La scena pubblica della morte. L’istante ultimo e il compimento della vocazione gesuitica

The article examines how the Society of Jesus constructed a standardized representation of death for its members. Starting from Polanco's letter about Ignatius of Loyola, it highlights how the death of a Jesuit was always depicted within a common scene: the dying man surrounded by his confreres, ready to reach God. This representation, present in the files of the Vocationes illustres, underlines the importance of fraternal charity and unity among the members of the order. Death thus became the culmination of the religious vocation, a moment of communion and strengthening of ties with the Society. This standardized representation served both to build a strong and cohesive religious identity and to promote the image of the Society and attract new vocations. In conclusion, the article shows how death, in the Jesuit context, was a highly symbolic event and an integral part of a project of identity construction.