In its initial phase, the volumes of LS reflected the state of national historiography and the limited space devoted to ecclesiastical history at the time. These volumes also mirrored the institutional constraints of the CEHE, which was relatively weak and largely disconnected from academia.

Firstly, there was a limited pool of contributors—only 27 in total—most of whom were clerics. Despite this, the initiative received support from laypeople, including Torquato de Sousa Soares, Eduardo Brazão, José da Silva Dias, and Henrique Barrilaro Ruas. Furthermore, the editorial committees themselves contributed more than half of the articles published. Notable contributors by volume of work included António Brásio, Mário Martins, Isaías da Rosa Pereira, Miguel de Oliveira, and Avelino de Jesus da Costa. Outside this core group, the contributions of the young Benedictine scholar José Mattoso deserve particular mention. As the third-largest contributor, he published and annotated the diplomatic correspondence of Friar Bento de Santa Gertrudes, João Pedro Ribeiro, and Friar Francisco de S. Luís. Thirdly, these characteristics, combined with the limited volume and scale of historiographical production, may have restricted the international reach of LS . This was evidenced by the publication of only one foreign author—Charles-Martial De Witte—despite the magazine establishing exchanges with several significant international publications and providing its authors with access to the CISH network.

These limitations were exacerbated by the persistent financial difficulties faced by the editorial committees. Efforts were made to alleviate these challenges through monetary contributions from the editorial members themselves and support from the Episcopate. Each diocese committed to purchasing a set number of copies—a strategy that yielded only modest results. Subsidies were also obtained from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation for the 1959 and 1960 issues and, later, from the Institute of High Culture. However, the financial support received was insufficient to repay debts or ensure the magazine’s sustainable publication [see LS , 1st Series, X (1978)]. Ultimately, personal monetary support from Cardinals Manuel Gonçalves Cerejeira and António Ribeiro had to be used to keep the magazine afloat.

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