BOLLAND, JEAN. - Belgian Jesuit, known for founding the work that took his name (v. BOLLANDISTS), b. 13 Aug. 1596 at Julemont in the duchy of Limburg (present-day province of Liège) and d. at Antwerp on 12 Sept. 1665. He did his early studies at Utrecht and entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus at Mechelen in 1612. After the philosophical studies that he began at Louvain and finished at Antwerp, he taught letters in the colleges of the Society at Roermond, Bois-le-Duc, Brussels, and Antwerp for six years, before beginning theology at Louvain, where he was ordained a priest in 1625. The years of his literary formation unknowingly initiated B. into his future work, not only through an excellent humanistic education, but also through a good knowledge of several European languages. Subsequently assigned as prefect of studies to the college of Mechelen, he remained there for five years until 1630, when, following the death of Rosweyde, his superiors called him to the professed house of Antwerp to examine the materials of hagiographic erudition that Rosweyde had not had time to publish. Having realized their importance, B. declared himself ready to continue his confrere's work, provided that he be left free to follow a plan of his own: the books collected by Rosweyde were placed at his disposal, but neither he nor his superiors suspected the responsibilities and the immense tasks of a work that he was to carry out in the times

left free to him by the priestly ministry, and that instead kept him occupied until his death. From this moment his activity is identified with the work of the <em>Acta Sanctorum</em>, but much of his time was spent in the vast — left free to him by the priestly ministry, and that instead kept him occupied until his death. From this moment his activity is identified with the work of the *Acta Sanctorum*, but much of his time was spent in the vast correspondence with the learned world of the time, to which he gave more than he received. He promoted and assisted the literary activity of many scholars, both Belgian and French and English; he oversaw the publication, at Antwerp printers, of the works of Jesuits of various provinces of the Order, such as the poems of the Pole Sarbiewski and the ascetic works of Fr. Lancizio.

To him, moreover, is due the idea and the realization of the Imago Primi Saeculi, published to celebrate the first centenary of the Society. All this did not prevent him from giving to the press, in 1643 and 1648, the volumes of the Acta Sanctorum for January and February.

Bibliography2 works

BIBL.: The life of B. was narrated by Papebroch, and inserted at the head of vol. I of the Acta SS. Martii, Antwerp 1668, pp. 1-XLIV; Sommervogel, I, coll. 1625-27.

Mario Scaduto

@incollection{ec2_bolland_jean, author = {Scaduto, Mario}, title = {Bolland, jean}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {II}, pages = {1781--1782}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1949}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/bolland-jean} }

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Bolland, Jean

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