The Bollandist Fund (Fonds)

The interest in hagiography (the writing of the saints) has never been as strong as it is today. Congresses and publications are multiplying, associations centred on hagiography are developing within the academic world and hagiography is becoming a subject of teaching in its own right. Since the cult of the saints occupied so much space in the past, its study can reveal many aspects of the lives of our ancestors. Moreover, hagiographic texts are rich sources of historical information about the times in which they were written. In this context, more than ever, the Society of Bollandists, through its tradition, publications, specialized files, computerized databases and library, represents an essential point of reference. In the increasingly dense network of hagiographic studies, it constitutes a hub from which many other studies can be initiated. The society represents the largest collection of hagiographic works in the world.

In order that this organization, unique in the world for its research and the richness of the heritage it alone preserves, can not only continue but also expand its activities, the Bollandist Fund was created within the King Baudouin Foundation. The fund will enable the society to continue to gather resources to acquire new rare works and to restore works that are in poor condition.