What did the Indians call the Jesuits?
Initially the Jesuits, who were often called Blackrobes, were well-liked because of their quiet manners. However, the Indians considered them to be poorly educated and perhaps somewhat retarded as they had little understanding of the spiritual world.
What were the Jesuits known for?
Jesuit, member of the Society of Jesus (S.J.), a Roman Catholic order of religious men founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola, noted for its educational, missionary, and charitable works. The society introduced several innovations in the form of the religious life.
Why did the Jesuits come to America?
Between 1632 and 1650, 46 French Jesuits arrived in North America to preach among the Indians.
What did the Jesuits do in the Americas?
During the 1500s, 1600s, and 1700s, Jesuit missionaries traveled around the world-seeking converts. Many Jesuits came to the New World and engaged in missionary activities among American Indians in the Spanish colonies in Central America and South America, as well as in French colonies in modern-day North America .
Who was the first Jesuit to come to the United States?
The best known of the Great Lakes Jesuits was Jacques Marquette (1637–75), who came to the region in 1668 and is most celebrated for accompanying the explorer Louis Jolliet (1645–1700) on the first French expedition down the Mississippi River in 1673, as far as the Arkansas-Louisiana border.
When did the Jesuits come to North America?
The Jesuit influence in northern North America was significant. The first French missionaries arrived in 1625, and a steady stream followed in later years. Known to native peoples as the Black Robes, the Jesuits concentrated their efforts on the dominant Huron, who probably numbered more than 30,000 at the time.
Who was the first Jesuit Superior in the United States?
The Jesuit mission in the United States dated back to 1634. However, it was not until 1833 that the first province in the United States was established: the Maryland Province. William McSherry was elected as the first provincial superior, whose territory included the entire United States except for the territory of the Missouri mission.
What did the Jesuits bring to the Indians?
While the alcohol issue was being contested, another factor entered the picture — disease. The Jesuits brought with them such European maladies as influenza, smallpox, and measles; the Indians had no natural immunities to those diseases and began dying by the hundreds, later by the thousands.
What did the Jesuits do in the 1900s?
Jesuit colleges and universities began a period of explosive growth as Jesuits sought to educate waves of immigrants. By the early 1900s, Jesuit provinces and institutions were multiplying across the country. Today, American and Canadian Jesuits are still exploring new frontiers.