Jesuits

Cultural  

1. A religious order of men in the Roman Catholic Church; its official name is the Society of Jesus. Founded by Ignatius of Loyola in the sixteenth century, the society became the spearhead of the Counter Reformation.

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The Jesuit order has a long tradition of vigorous missionary work and of intellectual and scholarly achievement. The Jesuits have also been known historically for their influence, often behind the scenes, in European politics and for their skill and resourcefulness in debate — characteristics that have sometimes led people to mistrust them. In recent years, they have become better known as free-ranging thinkers on religious and political questions.

Example Sentences

Jesuits were historically looked on with suspicion by Rome.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2025

A diligent student, he studied to be a chemist in college but decided instead to join the Jesuits, the highly intellectual order known for its focus on education and its engagement with gritty real-world situations.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2025

"It's time to go forward," he asserts, quoting Father Frans, who he says inspired him to join the Jesuits.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2024

Jurado was near a painting of Maria del Camino — Our Lady of the Way, the patron saint of the Jesuits who run Dolores Mission.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 12, 2024

Run by the Jesuits, it had a reputation for helping immigrant and working- class kids through the hurdles of college.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz