A member of the Society of Jesus, St. Robert Bellarmine was a professor of theology and preacher at Louvain (1569-76), he taught controversial theology at Rome, where he was St. Aloysius Gonzaga’s confessor. Sixtus V sent him on a diplomatic mission to France; he became provincial of the Jesuits at Naples, and was made a cardinal in 1599, rendering great services to the popes. His controversial books against Protestantism were very effective, and his catechism, translated into many languages, did much to spread the knowledge of Christian doctrine. St. Robert died at Rome on September 17, 1621. He was canonized by Pius XI, June 29, 1930 and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church, August 15, 1931.