BECKS, PIERRE JEAN, b. Belgium, 1795; a general of the order- of Jesuits. He became a member of the society of Jesus in 1819, and was the head of the order in 1853. Soon after receiving orders, his superiors recognized his rare abilities, and sent him on several delicate missions. When the duke Ferdinand of Anhalt-K6then became a con vert to the Roman Catholic religion, young Beckx was appointed his confessor, and he officiated for some years as priest of the new church which was built at Ii then. After the death of the duke. B. continued at the court with the widow, the countess Julia, whom, at a later period, he accompanied to Vienna. In 1847, he became procurator for the province of Austria. and in thiscapacity he went to the college of procurators at Rome. In the following year the Jesuits were temporarily driven from Austria, and con sequently father B. went to Belgium, where he was nominated rector of the Jesuit college at Louvain. When the Jesuits were re-established in Austria, he zealously sup
ported the projects of the government, which were highly favorable to the interests of the church. He lent his powerful aid to the primate of Hungary, cardinal Szeitowsky, who succeeded in obtaining reinstatement of the Jesuits in that portion of the empire, and in foundiu,g.thonoviciMe at Tyrnan. Being Sent to the assembly at Rome in 1853, to choose a successor to father Boothan, be was elected superior of the order. The success of the Jesuits since that time, especially in non-Catholic countries, is due, in no slight degree, to the ability and foresight of father B. Besides some minor writings and occasional discourses, he has published a Month of Mary, which has passed through numerous editions, and been translated into many languages.