JESUITS ...


The religious Order of the Jesuits was founded
by IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA (1495-1556).

Through preaching and education and with the help
of the fanatic catholic Spanish and Austrian
Hapsburgs the influence of the Jesuits grew strongly
at the end of the 16th and during the 17th century.

They fought fiercely against spreading of the
religious reformation (Protestantism, Calvinism ...);
they were very active in Spain, in Italy, in the
southern Netherlands, in the new Spanish colonies.

The Order not only tried to convince by the Word: it also succeeded in
bringing back people to catholicism through the splendour of their churches ...

In Antwerp too the Jesuits had a monastery and
a high school at the end of the 16th century.
In 1615 their own VERY CAPABLE ARCHITECTS
started to build a large new monastery and a somptuous
Baroque church (above), at first dedicated to Mary,
later (1622) also to Saint Ignatius.

This founder of the Order was then canonised together with another important Jesuit,
Franciscus Xaverius. At that occasion the Order asked Rubens to paint two large
altarpieces for their new Antwerp church in honour of both new saints.
These works were called: "The Miracles by Saint Ignatius"
and "The Miracles by Saint-Franciscus Xaverius".

This rich Baroque church, now called SAINT CHARLES BORROMEUS,
is very appreciated by Antwerp inhabitants also practising other, or no religion
at all, because of the
excellent musical accompaniment of the high mass on sundays.

Planning a VISIT to Antwerp ?
Do you want to be guided and get a lot of explanation ?
Then contact this email-address.

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Latest update 28 December 1997.

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