The Irish College
Archer was appointed prefect of mission by the Jesuit general, Aquaviva, with the task of co-ordinating the work of the Irish colleges in Iberia. At Salamanca a dispute had arisen over allegations that the Jesuits were discriminating against Gaelic Irish students in favour of Old English students from those parts of Ireland more loyal to English crown authority. A Spanish rector was appointed after a royal inquiry, but Archer intervened, seeking greater safeguards for the disadvantaged students, and was granted his wish by the king. In 1610 the Salamanca institution became a Royal College.
Archer spent much time at court, and his approach to his responsibilities is summed up in the following quote, concerning the opportunity afforded through the running of the seminaries: "if we do not take advantage of it we shall do nothing heroic or outstanding".
Read more about this topic: James Archer (Jesuit)
Famous quotes containing the words irish and/or college:
“The Irish are the only men who know how to cry for the dirty polluted blood of all the world.”
—Norman Mailer (b. 1923)
“... [a] girl one day flared out and told the principal “the only mission opening before a girl in his school was to marry one of those candidates [for the ministry].” He said he didn’t know but it was. And when at last that same girl announced her desire and intention to go to college it was received with about the same incredulity and dismay as if a brass button on one of those candidate’s coats had propounded a new method for squaring the circle or trisecting the arc.”
—Anna Julia Cooper (1859–1964)