Long before the term was invented, the Jesuits lived in a globalised world. They defined themselves, not by any particular place or specific ministry, but by a universal outreach. They were ready to go wherever the needs were great and the opportunities promising. What they were to do when they arrived remained to be discovered, depending on what they found. Adaptability became their hallmark. From early on, the Jesuits spread rapidly, not just throughout Europe, but far beyond as well: to the Far East, starting with Francis Xavier in 1540, and then to North and South America, to Africa and eventually to Australasia. In their reports to Rome, they spoke about the different situations they faced, their successes and failures, their frustrations and hopes. These accounts were frequently circulated among their colleagues, and their stories proved inspiring to many people, Jesuits and others. This little volume tells the stories of a few of these Jesuits, from different continents and eras, in the hope that their commitment and struggles will prove inspirational once again today, in our globalised world.
