This is just what the crafty sovereign had hoped for. There was no more talk of
converting the Russians. Possevino had to leave Russia without having obtained anything. Two years later, an even better opportunity offered itself to the Fathers to get a hold on Russia:
Grischka Ostrepjew, an unfrocked monk, revealed to a Jesuit that he actually was Dimitri, son of Czar Ivan, who had been assassinated; he declared himself ready to subdue Moscow for
Rome if he was master of the Czars' throne. Without thinking it over first, the
Jesuits took it into their hands to introduce Ostrepjew to the Palatine of
Sandomir who gave him his daughter in marriage; they spoke on his behalf
to King Sigismond III and the pope regarding his expectations, and
succeeded in making the Polish army rise against the Czar Boris
Godounov. As a reward for these services, the false Dimitri renounced the
religion of his fathers at Crascovie, one of the Jesuits' houses, and
promised the Order an establishment in Moscow, near the Kremlin, after his
victory over Boris.
"But it was these favours from the catholics which unleashed the hatred of
the Russian Orthodox Church against Dimitri. On the 27th of May 1606,
he was massacred with several hundred Polish followers. Until then, one could
hardly speak of a Russian national sentiment; but now, this feeling was
very strong and took immediately the form of a fanatical hatred for the Roman
Church and Poland.
"The alliance with Austria and the offensive politics of Sigismond III
against the Turks, all of which were strongly encouraged by the Order, were just
as disastrous for Poland. To put it briefly, no other State suffered as much as
Poland did under the Jesuits' domination. And in no other country, apart
from Portugal, was the Society so powerful. Not only did Poland have a
'king of the Jesuits', but also a Jesuit King, Jean-Casimir, a sovereign who had
belonged to the Order before his accession to the throne in 1649...
"While Poland was heading fast towards ruin, the number of Jesuit
establishments and schools was growing so fast that the General made
Poland into a special congregation in 1751 ".(27) H. Boehmer, op.cit., p.135 ss.)
Chapter 5
Sweden and England
"In the Scandinavian countries", wrote Mr. Pierre Dominique,
"Lutheranism submerged everything else and, when the Jesuits made their
counter-attack, they did not find what was found in Germany: a Catholic
party already in the minority, but still strong".(28) Pierre Dominique, op.cit, p.76.)
Their only hope then was in the conversion of the sovereign who was
secretly in favour of Catholicism; also, this king, Jean III Wasa, had
married in 1568 a Polish princess, Catherine, a Roman Catholic. In 1574,
Father Nicolai and other Jesuits were brought to the recently established
school of theology where they became fervent Roman proselytizers, while
officially assuming Lutheranism. Then, the clever negotiator Possevino
secured the conversion of Jean III and the care of educating his son
Sigismond, the future Sigismond III, king of Poland. When the time came to
submit Sweden to the Holy See, the king's conditions: marriage of priests,
use of the vernacular in services and communion in both kinds, all of which
had been rejected by the Roman Curia, brought the negotiations to a dead
end. In any case, the king, who had lost his first wife, had remarried a
Swedish Lutheran. The Jesuits had to leave the country.
"Fifty years later, the Order won another great victory in Sweden. Queen
Christine, daughter of Gustave-Adolphe, the last of the Wasas, was
converted under the teaching of two Jesuit professors, who had managed to
reach Stockholm pretending to be travelling Italian noblemen. But, in order
to change her religion without conflicts, she had to abdicate on the 24th of
June 1654".(29) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.137, 138, 139.)
In England, on the other hand, the situation seemed more faviourable to the
Society and it could hope, for a while at least, to bring this country back under
the Holy See's jurisdiction.
"When Elizabeth came to the throne in 1558, Ireland was still entirely
Catholic and England 50 per cent so... In 1542 already, Salmeron and Broet had
been sent by the pope to survey Ireland".(30) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.137-139.)
Seminaries had been created under the Jesuits' direction in Douai, Pont-a-
Mousson and Rome, with a view to train English, Irish and Scottish
missionaries. In agreement with Philip II of Spain, the Roman Curia
worked at overthrowing Elizabeth in favour of the Catholic Mary Stuart. An
Irish uprising, provoked by Rome, had been crushed. But the Jesuits, who
had arrived in England in 1580, took part in a large Catholic assembly at
Southwark.
"Then, under diverse disguises, they spread from county to county, from
country house to castle. In the evening, they would hear confession; in the
morning, they would preach and give communion, then they would
disappear as mysteriously as they had arrived. For, from the 15th of July,
Elizabeth had proscribed them".(31) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.140-142.)
They printed and distributed secretly virulent pamphlets against the
Queen and the Anglican Church. One of them, Father Campion, was
caught, condemned for high treason and hanged. They also plotted at
Edinburgh to win to their cause King James of Scotland. The result of all
these disturbances was the execution of Mary Stuart in 1587.
Then came the Spanish expedition, the invincible Armada, which made
England tremble for a while and brought about the "sacred union" around
Elizabeth's throne. But the Company pursued none the less her projects and
was training English priests at Valladolid, Seville, Madrid and Lisbon, while
her secret propaganda continued in England under the direction of Father
Garnett. After the Gunpowder Plot against James I, successor of Elizabeth,
this Father Garnett was condemned for complicity and hanged, like Father
Campion.
Under Charles I, then in Cromwell's Commonwealth, other Jesuits paid for
their intrigues with their lives. The Order thought it would triumph under
Charles II who, together with Louis XIV, had concluded a secret treaty at
Dover, pledging to restore Catholicism in the land.
"The nation was not fully informed of these circumstances, but the little that
transpired was enough to create an unbelievable agitation. All
England shuddered before Loyola's spectre and the Jesuits'
conspiracies".(32) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.140, 142. )
A meeting of them in the palace itself brought popular fury to a head.
