Raimondo delle Vigne
Encyclopedia
Raimondo delle Vigne was a leading member of the Dominican Order
and served as its Master General from 1380 until his death; he was beatified in 1899, and is referred to with the prefix "Blessed". As Provincial of Lombardy
and then as Master General of the Order itself, Raimondo undertook the restoration of Dominican religious life; for his success in this endeavor, he could be considered a "second founder" of the Order. He worked also for the return of the Papacy to Rome
and for a solution to the Western schism
. Catherine of Siena
chose him as a spiritual director because of his burning passion for the Church and for the revival of the religious life.
, Italy
in about 1330, Raimondo was a descendant of Pietro della Vigna
. In 1350, while a student of law at the University of Bologna
, he entered the Dominican Order
. He was a teacher and prior in various Italian cloisters. For thirty years he worked as a spiritual director or a teacher in various communities—Montepulciano
, Rome, and later in Siena
, where he was also involved in nursing and relief during the pestilence of 1374.
By 1374 he had come to the attention of the popes as spiritual director and confessor of Catherine of Siena, and also for his novel ways of confronting problems like the Crusade in the Holy Land, the return of the popes to Rome, and the general reform of the Church. He was well-known for his ability to pass seamlessly from dealing with spiritual and supernatural considerations to the more mundane matters of practical politics. For four years Raimondo accompanied Catherine in her journeys, and went to Avignon
to act as an intermediary between her and Pope Gregory XI
. Gregory would finally return to Rome in 1377. But he died in 1378, and the election of his successor, Urban, led to the Western schism that lasted 39 years, with one pope in Rome and another in Avignon
. This schism divided Europe; Raimondo, like Catherine, supported the Roman Papacy, and defended its legitimacy.
In the year 1380, Catherine died and Raimondo was elected Master General of Dominican Order. He then divided his time between Italy and Germany. In the Caterinian spirit of reform, he gave a new spiritual vitality to the order. Raimondo favored the development of a new interpretation of "observance", for which he drew upon the Franciscan example. "In this work he deserved the designation of being the second founder of the order of the Preachers."
, where he died, but his body was later carried to Naples
, to the church of San Domenico Maggiore
. In 1899 Pope Leo XIII
beatified
Raimondo.
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
and served as its Master General from 1380 until his death; he was beatified in 1899, and is referred to with the prefix "Blessed". As Provincial of Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
and then as Master General of the Order itself, Raimondo undertook the restoration of Dominican religious life; for his success in this endeavor, he could be considered a "second founder" of the Order. He worked also for the return of the Papacy to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and for a solution to the Western schism
Western Schism
The Western Schism or Papal Schism was a split within the Catholic Church from 1378 to 1417. Two men simultaneously claimed to be the true pope. Driven by politics rather than any theological disagreement, the schism was ended by the Council of Constance . The simultaneous claims to the papal chair...
. Catherine of Siena
Catherine of Siena
Saint Catherine of Siena, T.O.S.D, was a tertiary of the Dominican Order, and a Scholastic philosopher and theologian. She also worked to bring the papacy of Gregory XI back to Rome from its displacement in France, and to establish peace among the Italian city-states. She was proclaimed a Doctor...
chose him as a spiritual director because of his burning passion for the Church and for the revival of the religious life.
Life
Born in CapuaCapua
Capua is a city and comune in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy, situated 25 km north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. Ancient Capua was situated where Santa Maria Capua Vetere is now...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in about 1330, Raimondo was a descendant of Pietro della Vigna
Pietro della Vigna
Pietro della Vigna, , was an Italian jurist and diplomat, who acted as chancellor and secretary to Emperor Frederick II. Accused of lèse majesté, he was imprisoned and blinded and committed suicide soon after...
. In 1350, while a student of law at the University of Bologna
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
, he entered the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
. He was a teacher and prior in various Italian cloisters. For thirty years he worked as a spiritual director or a teacher in various communities—Montepulciano
Montepulciano
Montepulciano is a medieval and Renaissance hill town and comune in the province of Siena in southern Tuscany, in Italy. Montepulciano, with an elevation of 605 m, sits on a high limestone ridge. By car it is 13 km E of Pienza; 70 km SE of Siena, 124 km SE of Florence, and...
, Rome, and later in Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
, where he was also involved in nursing and relief during the pestilence of 1374.
By 1374 he had come to the attention of the popes as spiritual director and confessor of Catherine of Siena, and also for his novel ways of confronting problems like the Crusade in the Holy Land, the return of the popes to Rome, and the general reform of the Church. He was well-known for his ability to pass seamlessly from dealing with spiritual and supernatural considerations to the more mundane matters of practical politics. For four years Raimondo accompanied Catherine in her journeys, and went to Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
to act as an intermediary between her and Pope Gregory XI
Pope Gregory XI
Gregory XI was pope from 1370 until his death.-Biography:He was born Pierre Roger de Beaufort, in Maumont, in the modern commune of Rosiers-d'Égletons, Limousin around 1336. He succeeded Pope Urban V in 1370, and was pope until 1378...
. Gregory would finally return to Rome in 1377. But he died in 1378, and the election of his successor, Urban, led to the Western schism that lasted 39 years, with one pope in Rome and another in Avignon
Avignon Papacy
The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven Popes resided in Avignon, in modern-day France. This arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French crown....
. This schism divided Europe; Raimondo, like Catherine, supported the Roman Papacy, and defended its legitimacy.
In the year 1380, Catherine died and Raimondo was elected Master General of Dominican Order. He then divided his time between Italy and Germany. In the Caterinian spirit of reform, he gave a new spiritual vitality to the order. Raimondo favored the development of a new interpretation of "observance", for which he drew upon the Franciscan example. "In this work he deserved the designation of being the second founder of the order of the Preachers."
Veneration
He was buried first in NurembergNuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, where he died, but his body was later carried to Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, to the church of San Domenico Maggiore
San Domenico Maggiore
San Domenico Maggiore is a church in Naples, southern Italy, located in the square with the same name. The square is one of the most interesting in Naples and is on the street popularly called "Spaccanapoli" in the historic center of Naples...
. In 1899 Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
Raimondo.