How did the society of jesus combat the influence of protestantism?

Answer 1

The Jesuits infiltrated influential classes of society to lead people back to Roman Catholicism. It was said ( Angelo Nicolini ) they were "despotic in Spain, constitutional in England, republican in Paraguay, bigot in Rome, idolater in India".

Loyola's plan of operation was to have his emissaries enter new fields in a humble way as workers of charity, and then begin to educate the children and youth. After gaining the good will of the higher classes of society, they would, through their influence, secure positions as confessors to the royal families, and advisers of civil rulers. These Jesuit Fathers had been skilfully trained to take every advantage of such positions to influence civil rulers and direct them in the interest of the Roman church, and to instill in them, that it was their sacred duty to act as worthy sons of the Church by purging their country from heresy. And when war against "heretics" commenced, the Jesuits would not consent to any truce till Protestantism was completely wiped out. A M Renwick - The story of the Church p 149.

"……..within a short time after the foundation of the order, the Jesuits were acting as spiritual directors at the courts of Europe, as preachers in the most remote primeval forests, as political conspirators, disguised and in constant danger of death; thus they had a thousand opportunities to employ their talents, their cleverness, their knowledge of the world, and even their cunning"-"The Power and Secret of the Jesuits," Rene Fulop-Miller p. 26.

Another area where the Jesuits sought to compete against the Protestant states early was in the securing of lucrative trade routes. Thanks to Pope Gregory XIII, the Jesuits were the only religious Order with the power to conduct commerce and banking.

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