The Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary was started in 1563 by Father Jean Leunis for his male students at the Roman College of the Society of Jesus. These first Sodalists, with Mary as their guide, agreed to the “Rules” of daily Mass, weekly confession, monthly communion, a daily half-hour of pious works and meditation, as well as service to the poor.

By 1569, the large number of Sodalists called for a division into younger and older groups at the College. Pope Gregory XIII granted many indulgences to the Sodality and named the Roman College the “Prima Primaria.” Other Jesuit colleges and missions started Sodalities, and membership rose to many thousands. In 1587, Pope Sixtus V allowed the Jesuits to start Sodalities outside their schools. Membership soon included priests, merchants, laborers, and soldiers.

In the late 16^th century and through the 17^th century, the Jesuits established Sodalities in Europe, India, and the Americas. The first in Canada was in Quebec in 1657. In Japan, the Jesuits started Confraternities similar to Sodalities to carry out spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The Ursuline School in New Orleans started their Sodality in 1730. In 1789, Georgetown University began the first Sodality in the newly formed United States.

Pope Benedict XIV’s 1748 Gloriosae Dominae (Golden Bull) was a gift to the Sodality to honor the Mother of God. In 1751, he opened Sodalities to married women and girls, leading to a huge growth in membership.

In the late 18^th century, the Society of Jesus was suppressed by Pope Clement XIV. It was then that the Sodalities became “one of the normal works of the universal Church.” Jesuits were reestablished in 1814, and in 1824, Pope Leo XII restored Sodalities to Jesuit leadership. Pope Leo also granted affiliation to Sodalities not under Jesuit direction. By 1854, there were more than 4,000 Sodalities in the world.

In 1948, Pope Pius XII issued Bis Saeculari to mark the 200^th anniversary of the Golden Bull. In it, he praised Sodalities for “numerous and great services to the Church.” Through them, the members are led to that perfection of spiritual life from which they can scale the heights of sanctity.

In the early 20^th century, men’s and women’s Sodalities met separately. Regular meetings were not enough to promote the Rules, so the Jesuits were commissioned to help. Their magazine The Queen’s Work was created to communicate with Sodalists. The Diocesan Union of Sodalities was formed in 1918. They organized Summer Schools for Catholic Action to train Sodality leaders. By 1963, 250,000 had participated in the program.

The World Federation of Sodalities and the National Federation of Sodalities were established to maintain unity among the groups. At the Second Vatican Council, the “Sodality Rules” were changed to “General Principles.” These principles were spiritual, communal, and mission-centered, intended to establish deeper spirituality in everyday life.

In Rome, in 1970, the World Federation voted to change the name from Sodalities to Christian Life Communities. Pope Paul VI approved the changes.

Today, there is no central Sodality organization. Only three Sodality Unions remain — in Baltimore, New York, and Washington, D.C. Most Sodalities are now autonomous women’s organizations.

Since its founding, millions have been Sodalists. These have included famous artists such as Rubens, writers like Corneille, royalty such as Leopold of Austria, and seven Popes. Among the saints who were Sodalists are St. Francis de Sales, St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. Peter Claver, St. Julie Billiart (foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame), and St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (foundress of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart).