BOLLAND, JEAN. - Belgian Jesuit, known for founding the work that took his name (v. BOLLANDISTS), born on 13 Aug. 1596 at Julemont in the Duchy of Limburg (now part of the Province of Liège) and died at Antwerp on 12 Sept. 1665. He began his studies at Utrecht and entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus at Mechelen in 1612. After completing his philosophical studies, which he began at Leuven and finished at Antwerp, he taught literature at Jesuit colleges in Jurenne, Bois-le-Duc, Brussels, and Antwerp for six years before beginning theology at Leuven, where he was ordained priest in 1625. The years of his literary formation unwittingly prepared B. for his future work, not only through an excellent humanistic education but also through a solid knowledge of several European languages.
Later assigned as prefect of studies at the college in Mechelen, he remained there for five years until 1630, when, following the death of Rosweyde, his superiors called him to the professed house in Antwerp to examine the hagiographical materials that Rosweyde had not had time to publish. Recognizing their importance, B. declared himself ready to continue his confrere’s work, provided he could follow his own plan. The books collected by Rosweyde were placed at his disposal, but neither he nor his superiors suspected the immense responsibilities and tasks involved in a work that he would have to carry out in the time left to him by his priestly ministry—yet it occupied him until his death.
From that moment onward, his activity became identified with the *Acta Sanctorum*, though much of his time was spent in extensive correspondence with the scholarly world of his day, to which he gave far more than he received. He promoted and assisted the literary work of many scholars, both Belgian and French and English; he supervised the publication, for the benefit of Antwerp’s lay public, of works by Jesuits from various provinces of the Order, such as the poems of the Pole Sarbievius and the ascetical writings of Fr. Lancicius.
He also conceived and executed the *Imago Primi Saeculi*, published to celebrate the first centenary of the Society. All this did not prevent him from publishing the volumes of the *Acta Sanctorum* for January and February in 1643 and 1648.