Many of us are acquainted with the story of Jeanne D’Arc, the woman who disguised herself as a man to fight for her country. Most of us love the story of George Sand, a French writer who published her books under a male pseudonym because women were not taken seriously as writers. Even little kids know stories like these through a very popular animated Disney movie: Mulan, a girl who followed the steps of Jeanne D’arc and dressed up as a boy to fight in the army instead of letting her father do it. However, how many of you know that there is a similar situation in religion, specifically in the Society of Jesus? How many of you know the true story of… Mateo Sanchez? Or should I say…Joanna of Austria!

A man’s Society

Some may know her as Joanna of Austria, Juana of Austria or Joana de Austria; however, she is indeed the only official woman to become a Jesuit and to die as one! For those who heard about Jesuits, the Society of Jesus is a male order, and no woman is accepted. Despite that fact, women can still work in a Jesuit organization. The Jesuits highly recommend it and offer them leadership positions to let them prove their skills and be part of their mission. Although St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus and Superior General, was opposed to women joining his order for some reasons, they were at the front line of working and helping Jesuits in their missions. For instance, when Nicolas Kluiters was in Lebanon, nuns from the Congregation of the Holy Hearts were sent to him to help and manage the school he has made built in the region, showing that there was a collaboration between Jesuits and women. Based on the following document: General Congregation 34, the Jesuit Way of Doing is all about partnership and cooperation. Thus, working together is key to success on a mission!

Joanna of Austria was the daughter of Charles V and the Empress Isabel of Portugal, meaning that she came from a rich and wealthy family. Knowing that, how did they let her be a Jesuit considering that women were not allowed, and that Jesuits must take vows of poverty and obedience?

An arranged marriage

The marriage of the princess did not last. Born in 1535, Joanna of Austria is Spanish. When her brother Philip got married, she was still very young, but it was decided that she had to marry and become a Portuguese princess. Since her husband was ill and was going to die, she was expected to give them an heir to the throne. Soon enough, what started as an arranged marriage grew to a great relationship. During her pregnancy, her husband died but no one told her, to avoid causing her any sadness that may kill the baby. When she safely gave birth and learned about the death of her husband, she was in such sadness that she renounced to her jewels and dresses and vowed to only wear black for the rest of her life. Who knows, maybe her vow of poverty, like the one the Jesuits make, started from there?

A Jesuit on the Throne: the secret is revealed

Because her father and her brother were both outside of Spain, Charles V made her the new Queen of the country to protect his territory. Joanna of Austria returned to Spain and left her only son in the care of her husband’s family because she was not allowed to take their only heir outside of Portugal. She never saw him again! Then, she dedicated her life to the government of Spain and worked to develop its religious spirit.

Despite being young, intelligent, and beautiful, she was interested in no man. Here again, it looks like her vow of chastity had started without even being a Jesuit. Therefore, when her brother came back for the reign, she was not only a widow, but she was also a woman who did not intend to remarry. Certain of her decision, she thought about becoming a Franciscan but was more attracted and interested in joining the Society of Jesus. However, being in such a rank and position did not match with the aspect of life that a Jesuit should follow. She certainly was not living poorly, nor she could take orders from anyone since she was the one who gave them. This was the concern of Ignatius of Loyola, but he could not be opposed to her acceptance in the Society of Jesus. After all, she was powerful and had political connections that could serve them. At that time, she had a good relationship with a Jesuit member, Francisco de Borja, who helped her be a part of this order.

As said before, Ignatius of Loyola was still against admitting women to his society but because of her insistence – and probably her rank and her force-, she was accepted as a woman Jesuit, but she had to secretly make her vows under a male pseudonym: Mateo Sanchez. Letters were also exchanged between her and the Jesuits, signing them under her male pseudonym. In addition, when other Jesuits wanted to write about her in their letters, they were obliged to never use her actual name to keep the secret if their writings were intercepted. It cannot be known that she was part of this order, and this is where rumors started. Even her own brother accused her of being close to Francisco de Borja, mistaking her for his mistress. In addition, many tried to arrange to her another marriage, but she did not accept and remained faithful to the vow she took. Although she respected one of her vows, the other two seemed to be only a part of the procedure.

Trouble in the Society of Jesus

The presence of Joanna of Austria in the order affected the whole perspective of the Jesuits. Indeed, a princess remains a princess. No matter how many vows one can take, in the eyes of the law and of the others, Joanna of Austria was a woman of power that take decisions instead of applying them. Obedience to a person of an inferior rank was not an aspect of her life, nor was living a poor lifestyle. According to the General Congregation 35: “It is in its obedience, above all, that the Society of Jesus should be distinct from other religious families”. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, himself, even wrote: “[…] it is my desire, dear brothers, that those who serve the Lord our God in this Society be outstanding in the purity and perfection of their obedience, the renunciation of their will, and the abnegation of their judgment.” (General Congregation 35). Therefore, Joanna did not live the life a Jesuit had to, and did not follow the vows, that define a Jesuit, to their fullest. Adding to this behavior the rumors that were spread when she joined the Jesuits, she closed the path for women to enter the order. Ignatius was certain more than ever that women can’t be accepted. Instead of proving the Jesuits wrong and be THE woman who led the way to other, she succeeded in doing the opposite. To date, among the Jesuits, there is a total of zero women.

An “almost” Jesuit life

Becoming a Jesuit, Joanna of Austria gave herself more to religious devotions. Like other Jesuits, she was working on seeking God in everything and in helping those in need. She donated to Jesuit colleges in Rome and supervised projects for the poor. In addition, she was the defender of critics addressed to the Jesuits. She also founded the convent of the Descalzas Reales and retired in it. In 1573, she died of cancer in the convent and was the first and only woman to remain a Jesuit until her death.

No change in the near future

Eventually, Joanna of Austria achieved what she really wanted: entering the Society of Jesus. She succeeded in becoming the only female joining the order and dying as a member of it, doing all of that in secret, behind an identity she used to lure others with. However, she did not help in changing the Jesuits’ vision and did not change the future of the Society. In the end, Joanna of Austria was indeed a Jesuit, but she was mostly the shadow of Mateo Sanchez… none other than herself…

Laetitia Nader
École de traducteurs et d’interprètes de Beyrouth
Final Assignment - The Jesuit Way of Doing | L4- 2021-2022