Aquaviva, Claudius

(1543–1615)

   Educator.

   Aquaviva was born into an Italian aristocratic family and was educated at the University of Perugia. He entered the Jesuit order at the age of twenty-four and in 1581 was elected Superior-General. The fifth General in the Society’s history, he faced many problems including possible schism within the order. The Society was also threatened with an examination by the Inquisition and an attempt by Pope Sixtus V to change its constitution. Aquaviva must be regarded as the most important early consolidator of the order. He successfully negotiated the dif- ficulties and strengthened the Society’s position. In particular he is remembered for his encouragement of mission and for his sponsorship of the ‘Ratio Studiorum’. This was a scheme of studies based on Classics, Philosophy and Theology and it formed the basis of the curriculum of Jesuit schools until the end of the eighteenth century.

   J.H.C. Aveling, The Jesuits (1981);

   J.W. Donohue, Jesuit Education (1963).