The forced exile of the Jesuit Community from Girona

Abstract

The expulsion of Jesuits from all the territories of the Hispanic Monarchy had repercussions for the modern Catholic world. The regular clergy of the Society of Jesus were taken from their homes and colleges because they were considered hostages of “lèse-majesté” by King Charles III of Spain, as well as having earned the penalty of banishment. This paper explains how the Jesuits from the College of Girona in Sant Martí suffered a bitter exile, first in Corsica and then in Italy. Their expulsion is seen as an exemplary measure, demonstrating the power of the state over the Church from a political point of view. However, from a human perspective there are several aspects involving genuine drama in the lives of these religious members after their expulsion. Here we focus on both perspectives: the first being the most widely studied while the second, forming part of the criteria applied by the so-called “history of emotions”, provides a historiographical perspective that is becoming increasingly popular within historical studies.

Keywords: Jesuits, Girona, expulsion, Bunifazziu, Ferrara.