"Charles II, who enjoyed the life of a king and did not want to go on
another 'journey across the seas', hanged five Fathers for high treason at Tyburn... This did not abate the Jesuits.. However, Charles II was too prudent and too cynical for their liking, always ready to drop them. They thought victory was in sight when James II acceded to the throne. In fact, the king took up Mary Tudor's old game, but used softer means. He pretended
to convert England and established for the Jesuits, at the palace of Savoy, a
college where four hundred students immediately took residence. A
downright camarilla of Jesuits took over the Palace...
"All these combinations were the main cause for the 1688 revolution. The
Jesuits had to go against a stream too powerful. Then, England had twenty
Protestants for each Catholic. The king was overthrown; all the members of
the Company put in prison or banished. For some time, the Jesuits
recommenced their work of secret agents, but it was nothing more than a
futile agitation. They had lost the cause".(33) Pierre Dominique, op.cit, pp.101, 102.)
Sweden and England
"In the Scandinavian countries", wrote Mr. Pierre Dominique,
"Lutheranism submerged everything else and, when the Jesuits made their
counter-attack, they did not find what was found in Germany: a Catholic
party already in the minority, but still strong".(28) Pierre Dominique, op.cit, p.76.)
Their only hope then was in the conversion of the sovereign who was
secretly in favour of Catholicism; also, this king, Jean III Wasa, had
married in 1568 a Polish princess, Catherine, a Roman Catholic. In 1574,
Father Nicolai and other Jesuits were brought to the recently established
school of theology where they became fervent Roman proselytizers, while
officially assuming Lutheranism. Then, the clever negotiator Possevino
secured the conversion of Jean III and the care of educating his son
Sigismond, the future Sigismond III, king of Poland. When the time came to
submit Sweden to the Holy See, the king's conditions: marriage of priests,
use of the vernacular in services and communion in both kinds, all of which
had been rejected by the Roman Curia, brought the negotiations to a dead
end. In any case, the king, who had lost his first wife, had remarried a
Swedish Lutheran. The Jesuits had to leave the country.
"Fifty years later, the Order won another great victory in Sweden. Queen
Christine, daughter of Gustave-Adolphe, the last of the Wasas, was
converted under the teaching of two Jesuit professors, who had managed to
reach Stockholm pretending to be travelling Italian noblemen. But, in order
to change her religion without conflicts, she had to abdicate on the 24th of
June 1654".(29) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.137, 138, 139.)
In England, on the other hand, the situation seemed more faviourable to the
Society and it could hope, for a while at least, to bring this country back under
the Holy See's jurisdiction.
"When Elizabeth came to the throne in 1558, Ireland was still entirely
Catholic and England 50 per cent so... In 1542 already, Salmeron and Broet had
been sent by the pope to survey Ireland".(30) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.137-139.)
Seminaries had been created under the Jesuits' direction in Douai, Pont-a-
Mousson and Rome, with a view to train English, Irish and Scottish
missionaries. In agreement with Philip II of Spain, the Roman Curia
worked at overthrowing Elizabeth in favour of the Catholic Mary Stuart. An
Irish uprising, provoked by Rome, had been crushed. But the Jesuits, who
had arrived in England in 1580, took part in a large Catholic assembly at
Southwark.
"Then, under diverse disguises, they spread from county to county, from
country house to castle. In the evening, they would hear confession; in the
morning, they would preach and give communion, then they would
disappear as mysteriously as they had arrived. For, from the 15th of July,
Elizabeth had proscribed them".(31) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.140-142.)
They printed and distributed secretly virulent pamphlets against the
Queen and the Anglican Church. One of them, Father Campion, was
caught, condemned for high treason and hanged. They also plotted at
Edinburgh to win to their cause King James of Scotland. The result of all
these disturbances was the execution of Mary Stuart in 1587.
Then came the Spanish expedition, the invincible Armada, which made
England tremble for a while and brought about the "sacred union" around
Elizabeth's throne. But the Company pursued none the less her projects and
was training English priests at Valladolid, Seville, Madrid and Lisbon, while
her secret propaganda continued in England under the direction of Father
Garnett. After the Gunpowder Plot against James I, successor of Elizabeth,
this Father Garnett was condemned for complicity and hanged, like Father
Campion.
Under Charles I, then in Cromwell's Commonwealth, other Jesuits paid for
their intrigues with their lives. The Order thought it would triumph under
Charles II who, together with Louis XIV, had concluded a secret treaty at
Dover, pledging to restore Catholicism in the land.
"The nation was not fully informed of these circumstances, but the little that
transpired was enough to create an unbelievable agitation. All
England shuddered before Loyola's spectre and the Jesuits'
conspiracies".(32) H. Boehmer, op.cit., pp.140, 142. )
A meeting of them in the palace itself brought popular fury to a head.
"Charles II, who enjoyed the life of a king and did not want to go on
another 'journey across the seas', hanged five Fathers for high treason at Tyburn... This did not abate the Jesuits.. However, Charles II was too prudent and too cynical for their liking, always ready to drop them. They thought victory was in sight when James II acceded to the throne. In fact, the king took up Mary Tudor's old game, but used softer means. He pretended
to convert England and established for the Jesuits, at the palace of Savoy, a
college where four hundred students immediately took residence. A
downright camarilla of Jesuits took over the Palace...
"All these combinations were the main cause for the 1688 revolution. The
Jesuits had to go against a stream too powerful. Then, England had twenty
Protestants for each Catholic. The king was overthrown; all the members of
the Company put in prison or banished. For some time, the Jesuits
recommenced their work of secret agents, but it was nothing more than a
futile agitation. They had lost the cause".(33) Pierre Dominique, op.cit, pp.101, 102.)
Continuará...
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