After the expulsion from their respective countries and the refusal to let them enter Rome, the Jesuits were trapped in intermediate lands such as Corsica. There they awaited their future, hoping to be able to return to their lands of origin. The Spanish monarchy made proposals aimed at breaking up Jesuit unity, for which secularisation of its members was a solution to put an end to the threat of the old order. The king’s commissioners were sent to try to negotiate the abandonment of the habits in exchange for the religious being allowed to return to Spain. For many Jesuits, secularisation was the only way out of the uncertain future they had been facing, since apart from returning to their homeland, they were guaranteed an income to support themselves. In this case, the king would pay them from the property that had been confiscated after their expulsion. However, as the text states, not everyone agreed to give in, and those who agreed to secularisation were accused of being weak in spirit. Roda was against the return of the Jesuits because he continued to see them as dangerous members, highlighting in this fragment the traditional accusations against them, including fanaticism, for which a French king lost his life in the 16th century (Henry IV).
Collection: Texts
Chronology: XVIII
Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University
Link: https://rua.ua.es/dspace/bitstream/10045/28505/1/RHM_21.pdf
Resource type: Historical source
Source: A.G.S., Estado, Leg. 5.046: carta de Roda a Grimaldi, San Ildefonso, 12 de noviembre de 1767
Language: Spanish
Date: 12/11/1767
Owner: Djebril Bouzidi (Modernalia)
Identifier: A.G.S., Estado, Leg. 5.046: carta de Roda a Grimaldi, San Ildefonso, 12 de noviembre de 1767
Abstract: Roda's letter to Grimaldi advising him against returning the Jesuits to Spain after their expulsion
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