Spain Felt Its Farthest Colony Needed, Not Costly Military Force, But The Jesuits.

Roots

By Jose S. Arcilla S.J.

150 years of Jesuit presence

Charles III of Spain (1759- 88), a crowned head proud to be enlightened but despotic, signed away the Jesuits in all his dominions in 1767, for "weighty reasons he was locking away in his royal breast."

Six years later, political intrigue pressured the Pope to suppress the Society of Jesus an earlier Pope had approved. Those bright boys are no more, but the Society of Jesus, "the King’s good servants, but God’s first; God’s above all," resurrected to life in 1814. Today, the Jesuits all over the world continue to serve God and His people, by teaching them "letras y doctrina cristiana."

At the time, Spain felt its farthest colony needed, not costly military force, but the Jesuits. The military could conquer, but only the missionaries could win hearts. In 1859, the Jesuits were back in the country, and people were not disappointed.

Link (here)

Painting is of Charles the III