Often, when we visit a city, if we use the underground public transport instead of walking through the streets, we never get a complete overview. Our brain perceives squares, museum entrances, shopping malls and stretches of street... but is unable to draw a map of the city, no matter how many times we have consulted the one in our tourist guide. With history we often experience a similar effect. We go in and out of facts, events, anniversaries and slogans... without realising it we lose the complexity, and we are unable to see how events intertwine.

The opportunity to do an internship at ARSI (Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu), introduced me to the work of cataloguing the letters that Fathers General Everardo Mercuriano (general, 1573-1580) and Claudio Acquaviva (general, 1581-1615) sent to the Province of Toledo (Spain). I also digitized part of Fr Lamalle's major index of ARSI materials. This experience allowed me to leave aside the city map and to start walking the paths of the Society’s history. The continuous reading of the correspondence of the 4th and 5th Generals allowed me to get to know the gestation process of one Jesuit province, how foundations and colleges emerged, the diversity of ministries, the difficulties the men encountered and the deep consolation they felt in knowing that the successes and failures of their work were directly linked to the will of God.

Every historical archive delves into the mystery of preserving many lives for whom we retain only a name, a reference, a word. The Roman Archives of the Society of Jesus is privileged to treasure the memory of many companions’ efforts; their deeds, actions and works in some way continue to endure today, and teach us to persevere in building the Kingdom of God.