The Sodality of Our Lady, an association formed by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and approved by the Holy See, was a religious body which aimed at fostering in its members an ardent devotion, reverence and filial love towards the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary & St. Patrick was canonically erected in the Church of St. Francis Xavier, Upper Gardiner Street on 1st May, 1853. Members of a sodality would attend devotions in the evening time or at weekends.
Archival History ↴
Material collected by the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Official Transfer
Content & Structure
Scope & Content: Irish Jesuits ↴
The material documents the creation of sodalities in Ireland from 1863 to 1960. This is known as ‘aggregation to the Primae Primariae’ and sodalities were formed in many colleges, convents, hospitals, parishes, and schools. Sodality booklets and newsletters provide background and history to the work of sodalities in Ireland.
Appraisal Destruction ↴
All items retained permanently.
Accruals ↴
No further accruals expected.
Arrangement ↴
Material was catalogued in 2009 and arranged as follows:
A. Sodality Literature and History
B. Sodality by County
C. Sodality Lists and Addresses
D. Sodality Correspondence
E. Sodality Leadership Courses
F. Christian Life Communities
G. International Institute of the Heart of Jesus
Conditions of Access & Use
Access Conditions
The Irish Jesuit Archives are open only to bona fide researchers. Access by advance appointment. Further details: www.jesuitarchives.ie
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No material may be reproduced without the written permission of the Archivist. Copyright restrictions apply. Photocopying is not available. Digital photography is at the discretion of the Archivist.
Lennon, Colm (ed.). “Confraternities and sodalities in Ireland: charity, devotion and sociability”. Dublin: Columba Press, 2012.
McRedmond, Louis. "To the Greater Glory: A history of the Irish Jesuits". Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1991.
O’ Conor, Fr. Charles SJ. “The Sodality of Our Lady in the 19th century’”. Jesuit Directory, 1945.
CM., ‘The Confraternity of the Sacred Heart’ in the Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Fifth Series, vol. lvi (Sept. 1940), p. 232.
Descriptive Control Area
Archivist Note
Damien Burke
Rules/Conventions
IGAD: Irish Guidelines for Archival Description. Dublin: Society of Archivists, Ireland, 2009.
ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottowa: International Council on Archives, 2000.
National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names. Chippenham: National Council on Archives, 1997. Irish Guidelines for Indexing Archives. Dublin: Archives and Records Association, Ireland, 2013
