The holy man was so thoroughly persuaded, that the perfection of the Society of Jesus consisted in obedience, that he frequently commanded his brethren, in virtue of their holy obedience, thereby to increase their merit.

“I pray you,” said he to two missioners of Comorine, “to go to the Isles del Moro; and to the end you may the better have occasion of meriting by your obedience, I positively command you.”

But it is impossible to relate, with what tenderness he loved the Society, or how much he concerned himself in all their interests, though of the smallest moment.  Being in Portugal, before his voyage to the Indies, he wrote not any letters to Rome, wherein he did not testisfy his great desire to know what progress it made in Italy.  Writing to the Fathers, Le Gay, and Laynez, he says thus:  “Since our rule is confirmed, I earnestly desire to learn the names of those who are already received into our order, and of such as are upon the point of being admitted.  He exhorts them, to thank the king of Portugal, for the design which his majesty had to build a college, or a house for the Society:  and we ought to make this acknowlegment to the king,” said he, “to engage him thereby to begin the building.”

The news which he received from Father Ignatius, and the other Fathers who were at Rome, gave him infinite consolation.  “I have received your letters, which I expected with much impatience; and have received them with that joy, which children ought to have in receiving some pleasing news from their mother.  In effect, I learn from them the prosperous condition of all the Society, and the holy employments wherein you engage yourselves without intermission.”  He could scarcely moderate his joy, whensoever he thought on the establishment of the Society.  Thus he wrote from the Indies to Rome:  “Amongst all the favours which I have received from God in this present life, and which I receive daily, the most signal, and most sensible, is to have heard that the institute of our Society has been approved and confirmed by the authority of the Holy See I give immortal thanks to Jesus Christ, that he has been pleased his vicar should publicly establish the form of life, which he himself has prescribed in private to his servant, our Father Ignatius.”

But Xavier also wished nothing more, than to see the Society increased; and he felt a redoubling of his joy, by the same proportion, when he had notice of their gaining new houses in the East, or when he heard, from Europe, of the foundation of new colleges.

To conclude, he had not less affection for the particular persons, who were members of the Society, than for the body of it.  His brethren were ever present in his thoughts; and he thought it not enough to love them barely, without a continual remembrance of them.  “I carry about with me (thus he writes to the Fathers at Rome) all your names, of your own handwriting, in your letters; and I carry them together with the solemn form of my profession.”  By which he signifies, not only how dear the sons of the Society were to him, but also how much he esteemed the honour of being one of their number.