The Duke and Duchess of
Anhalt-Köthen converted to
Catholicism in 1825 and asked for a Jesuit chaplain. Beckx was appointed to this duty, and went to live in
Köthen. By giving classes to children in his own house, building a little church and organizing spiritual activities he brought many people back to the Catholic faith. After the death of the Duke of Anhalt-Köthen (in 1830), Beckx went to live in Vienna, where he was the only Jesuit for many years. His powerful sermons gave him fame and
Jan Roothaan, the Superior General, often asked him to negotiate on his behalf the foundation of Jesuit schools:
Graz,
Innsbruck, and
Linz. From time to time he was called to Rome and sent on missions to
Lombardy, Hungary, and
Bavaria. After teaching for a few years Canon Law at the
Roman College in Rome (1842) he was sent to Belgium (1848) and was appointed Rector of the Jesuit theologate in
Leuven (in 1850). But his services were required in Vienna, where the situation for the Jesuits was difficult. In 1852 Roothaan sent him again to Vienna, as provincial, and his chief negotiator.
General Congregation XXII As Provincial of Austria, Beckx attended the
General Congregation of June 1853, called to elect a successor to
Jan Roothaan who had died in March. On 2 July, at the first ballot, Peter Jan Beckx was elected (27 votes out of 51)
Superior General of the Society of Jesus. Four Assistants were also elected. The Congregation also expressed concern at the renewed attacks made against the Jesuits, and advised prudence and tact in defending the Society against its detractors.
Superior General The suppression of the Society made for difficult years for the Jesuits. They were expelled from Russia in 1820, Spain (in 1854 and 1858), from Naples-Sicily (1859), from Germany (1872), from France and French colonies (1880), and even from Rome itself, in 1873, during which time Beckx shifted his headquarters to
Fiesole, near
Florence, where the 'Curia Generalizia' remained until 1895. Beckx wrote a good 15 letters to his Jesuit companions, helping them keeping the spirit alive in the face of often vicious attacks. They are striking by their serenity and openness, in spite of the calamities they were facing, especially the letter of 1871 written to the whole Society after several French Jesuits (among whom was
Pierre Olivaint) were executed during the
Paris Commune of 1870. Considering the 'changing times' he was quite open to new apostolic activities. He modernized the
Ratio Studiorum, giving more room to science subjects in Jesuit education and encouraging the discussion of modern
philosophers such as
Immanuel Kant. While "
religious freedom" could be promoted (with prudence...), questioning the temporal power of the Church was
taboo. In September 1871, Beckx consecrated the Society to the
Heart of Jesus: love for, and spiritual union with, the person of Jesus is central to Jesuit life and activities. New missions were begun in different parts of the world, promoted indirectly too by a growing oversee emigration of people from Europe: Cuba (1853), Colombia (1858), Philippines (1859), Madagascar (1861),
Mangalore in India (1878),
Armenia (1881), Australia (1882), etc. Intellectual work was encouraged too. Several journals were started:
La Civiltà Cattolica (Italy, 1850),
The Month (London, 1864),
Etudes (Paris, 1865),
Stimmen aus Maria Laach (Germany, 1865) and others in Ireland, Poland and Belgium. During his generalship
Ultramontanism largely prevailed upon the Liberal wing of Catholicism. The journal
La Civiltà Cattolica, very close to the
Holy See (certain articles, it was said, were directly inspired by Pope
Pius IX) was particularly engaged in the struggle: defense of the Papal States (from 1859), defense of the
Syllabus of Errors (1864), defense of the supremacy of the
Pope (1870). During the thirty years that Beckx led the Jesuits, their membership doubled and a large number of new provinces were established in Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal,
Missouri (USA), etc. His tenure was marked by an increased focus on missions in
Protestant countries.
Election of a Vicar General By 1883, he was 88 years old, having spent 30 years in various offices. Infirm, on his own accord he called a
General Congregation in order that a '
Vicar General with rights of succession' be chosen to serve under him. General Congregation XXIII met in 1883, in Rome, and on 24 September
Anton Anderledy, a Swiss Jesuit priest, was elected. Beckx, though remaining in title the 'Superior General' in effect abdicated his charge entirely. He died in
Rome four years later, aged 92. ==Writings==