2 Quotes & Sayings By Lorenzo Scupoli

Lorenzo Scupoli (1538 – 1616) was a Jesuit and a noted theologian and philosopher of the Counter-Reformation. He was born and studied in Bologna and at Padua, where he became a Dominican. At the age of twenty-six, Scupoli went to Rome where he became Master of novices at the Jesuit College of St. Paul Read more

In 1560, after the death of Ignatius de Loyola, he left Rome and returned to Bologna where he was soon appointed director of the college. He later served as rector of the major Jesuit colleges in Spoleto, Ferrara, Ancona, Mantua, Florence, Naples, Forlì, Ravenna, Brescia, Pavia, Trento, Verona and several other Italian cities. In 1585 he was made Provincial Superior for the whole order in Italy. The Society of Jesus is an international Catholic religious order founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1534 to provide an alternative to the more rigid institutions that then existed throughout Europe.

The Jesuits are organized into society chapters or provinces that are each headed by a Father General who governs an extensive network of provincial ministries. The Society's mission is "to follow the Gospel mission of Christ Jesus" by "promoting Christianity through teaching and service." It operates schools around the world and has many affiliated apostolic works. Since its founding over five hundred years ago, the Society has grown into one of the largest global institutions in existence today with approximately six thousand members in over one hundred countries around the world. The Jesuit Concept is based on that enunciated by Saint Ignatius Loyola during his Spiritual Exercises: "The King must have many soldiers but only one heart; soldiers must be men trained for war but servants dedicated to God; servants must live like soldiers, prepared for any eventuality; soldiers must love their king but obey their commander; servants must be ready at all times to sacrifice themselves for their master; soldiers may not take life...

Servants must be willing to die rather than fail to do what they know God wants them to do."