Sisters and Seroras: Basque Religious Women and the Early Jesuits

Ignatius of Loyola’s so-called autobiography and later biographical accounts treat his last visit home in passing, as an unimportant stop on the way to Venice. However, when Ignatius returned to Azpeitia, Guipúzcoa in 1535, he sought out the company of seroras, or Basque devout laywomen. His choice to surround himself with like-minded companions on this last visit home mirrors similar efforts throughout his early life, even though these close personal relationships were downplayed by his biographers who were intent on portraying him as a lone visionary. His relationship with seroras—many of whom were his own family members—sheds light upon his perceptions of the role of women in his religious movement as well as upon the development of his early spirituality.