Stephen White (Jesuit) facts for kids

Stephen White (born 1575, died 1646) was a smart writer and historian. He was also a Jesuit, which is a member of a Catholic religious order. Stephen White spent his life studying and writing about the very first Irish saints. He was like a detective, digging up old stories and facts!

Life Story

Stephen White was born in Clonmel, a town in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1575. When he was 17, in 1592, Trinity College Dublin was started. Stephen White was one of the first students mentioned in the college's official document.

However, he decided not to stay in Ireland. He left his home country and went to the Irish College at Salamanca in Spain. In 1596, he joined the Society of Jesus, becoming a Jesuit. He then taught there from 1602 to 1606.

A Great Scholar

From 1606 to 1609, Stephen White was a professor in a place called Ingolstadt. He taught a subject called Scholastic Philosophy, which is a way of thinking and learning. He also taught Theology at the University of Dillingen.

Stephen White loved to study history. Many people thought he was one of the smartest people in Europe at that time. A famous leader named Archbishop Ussher said that White knew a lot about old records, not just from Ireland, but from other countries too.

His Love for Irish History

Stephen White was most interested in the history of Ireland. He helped make sure that Ireland was known by its old name, "Scotia". He also pointed out that many important Irish writings were kept in old monasteries and libraries in Germany.

He was very generous. He shared accurate copies of old Irish books with other scholars, like Ussher and John Colgan. He even added his own helpful notes and explanations. It was Stephen White who found a copy of a very old book called Vita Sancti Columbae ("Life of St. Columba") by Adamnan. He found it hidden in a chest in a town called Schaffhausen.

Defending Ireland

Stephen White's writings about early Irish saints were used in a big collection of saints' lives called "Acta SS". The Bollandists, who are a group of scholars, thanked him for his help.

He became very interested in early Irish history because of some books written by Gerald of Wales. These books were published in Frankfurt and Stephen White felt they were unfair to the Irish people. To defend Ireland, he wrote his most famous book, Apologia pro Hibernia adversus Cambri calumnias. He probably wrote this book before 1615.

Later Life and Teaching

From 1623 to 1627, Stephen White was in a region called Champagne. Then, from 1627 to 1629, he was at a college in Metz.

Around 1629, a Jesuit college was started in Dublin. It was supported by Lady Elizabeth Kildare. Many people believe Father White was in charge of this college. However, the government closed the college down after a short time. Its property was taken and given to Trinity College Dublin.

For several years, Stephen White worked in his home area, the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore. He spent most of his time teaching catechism (religious lessons) to children. In 1645, he was the leader of the Jesuit College in Galway, where he passed away.