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History of Saint Ignatius Loyola

by Daniello Bartoli, S.J.
Translated by the Author of Life in Mexico
P. J. Kenedy, Catholic Publishing House
5 Barclay Street, New York, 1855
Complete Two-Volume Hardcover Set

This handsome 1855 two-volume edition of History of Saint Ignatius Loyola presents one of the classic biographies of the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Written by the renowned seventeenth-century Jesuit historian Daniello Bartoli, the work chronicles the extraordinary life of St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556), from his early military career and dramatic religious conversion to the founding of one of the most influential religious orders in Christian history. His full name was Iñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola.

Drawing upon early Jesuit sources and official records, Bartoli combines historical scholarship with an engaging narrative that traces Ignatius's spiritual development, his years of study and pilgrimage, the gathering of his first companions, and the establishment of the Society of Jesus. The biography also explores the rapid expansion of the Jesuit order during the sixteenth century, its missionary work, educational achievements, and central role in the Catholic Reformation. For generations, Bartoli's account was regarded as one of the definitive lives of St. Ignatius and remains an important work in the history of Catholic spirituality and the Jesuit tradition.

About the Author

Daniello Bartoli (1608–1685) was an Italian Jesuit priest, historian, and one of the most distinguished prose writers of seventeenth-century Italy. Best known for his monumental histories of the Society of Jesus, Bartoli devoted decades to documenting the lives of its founders, missionaries, and early members. His works combined meticulous research with an elegant literary style, helping preserve the history of the Jesuit order for future generations. His biography of St. Ignatius became one of the most widely read and respected accounts of the saint's life.

About This Edition

Published in 1855 by P. J. Kenedy, Catholic Publishing House, 5 Barclay Street, New York, this American edition is a translation identified on the title page as being "by the author of Life in Mexico." Although the translator is not named, this attribution was a common nineteenth-century publishing practice, identifying translators by their previous successful works rather than by name.

Condition

Complete two-volume hardcover set

Published 1855

Gilt titles on the front covers ("Life of St. Ignatius") and spines remain clear and attractive

Covers and bindings are in good condition

Interior pages display consistent age toning

Foxing is largely confined to the frontispiece engravings and their tissue guards, with comparatively clean text pages throughout

A well-preserved nineteenth-century set with strong shelf appeal

Please consult the photographs for complete condition details.

Collector's Note

Early American Catholic publications from P. J. Kenedy are increasingly sought after, particularly substantial nineteenth-century works on the saints and the history of the Church. Complete two-volume sets of Bartoli's History of Saint Ignatius Loyola are considerably less common than later reprints and appeal to collectors of Jesuit history, Catholic theology, ecclesiastical biography, and nineteenth-century religious publishing. The attractive gilt decoration, sound bindings, and unusually clean interiors make this an especially desirable example for collectors and institutional libraries alike.