You might not have heard of Joanna of Austria (1535-1573), the first — and so far only — female ever admitted to the all-male Society of Jesus in the religious order’s 483-year history. Alas, she could not be described as a trailblazer — because no one ever followed in her wake.
![](https://thetablet.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Joanna-of-Austria-140x175.jpg)