Family matters: Peter Canisius as confessor and spiritual guide in early modern Augsburg. A Case Study

After Peter Canisius’s arrival in the bi-confessional city of Augsburg in 1559, he quickly succeeded in winning over a large number of converts to the Catholic Church through his impressive abilities as a preacher and confessor. One of his most remarkable successes was the conversion of Ursula Fugger, a member of the influential Fugger dynasty and a devout Protestant. This article examines the pastoral relationship that developed between Peter Canisius and Ursula Fugger as well as her family. It also analyzes the specific strategies developed by Canisius and his fellow Jesuits for guiding the different genders and generations belonging to this important Augsburg family.