1. Jean Bolland, SJ was a Flemish Jesuit priest, theologian, and prominent hagiographer.
11 Facts About Jean Bolland
1. 2.
Jean Bolland entered the Society of Jesus in 1612 at Mechelen.
3.
In 1620 Jean Bolland was sent to study theology at the University of Leuven.
4.
Jean Bolland went to Antwerp, familiarized himself with the manuscripts, and, while admitting that the work was still merely a rough and faulty draft, gave reasons for believing that without an undue expenditure of labour it might be brought to a successful completion.
5.
Jean Bolland offered to oversee the work on two conditions: that he should be free to modify the plan of Rosweyde as he understood it, and that Rosweyde's materials should be set apart for his exclusive use.
6.
The Provincial Superior, Jacques van Straten, accepted the conditions and Jean Bolland was transferred from the college of Mechelen to Antwerp, where he became director of the Latin Congregation, a congregation composed of the principal people of the city, and had charge of preparing the Acta Sanctorum for publication.
7.
Rosweyde had proposed to publish only the original texts, without commentaries or annotations, but Jean Bolland decided to give all the information he could find for each saint and his cult, to preface each text with a study of its author and its historical value, and to append notes of explanation.
8.
Jean Bolland visited monastic libraries, collecting and copying a considerable number of documents.
9.
Jean Bolland decided to organize the entries according to the Roman Calendar.
10.
Jean Bolland asked for an assistant and this request was supported by the abbot of Liessies Abbey, Antoine de Wynghe, who provided a stipend.
11.
In 1659 Jean Bolland received assistance from a third Jesuit, Daniel van Papenbroek, who in the end did most of the work for the 18 volumes of the Acta Sanctorum.