By the 17th and 18th centuries, the process of reaffirmation of Catholicism in Europe had reached a consolidation stage: religious orders were beginning to implement Counter-Reformation instructions more effectively, reaching beyond Europe to newly conquered lands.
Artistic research would be directed to the constant search for the emotional involvement of the faithful, as theorised in Spiritual Exercises by Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.
Renewal was accomplished both by refreshing existing settlements in accordance with the new guidelines, and establishing new foundations or granting sites to newly created orders.
Thus, the oldest orders, such as the Benedictines, the Cistercians, the Conventual Franciscans, the Basilians and the Pauline Fathers, were joined by others established from the 16th century, such as the Theatines, the Piarists, the Capuchins and in particular the Jesuits.