tions found in this text are clearly made
with a view to precision more than to any-
thing else.

The Autograph of St. Ignatius was
translated by Father General Roothaan
into Latin and was reproduced by Father
Rodeles in his edition of the Spanish text.
But the original was not available to
ordinary students. In 1908, however,
Father General Wernz allowed the entire
book to be phototyped, and in this way it
was spread throughout the Society of
Jesus in a large number of copies. It is
one of these which has been chiefly em-
ployed by the present translator, who has,
besides, made frequent use of the Manu-
script itself.

After considerable study of the matter,
it seemed best to make this translation as
faithful and close a reproduction of the
Spanish text as could be. To do so it
was necessary at times to sacrifice the
niceties of style, but it was thought that
those who would use the book would easily
forego the elegancies of diction if they
could feel sure they were reading the very
words of St. Ignatius. Any other form of

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