Jerome Nadal

Jerome Nadal (Gérónimo Nadàl in Spanish), born with Majorque in 1507 and died in 1580, was one of the first members of the Society of Jesus. He was one of the closest collaborators of Ignace de Loyola.

Biography

Nadal had become acquainted during its studies with Paris with Ignace, Pierre Favre, François Xavier and their friends. But he obstinately refused to join these " enlightened " , preferring, he, the Gospel with their " said; exercises " , fearing " D ¹ to be involved out of L ¹ orthodoxie".

Turned over in its native island, it awakes of a " deep sleep " by reading the famous letter sent of the Indies by saint François Xavier to the clerks D ¹ Occident, apostrophizing those which, " especially at the University of Paris, have more science than of will to prepare to draw some from the fruit " it had been upset and S ¹ was decided to enter as soon as possible the Society of Jesus.

It goes to Rome and, at thirty-eight years, enters the Society of Jesus. Ignace locates his gifts quickly and makes its right-hand man of it; " Contemplative in the action" according to its famous formula and the title of its work.

It was in charge of important tasks, in particular of the direction of the College of Messine, first college open Jesuit in 1548.

Then he travelled much to make approve by the Fathers D ¹ Italy, D ¹ Spain and of Portugal the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus.

In 1554, Ignace indicated it general Vicaire of the Society of Jesus.

Evangelic images

At the instigation of Ignace, he undertook to make carry out a collection of engravings Evangelicae Historiae Imagines . This collection (153 engravings on the whole) was published in Antwerp in 1594, that is to say nearly 15 years after its death. It is the oldest collection of this type which reached us.

Little time before its death, Ignace de Loyola had pressed Jerome Nadal to design a guide illustrated to learn to the beginners Jesuits the meditation. This last ordered the illustrations with several artists, reserving the drafting of the legends.

These legends are very original: not only they comprise the title of the evangelic scene, but also a whole series of annotations which explain by references of letters inserted in the image (has, B, C, etc) such or such part of the scene represented, or more exactly of the place where it is held (what is called the " composition of lieu" in the spiritual Exercises).

The collection follows the order of the contemplations given by Ignace in his booklet of the Exercises. It becomes about it thus a complement. It helps reprocessing it to plunge itself entirely in the scene which it contemplates. It is made present there as if it were there.

Moreover, these drawings use perfectly the art of the prospect - then revolutionary at the time. Jerome Nadal wanted to thus make the Gospel more vibrating and more tempting.

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