Within the Company, members undertook up to thirteen years of study and
formation before entering upon their life’s apostolic work. Once his
formation was complete, the Jesuit possessed the armoury that a thorough
knowledge of the natural and spiritual sciences offered. Then, he was in a
position to be the master educator of others.
The Jesuits aimed at reinvigorating education in the Faith at all levels of
society. For those called to be rulers of either Church or State, the Jesuits
founded the Roman and German Colleges in Rome. By the mid-1580’s the
Roman College alone had over 2,100 students. Between the years 1552 and
1750, one Pope, twenty-four Cardinals, twenty-one Archbishops, two
hundred and twenty-one bishops, six Electors of the Holy Roman Empire
and nineteen princes were former graduates of the German College.
For the education of all youth who entered Jesuit schools, the fifth General
of the Order, Father Claudius Aquaviva, devised the Ratio Studiorum (Plan
of Studies). In its day, the Ratio was considered the greatest system of
study ever devised. According to Francis Bacon, “Never has anything more
perfect been invented.” The Ratio produced countless celebrated men in the
fields of science, history, antiquity, mathematics and literature. The
following all studied under this method: Popes Gregory XIII, Benedict
XIV, Pius VII, St. Francis de Sales, the preacher Bossuet, the philosopher
Descartes, generals Don Juan of Austria, Tilly, Wallenstein and Conde, and
Emperors Ferdinand and Maximilian of Austria.
Within the Company of Jesus itself, a plethora of men of academic
distinction was produced. Two of the original Jesuits, Fathers Laynez and
Salmeron, were theologians of such high calibre that they were both
appointed official theologians representing the Holy See at the Council of
Trent. They were allowed to address the Council Fathers for three hours at
a time when the customary limit was one hour. The entire Council was
even suspended on one occasion after Father Laynez became ill. Other
eminent Jesuit scholars and men of outstanding achievement included:
Father Christopher Clavius, the “Christian Euclid,” who assisted in
the revision of the calendar.
Father Suarez, the “Jesuit Aquinas” (called the Doctor Eximius by
Pope Paul V).
Father Cornelius a Lapide, the great Scripture commentator.
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