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This Month in Jesuit Catholic History

January 24

Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor, Memorial. He was buried on this day in 1623. Influenced by Jesuits and admirer of Jesuits.

1554. Blessed Joseph Anchieta, a novice, and his Provincial, Nobrega, found the mission of Sao Paulo (city of Sao Paulo) on the vigil of the feast of St. Paul.

1594. Pope Clement VIII addresses the Jesuits at the Professed House in Rome, with the changes he wants. The fathers are thunderstruck. The changes regard the term of office, etc.

1645. Fr. Henry Morse is led a prisoner from Durham to Newgate, London. On hearing his execution was fixed for February lst, he exclaimed: "Welcome ropes, hurdles, gibbets, knives, butchery of an infamous death! Welcome for the love of Jesus, my Savior."

1679. The martyrdom at Tyburn in London of William Ireland, procurator for the English Jesuits. He was falsely accused of plotting to kill the king.

January 25

1540. Edmund Campion B. "The glory and patron of the English Province."

1549. Letter from Xavier at Cochin to Father Simon Rodriguez announcing his fixed resolve to go to Japan, in spite of every danger.

1707. Cardinal Tournon, Papal Visitor of the missions in China, forbade the use of the words Tien or Xant for God, and ordered the discontinuance by the Christians of the Chinese Rites. This was the beginning of the destruction of the mission there.

1918. The death of Fr. Thomas Gannon, S.J., he was appointed three years earlier as the first Assistant for the American Assistancy. Was Provincial of NY and gave America magazine its name.

January 26

1611. The first Jesuit missionaries sail from Europe to New France, Canada.

1616. Close of the Seventh General Congregation. One of its was to refuse support (alimenta enactments ) to members dismissed from the Society.

1761. In France the Duke de Choiseul is made Prime Minister. The Lavalette affair supplied the opportunity he sought to ruin the Society.

1975. Josef Jungmann, S.J. + Liturgist, catechetics. His studies in the history of liturgy contributed towards the reforms of Vatican II.

January 27

407. John Chrysostom +. This has been a traditional feast for Juniors.

1602. The grotto or cave at Manresa, famous in the life of St. Ignatius, became the property of the Society.

1805. The Maryland mission being affiliated to the Society in Russia, Father Robert Molyneux, the First Superior of the Mission, and Father Charles Sewall renew their vows.

1829. The death of Fr. Luigi Fortis, the 20th General of the Society, who led the reconstruction of the Society when it was restored after the Suppression.

1919. One Novice and one Junior die of flu epidemic at St. Andrew on Hudson, New York.

1984. Br. Angelo Mulatti dies in Rome, the last survivor of those who built the Curia on the Borgo Santo Spirito. He also suggested that a statue of the Sacred Heart be erected at the base of the old observatory.

1998. Fr. Edward Malatesta, S.J. dies. He became an expert on China.

January 28

1547. At London the death of Henry VIII, age 56, in the 36th year of his reign. It was during his reign that Fathers Salmeron and Broet went as Papal Nuncios to Scotland and Ireland.

1683. The death of St. Julian Maunoir, known as “the Apostle of Britany” for preaching missions to the poor in the northwest of France for 42 years.

1853. Fr. Gen. John Roothaan, wishing to resign his office, summoned a General Congregation, but died on May 8th, before it assembled.

1957. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps was founded in the United States.

2007. Robert Drinan, S.J. age 86, + lawyer, Congressman, writer, concern for justice.

1957 The Jesuit Volunteer Corps was founded in the United States.

January 29

1688. The death of Ferdinand Verbiest, the successor to Adam Schall as mathematical professor at the imperial court in Peking and superior of the Society in China. He is also credited with designing and operating a steam wagon in 1665, as well as designing cannons for warfare.

1700. At Beijing the Emperor Kang-Hsi, cured of his illness by two Jesuits, gave to each two rolls of silk and fifty ounces of silver.

1770. Clement XIV, to please Carvalho (Pombal) promoted the Marquis' brother Paul, a worthless man, to the dignity of Cardinal; but when the Brief and Hat reached Lisbon, Paul was dead.

1837. Letter to the Minister of the Interior in Belgium announces a new Society of Bollandists is to begin work after the Suppression.

1923. Scholastics at Woodstock keep a fire vigil for several months to prevent the KKK from setting the college on fire.

1979. James J. Mertz, S.J. dies at age 96, a professor, preacher at Loyola University, Chicago.

1997. Stefan Bamberger, S.J. dies at age 74. He organized the first Secretariat on Jesuit Communications.

January 30

1551. As Jesuits are called to Rome to revise the Constitutions, Ignatius writes a letter, offering to resign as Superior General because of health. All reject the resignation except Oviedo.

1633. At Avignon died Father John Pujol, a famous Master of Novices. He ordered one of them to water a dry stick, which miraculously sprouted.

1646. Mary Ward +. She founded the Institute of Mary (Jesuitesses) for apostolic women. This was suppressed and she was imprisoned. This is the date in the New Style Calendar.

1760. At Paris the Society in France was condemned to pay in solidum all the debts of Father Lavalette. Unfortunately, the Fathers appealed on this day to Parliament against the unjust sentence. This proved a fatal step, and led to the destruction of the Society in France by the Duke de Choiseul and the Government.

1841. Augustine Bally, S.J. dies, a missionary to Pennsylvania, especially to the sick. He dies at Goshenhoppen, PA, a town named after him by the people.

1978. Leonard Feeney dies. He was a priest, poet, author. He had been dismissed from the Society in 1949, and excommunicated in 1953. The excommunication was lifted on November 22, 1972.

January 31

1597. John Francis Regis is born in south France.

1615. At Rome died Father Claudius Acquaviva, the fifth General of the Society . He was elected General when only 37 years of age, and in the 13th year of his religious life. He governed it for 34 years with consummate prudence and unflinching courage under most trying circumstances. He is the longest reigning general- for 33 years and 11 months, serving under eight Popes.

1668. Herman Busembaum, S.J. + Moral Theologian, author of Medulla Theologiae Moralis.

1683. The arrival of Fr. Thomas Harvey in the colony of New York. He opened a small school near Wall St. The Jesuits had to leave five years later.

1774. Father Laurence Ricci, General, prisoner in Castel S. Angelo, having claimed his liberty, since his innocence had been fully vindicated, received from the Papal Congregation the reply that they would think about it. Pope Clement XIV was said at this time to be mentally afflicted.

1872. The first issue of the Woodstock Letters appears. A.M. deAugustinis is the editor.

1985. Louis Laurendeau, S.J. dies. He had been the Secretary of the Society of Jesus from l970-83