The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) was the “special forces” of the Catholic Counter-Reformation. They were the first truly global organization.
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The “Fourth Vow”: While other monks took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, Jesuits took a fourth: direct obedience to the Pope regarding missions. This made them a mobile, rapid-response unit.
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The Strategy of “Infiltration”: They didn’t preach to the poor on the streets; they went for the top of the pyramid. They became the confessors and tutors to the kings of Europe. By shaping the mind of the future King, they shaped the policy of the Kingdom.
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Syncretism (Integration): In China and India, Jesuits like Matteo Ricci practiced “inculturation.” They dressed like Mandarin scholars and used science (astronomy and clocks) to gain entry to the Emperor’s court. They were the world’s first “cultural diplomats.”