Background

Spain’s “Glorious Revolution” of 1868 deposed Queen Isabella II and installed a provisional government amid sharp political and social unrest. In the turmoil, long-standing suspicion toward religious orders resurfaced, especially toward the Society of Jesus, known for schools, preaching, spiritual direction, and missionary work.

The Decree of October 12, 1868

On October 12, 1868, the provisional government ordered the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain. Priests and brothers were compelled to leave residences, churches, and classrooms with little time to prepare. Civil authorities seized or reassigned properties, and communities that had quietly served for generations found themselves suddenly uprooted.

Disrupted Works

Jesuit colleges and houses of formation were among the most visible losses, along with ministries of confession, catechesis, and organized charity. In cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, and in regions where Jesuit devotion was woven into local life—near places associated with Ignatius of Loyola—families felt the absence in practical ways: closed classrooms, scattered mentors, and interrupted care for the poor. Yet many lay believers stepped forward to preserve instruction in the faith, keep prayer gatherings alive, and support displaced clergy with shelter and provisions.

Exile and Witness

Expelled Jesuits often traveled to France, Italy, Belgium, Britain, or across the Atlantic, joining existing houses or beginning new apostolates among Spanish-speaking communities. Under the leadership of the wider order, including Superior General Pieter Jan Beckx, they sought stability without losing zeal—teaching in borrowed rooms, preaching in unfamiliar parishes, and offering spiritual counsel to fellow exiles. Their scattering echoed the pattern of the early Church: “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” (Acts 8:4)

Enduring Lessons

The event remains a sober reminder that political winds can change overnight, but the calling of Christ does not. Many endured loss without bitterness, practicing patience, obedience, and hope. Scripture steadied them: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Their quiet perseverance testifies that faithful labor, offered in humility, is never wasted, even when it must begin again in exile.