1. Establishment and Purpose

The Society of Jesus (Societas Jesu, S.J.), officially established in 1540, traces its origin to the coming together of Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) and six of his companions who had been influenced by his Spiritual Exercises: Nicolás Bobadilla (1507–90), Pierre Favre (1506–46), Diego Laínez (1512–65), Simão Rodrigues (d. 1579), Alfonso Salmerón (1515–85), and Fran…