| − | A Christian religious order of the Catholic Church founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. This religious order is better known by the name "Jesuits". It founded many schools, including Fordham University in the Bronx, New York, and Georgetown University in D.C. | + | '''The Society of Jesus'''. A [[Christian]] religious order of the [[Catholic]] Church founded by [[Saint Ignatius of Loyola]] on August 15, 1534. This religious order is better known by the name "Jesuits" ("Soldiers of Christ"). The Order is the largest of men in the Catholic Church. It has presence is 112 nations on six continents with over 20,000 members, working in the fields of education, intellectual research, cultural pursuits, missionary work, human rights and social justice. It founded many schools in the US, including Fordham University in the Bronx, New York, and in D.C. In the world it has about 56 university centers and 400,000 |
| | + | The spirituality practiced by the Jesuits, called ''Ignatian spirituality'', is based on the Catholic faith and the [[Gospels]]. The purpose of St. Ignatius's "Spiritual Exercises" is to conquer oneself and to regulate one's life, based solely on the discern of God's will, who is ever active in people's lives. |