The introduction of the Society into Innsbruck was the work of the Emperor Ferdinand, and the first Jesuit to labour in the new field was the Tyrolese, Father Charles Grim.  At Innsbruck, in 1561, lived the five so-called queens, daughters of the emperor, who lived a semi-religious life, and who desired to be confessed, directed, and preached to by members of the Society.  In 1563 the emperor paid a visit to his daughters, and inspected the new college at Innsbruck.  He expressed his satisfaction with it, and presented the community with a garden.

The five “queens,” Magdalen, Margaret, Barbara, Helena, Joanna, had a great reputation for piety and charity.  A young girl, who had received severe injuries from a fire, was received into their palace and nursed with the most loving care.  Certain persons were charged by them to inform them of cases of need as they arose.  Father Edmund Hay told the General that three of the “queens” had dedicated themselves to God by a vow, and had resolved to remove as soon as possible from the turmoil and luxury of the court into greater solitude.  One of them was especially pious, frequented the sacraments once a month and oftener, and would practise very great austerities if her confessor would allow her.  In 1565 people already declared that the court of these archduchesses was like a convent; every sign of pomp and splendour had disappeared, and humility and modesty reigned in their stead.

On the 11th January 1566, Father Dirsius wrote to the General, St. Francis Borgia, in behalf of the “queens” Margaret, Magdalen, and Helena, telling him that their brothers, the emperor, and the Archdukes Ferdinand and Charles, fully concurred in their making the above-mentioned vow.  They had wished, he said, to remove to Munich, with their attendants, and to live there in a convent of Poor Clares, apart from the world.  But this plan their brothers opposed, and desired them to remain in Austria.  The emperor had even offered them deserted convents in Corinthia, but in those parts there were too many heretics to please the princesses.  Everyone advised them to remain at Innsbruck, where they already edified the faithful by their virtuous example, and prevented apostasy.  They themselves were willing to remain; at least they wished to be in a place where there was a college of the Society, and were thinking of taking the newly-built Franciscan convent, the Italian Franciscans for whom it had been constructed being unlikely to remain on account of the climate and the difficulties they experienced in mastering the German language.  In case the archduchesses did not get possession of this convent they had also in view a house in the neighbourhood of Innsbruck.  In this event they humbly begged for fathers to direct them spiritually, and to undertake the care of other souls in the place.