BOLLAND, JEAN. — Belgian Jesuit, known for founding the work that took his name (v. BOLLANDISTI), 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 began his studies at Utrecht and entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus at Mechelen in 1612. After studying philosophy, which he began at Leuven and completed at Antwerp, he taught humanities for six years in the Society’s colleges at Ruremonde, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Brussels, and Antwerp, before beginning theology at Leuven, where he was ordained a priest in 1625. The years of literary formation unconsciously initiated B. into his future work, not only through an excellent humanistic education, but also through a good knowledge of several European languages. Later appointed prefect of studies at the college of Mechelen, he remained there for five years, until 1630, when, following the death of Rosweyde, his superiors summoned him to the professed house at Antwerp to examine the materials of hagiographical scholarship that Rosweyde had not had time to publish. Realizing their importance, B. declared himself ready to continue his confrère’s work, provided that he was left free to 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 of a work that he would have had to carry out during the time left free by his priestly ministry, and which instead kept him occupied until his death. From this moment onward, his activity became identified with the work of the Acta Sanctorum, but much of his time was spent in extensive correspondence with the learned world of his day, 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 arranged for the publication by Antwerp printers of the works of Jesuits from various pro-
To him, moreover, we owe the idea and execution of the Imago Primi Saeculi, published to celebrate the first centenary of the Society. None of this prevented him from publishing, in 1643 and 1648, the January and February volumes of the Acta Sanctorum.