Simão Rodrigues

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Simão Rodrigues (died 1579) was a Portuguese Jesuits, one of the founders of the Society of Jesus.

A Portuguese nobleman, Rodrigues was one of the six companions of Ignatius of Loyola at the University of Paris who formed the Society of Jesus in 1539.

After some years working under the direction of Ignatius in Italy, he was sent to Portugal, where his strong personality immediately attracted many to the Society and he became very influential at the royal court. Unfortunately, his control of the Portuguese Jesuits was lax and many complaints were made to Rome. Rodrigues was recalled and, at his own request, tried, in 1544. His judges found him guilty of abuses and Ignatius assigned him to other duties in Italy and, later, Spain. Rodrigues was recalcitrant and for several years sought to overthrow the decision against him, but his appeals to the friends he had made in high places were unsuccessful. Eventually, he gave up these attempts and returned to obedience. As an old man, he was allowed to go back to his native country, where, before dying, he wrote a history of the early years of the Society.