Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, died in 1556; the Jesuits went on to become the foremost intellectual order of the Counter-Reformation, establishing colleges across Europe and the Americas.

The death of Ignatius of Loyola in 1556 and the subsequent canonization of early Jesuits fostered a rich literary culture across Catholic Europe. Poets like Gerard Manley Hopkins drew inspiration from Jesuit spirituality, infusing their works with themes of contemplation, divine grace, and the transformative power of faith.