The book investigates the emergence in Italy between the 16th and 17th centuries of the so-called ‘Jesuitesses’, i.e. congregations of laywomen inspired by the spirituality of the Society of Jesus. Sources in the Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu show that in the early modern period various Jesuit spiritual directors helped many women, especially nobles, to set up communities without eclosure, dedicated to practices of spiritual improvement and educational activities similar to those of their confessors. In addition to providing a census of these congregations, the study examines the innovations of their forma vitae and analyzes the attitudes, at times supportive and at times oppositional, that territorial princes, bishops, Jesuit generals, the Holy Office, Roman congregations, and popes took towards the Jesuitesses.
Catholic University of Sacro Cuore of Milan, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-3456-1215
Book Title
«A maggior gloria di Dio»
Book Subtitle
Le gesuitesse in Italia tra Cinque e Seicento
Authors
Fabio Arlati
Peer Reviewed
Number of Pages
344
Publication Year
2024
Copyright Information
© 2024 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0326-5
ISBN Print
979-12-215-0325-8
eISBN (pdf)
979-12-215-0326-5
eISBN (xml)
979-12-215-0327-2
Series Title
Premio Istituto Sangalli per la storia religiosa
Series ISSN
2704-5749
Series E-ISSN
2612-8071