Acknowledgments
I am a very lucky person. During my academic path, I found many people and institutions that supported me, and it is by chronological order that I mention them here.
The months spent at the University of York during my PhD strengthened my love for Jesuits and their history. I went there upon suggestion of my MA professor Alessandro Arcangeli, who introduced me to his colleague Simon Ditchfield. Both of them keep watching over me, as friends and readers of my writings. When I thought my thesis was almost ready, thanks to Emanuele Colombo and Sabina Pavone’s suggestions I was able to improve it substantially.
I started working on this book during my yearlong fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies, Boston College, where Casey Beaumier warmly welcomed me. I cannot thank enough Seth Meehan, who constantly encourages me with the most loving words, and my research with the best editorial restyling. During my time at the IAJS, I am glad I met Cristiano Casalini, Barton Geger, Francisco Malta Romeiras, Eugenio Menegon, and Claude Pavur, who always offered me friendship, support, and dinners. I am grateful to Casey and Emanuele for including me in the Digital Indipetae Database project. Moreover Seth, Claude, and Bart (together with the above-mentioned Alessandro) were the trusted readers of the present volume, carefully reviewing its transition from an Italian dissertation to an English book.
I also wish to thank the Ricci Institute, now based at Boston College as well. The workshop organized in 2018 by Antoni Üçerler and Xiaoxin Wu, together with the special people I met in Minneapolis, gave me motivation to work on my manuscript again. This happened also because of the extraordinary mentor I had there: Robert Danieluk, who appreciatively commented my book draft and helped me improving it.
My current academic position at the Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main is a dream come true, and it is also thanks to it that I could undertake the last revisions of my book. I heartfully thank Christoph Nebgen for his friendliness, humanity, and professionality. My gratitude also goes to Carmen Nols, who encouraged me to apply for Open Access funds, which I was able to receive thanks to the assistance and patience of Roland Wagner. The Forschungszentrum Historische Geisteswissenschaften an der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt generously provided further funds, which guarantee free access to my book to everyone.
My archival goldmine was the Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu. Camilla Russell, Mauro Brunello and of course father Robert always supported me, made me feel part of their team, and involved me in as many initiatives as possible.
I am very grateful to the Brill team: Robert Maryks, Arjan van Dijk, Ivo Romein, and Wilma de Weert, who brought my manuscript to its final stages with professionality, efficiency, and kindness.
I finally wish to thank for psychological support Giulia Falato, Eleonora Rai, Beatrice Saletti, and Fabrizio Tomelleri.
I dedicate this book to all the Jesuits who shared with their superior general—and therefore with me—“the most arcane secrets of their souls.”1 I hope I helped their desires and struggles never to be forgotten.
Ludovico Gonzaga from Ferrara, January 14, 1699 (Rome, ARSI, Ven. 99, fol. 161).