Feast of St Joseph Pignatelli (d 1811) “second founder” of the Society of Jesus. He was among the Spanish #Jesuits roused by soldiers after midnight on 4/2/1767 to learn that all Jesuits were to be expelled from Spain. The same had occurred in Portugal and later France.
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The total suppression of the Society followed in 1769 when Pope Clement XIV, under pressure from Bourbon princes, disbanded the Society. At once 23,000 Jesuit priests were dispensed from their religious vows. There was an anomaly. The decree had to be delivered to each community.
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Empress Catherine the Great refused to allow bishops in White Russia to deliver the brief. Thus, in this corner of Europe the Jesuits survived. Pignatelli received permission to affiliate with this province. Thus, without setting foot in Russia he became the only Jesuit in Italy.
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In 1804 the Society was restored in Naples. Pignatelli was named provincial, an authority later extended to all of Italy. The full restoration of the Society came in 1814, 3 years after his death in 1811.
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Pope Francis’s new book “Letters of Tribulation” reflects on how the SJ provincials of the time coped with this grave trial, and how their lessons on discernment can help the church respond to the trials of today.
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Looked up and found him, but can't seem to find why Jesuits were expelled from Spain. Do you know and can you answer?
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