Essential Documents Project

The Portal’s Essential Document Project offers free access to English translations of some of the most important primary sources in Jesuit history. The selected documents include letters and addresses from the Fathers General – dating back to Ignatius of Loyola – selected decrees and addresses from the General Congregations, and bulls, remarks, and other statements that pontiffs have made to or about the Society of Jesus.

 Contributors to this ever-growing collection include the Essential Documents by Jesuit Sources, the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, and the former Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus. To learn how you can contribute to the Essential Documents collection, please contact the Portal’s editors (jesuitportal@bc.edu).

Through the chart below, you can browse the collection or filter results by title, author, series, or contributor. Current subsections of the Essential Documents (the contents of which also appear below) include: Letters of Ignatius of Loyola and The Arrupe Collection. Also available are all the decrees and statements made at General Congregation 31, General Congregation 32, General Congregation 33, General Congregation 34, and General Congregation 35.