Feast of St Joseph Pignatelli (d 1811) “second founder” of the Society of Jesus. He was among the Spanish #Jesuits roused by soldiers after midnight on 4/2/1767 to learn that all Jesuits were to be expelled from Spain. The same had occurred in Portugal and later France.

The total suppression of the Society followed in 1769 when Pope Clement XIV, under pressure from Bourbon princes, disbanded the Society. At once 23,000 Jesuit priests were dispensed from their religious vows. There was an anomaly. The decree had to be delivered to each community.

Empress Catherine the Great refused to allow bishops in White Russia to deliver the brief. Thus, in this corner of Europe the Jesuits survived. Pignatelli received permission to affiliate with this province. Thus, without setting foot in Russia he became the only Jesuit in Italy.