Society of Jesus Timeline of Events

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Society of Jesus

The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a perception of its members' willingness to go anywhere in the world and live in extreme...

Timeline of Events

1534

8.15.1534

Saint Ignatius of Loyola and six classmates take initial vows, leading to the creation of the Society of Jesus in September 1540.

1540

9.27.1540

The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) receives its charter from Pope Paul III.

1549

8.15.1549

Jesuit priest Saint Francis Xavier comes ashore at Kagoshima (Traditional Japanese date: July 22, 1549).

1989

11.16.1989

A death squad composed of El Salvadoran army troops kills six Jesuit priests and two others at Jose Simeon Canas University.