Society of Jesus
Proper noun: * The Society of Jesus: A Roman Catholic religious order of clerks regular, founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1534. Its primary historical missions were to defend the Catholic faith against the Reformation and to conduct missionary work. The order is renowned for its strong commitment to education, scholarship, and intellectual life.
- The term "Society of Jesus" is used as the official name of the religious order. Its members are known as Jesuits.
- He decided to join the Society of Jesus and become a priest.
- The university was founded by the Society of Jesus in the 19th century.
- "The Society": When the context is clear within Catholic or academic discussions, it may be referred to simply as "the Society."
- After his studies, he entered the Society.
- Jesuit (n.): A member of the Society of Jesus.
- The Jesuit priest taught philosophy at the college.
- Jesuitical (adj.): Pertaining to the Jesuits or their principles; sometimes used to describe a subtle or casuistic argumentative style historically associated with them.
- He presented a Jesuitical analysis of the ethical dilemma.
- The Jesuits: The common collective name for the members and the order itself.
- Jesuit Order: Another way to refer to the religious community.
The definition emphasizes two core, historically sequential missions of the order: 1. Defensive Mission: Countering the Protestant Reformation. 2. Active Mission: Evangelizing non-Christian populations ("among the heathen"). It also highlights the order's enduring and defining characteristic: a deep commitment to education and scholarship, which is manifested through its network of schools, universities, and publications.
- a Roman Catholic order founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1534 to defend Catholicism against the Reformation and to do missionary work among the heathen; it is strongly committed to education and scholarship