Theatines
Encyclopedia
The Theatines or the Congregation of Clerks Regular of the Divine Providence are a male religious order
of the Catholic Church, with the post-nominal initials "C.R."
(Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene), Paolo Consiglieri, Bonifacio da Colle, and Giovanni Pietro Carafa (afterwards Pope Paul IV
). Carafa was Bishop of Chieti; Chieti
(Theate) is a city of the Abruzzi in Central Italy, from which the congregation adopted its specific name, to distinguish it from other congregations (Jesuits, Barnabites
, Somaschi, Caracciolini
, etc.) modelled upon it.
Cajetan consecrated his order to the Cross
, which he adopted as its emblem, and the foundation took place on the feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross, May 3, 1524. It was approved on June 24 of that year, by Pope Clement VII
in the Brief Exponi Nobis. On September 14, feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Cajetan and his companions made solemn profession before the papal altar of St. Peter's Basilica
in Rome, in the presence of Mgr. Giovanni Battista Bonziano, Bishop of Caserta, a special papal delegate.
The chief object of the order was to recall the clergy to an edifying life and the laity
to the practice of virtue
. Cajetan and his companions zealously endeavoured to combat the teachings of Martin Luther
, which, having gained a foothold in Switzerland, Germany, England, and France, then threatened Italy. They founded oratories
(among them the celebrated Divino Amore) and hospitals, devoted themselves to preaching the Gospel
, and reformed lax morals
. Through their good example clergy and laity were induced to better living.
of poverty, the congregation rapidly developed, and soon numbered among its members illustrious names of the Italian aristocracy
. They founded many beautiful churches, among them that of Sant'Andrea della Valle
in Rome, a gift of Costanza Piccolomini D'Aragona, Duchess of Amalfi
. This church is a masterpiece of Carlo Maderno
and contains several paintings by Domenichino. The Theatines were invited to all of the major cities of Italy by the authorities of these places.
They also attained a great development in foreign countries. In France, through the efforts of Cardinal Mazarin, they built the Church of St. Anne la Royale opposite the Louvre
in 1644. In Spain, under Philip II
, the Theatine Cardinal Paolo Burali d'Arezzo
, afterwards beatified, filled various embassies at the command of the viceroy of Naples
. In Portugal
, John IV
, in 1648, gave the Theatines a splendid house and college for the education of noble youth. In England, under Henry VIII
, Thomas Goldwell
, Bishop of St. Asaph, entered the order of Theatines. In Bavaria, the Theatine Church St. Kajetan was built from 1663 to 1690, founded by Elector Ferdinand Maria
The Theatines were the first to found papal missions in foreign lands, as in: Golconda
(in present-day India); Ava (Burma); Peru; Mingrelia (Georgia); the East Indies
, the history of which was written by the Theatine Bartolomeo Ferro (Missioni Teatine nelle Indie Orientali); Arabia; Armenia, in which latter country Father Galano, author of the history of the Armenian Church, negotiated and concluded the reconciliation and union of that Church with the Roman Catholic; Persia and in many other places, as is shown by Theatine manuscripts dating from 1530 until the end of the 18th century. In the 19th century the order began to decline, and in 1860, through the well-known suppression of religious orders, it was reduced to a shadow of its former greatness. In accordance with the spirit of its rule, it had never acquired possessions and is the only order which felt the consequences of the law of suppression.
had a hand in attempts at revival, calling upon the services of Cardinal José de Calasanz Félix Santiago Vives y Tutó. The papal Motu Proprio
Auspicato, of December 15, 1909, decreed the union of the Congregation of the Regular Theatine Clergy with the youthful Spanish Congregation of the Holy Family founded at Barcelona
by Josep Manyanet y Vives, but the two groups were separated again in 1916. In 1910 the Theatines were amalgamated with the Congregation of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, which had been founded in Mallorca
in 1867.
According to the 2010 Annuario Pontificio, as at 31 December 2008 the Theatines numbered 33 houses, and 189 members, of whom 133 were priests.
Father Francesco di Paola Ragonesi, general of the order, restored the Church of S. Andrea della Valle to its former splendour by his care and zeal, and aided by the munificence of Filippo Giove Romano. The Theatines still operate the church.
The Theatines are also present in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States of America, where they maintain a flourishing mission at Durango, Colorado
.
. It has also furnished one pope, Paul IV (Giovanni Pietro Carafa), 250 bishop
s, archbishop
s, and papal legates, and the cardinals
: Blessed Giovanni Marinoni, Blessed Paolo Burali d'Arezzo
, Giovanni Bernardino Scotti, Francesco
and Domenico Pignatelli, Giuseppe Capece-Zurlo, Francesco Maria Banditi, and Ferdinando Pignatelli, who was made cardinal by Pope Gregory XVI
. Father Anton Francesco Vezzosi wrote on notable members of the Order in his work I scrittori de' chierici regolari detti Teatini.
Among noted nineteenth-century Theatines was the Sicilian
Father Gioacchino Ventura dei baroni di Raulica, a philosopher, littérateur, and great sacred orator. He preached and wrote in both Italian and French. One of his most celebrated works being his funeral oration on the death of Daniel O'Connell
. He was the friend of many illustrious men of his day, among them the Abbé de Lamennais. He died at Versailles
in 1860.
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
of the Catholic Church, with the post-nominal initials "C.R."
Foundation
The order was founded by Saint CajetanSaint Cajetan
Saint Cajetan , born Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene , is a Catholic Church saint and founder of the order of the Clerics Regular, better known as the Theatines...
(Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene), Paolo Consiglieri, Bonifacio da Colle, and Giovanni Pietro Carafa (afterwards Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV, C.R. , né Giovanni Pietro Carafa, was Pope from 23 May 1555 until his death.-Early life:Giovanni Pietro Carafa was born in Capriglia Irpina, near Avellino, into a prominent noble family of Naples...
). Carafa was Bishop of Chieti; Chieti
Chieti
Chieti is a city and comune in Central Italy, 200 km northeast of Rome. It is the capital of the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region...
(Theate) is a city of the Abruzzi in Central Italy, from which the congregation adopted its specific name, to distinguish it from other congregations (Jesuits, Barnabites
Barnabites
The Barnabites, or Clerics Regular of Saint Paul is a Roman Catholic order.-Establishment of the Order :It was founded in 1530 by three Italian noblemen: St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria The Barnabites, or Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (Latin: Clerici Regulares Sancti Pauli, abbr. B.) is a Roman Catholic...
, Somaschi, Caracciolini
Clerics Regular Minor
The Clerics Regular Minor are a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Saint Francis Caracciolo, Augustine Adorno, and Fabrizio Caracciolo in 1563 in Villa Santa Maria. Their motto is : Ad Maiorem Dei Resurgentis Gloriam, "For the Greater Glory of the Risen God"...
, etc.) modelled upon it.
Cajetan consecrated his order to the Cross
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
, which he adopted as its emblem, and the foundation took place on the feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross, May 3, 1524. It was approved on June 24 of that year, by Pope Clement VII
Pope Clement VII
Clement VII , born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, was a cardinal from 1513 to 1523 and was Pope from 1523 to 1534.-Early life:...
in the Brief Exponi Nobis. On September 14, feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Cajetan and his companions made solemn profession before the papal altar of St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
in Rome, in the presence of Mgr. Giovanni Battista Bonziano, Bishop of Caserta, a special papal delegate.
The chief object of the order was to recall the clergy to an edifying life and the laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
to the practice of virtue
Virtue
Virtue is moral excellence. A virtue is a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being....
. Cajetan and his companions zealously endeavoured to combat the teachings of Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, which, having gained a foothold in Switzerland, Germany, England, and France, then threatened Italy. They founded oratories
Oratory (worship)
An oratory is a Christian room for prayer, from the Latin orare, to pray.-Catholic church:In the Roman Catholic Church, an oratory is a structure other than a parish church, set aside by ecclesiastical authority for prayer and the celebration of Mass...
(among them the celebrated Divino Amore) and hospitals, devoted themselves to preaching the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
, and reformed lax morals
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
. Through their good example clergy and laity were induced to better living.
Growth and accomplishments
Notwithstanding their severe rule of life and strict vowVow
A vow is a promise or oath.-Marriage vows:Marriage vows are binding promises each partner in a couple makes to the other during a wedding ceremony. Marriage customs have developed over history and keep changing as human society develops...
of poverty, the congregation rapidly developed, and soon numbered among its members illustrious names of the Italian aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
. They founded many beautiful churches, among them that of Sant'Andrea della Valle
Sant'Andrea della Valle
Sant'Andrea della Valle is a basilica church in Rome, Italy, in the rione of Sant'Eustachio. The basilica is the general seat for the religious order of the Theatines.-Overview:...
in Rome, a gift of Costanza Piccolomini D'Aragona, Duchess of Amalfi
Amalfi
Amalfi is a town and comune in the province of Salerno, in the region of Campania, Italy, on the Gulf of Salerno, c. 35 km southeast of Naples. It lies at the mouth of a deep ravine, at the foot of Monte Cerreto , surrounded by dramatic cliffs and coastal scenery...
. This church is a masterpiece of Carlo Maderno
Carlo Maderno
Carlo Maderno was a Swiss-Italian architect, born in Ticino, who is remembered as one of the fathers of Baroque architecture. His façades of Santa Susanna, St. Peter's Basilica and Sant'Andrea della Valle were of key importance in the evolution of the Italian Baroque...
and contains several paintings by Domenichino. The Theatines were invited to all of the major cities of Italy by the authorities of these places.
They also attained a great development in foreign countries. In France, through the efforts of Cardinal Mazarin, they built the Church of St. Anne la Royale opposite the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
in 1644. In Spain, under Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, the Theatine Cardinal Paolo Burali d'Arezzo
Paolo Burali d'Arezzo
Paolo Burali d'Arezzo was an Italian Theatine, bishop and cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was beatified in 1772,-Biography:...
, afterwards beatified, filled various embassies at the command of the viceroy of 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...
. In Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, John IV
John IV of Portugal
|-|John IV was the King of Portugal and the Algarves from 1640 to his death. He was the grandson of Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, who had in 1580 claimed the Portuguese crown and sparked the struggle for the throne of Portugal. John was nicknamed John the Restorer...
, in 1648, gave the Theatines a splendid house and college for the education of noble youth. In England, under Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, Thomas Goldwell
Thomas Goldwell
Thomas Goldwell was an English bishop, the last of those who had refused to accept the English Reformation.-Life:He began his career as rector of Cheriton in 1532, after graduating BA and then MA at All Souls College, Oxford.He became chaplain to Cardinal Pole and lived with him at Rome, was...
, Bishop of St. Asaph, entered the order of Theatines. In Bavaria, the Theatine Church St. Kajetan was built from 1663 to 1690, founded by Elector Ferdinand Maria
Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria
Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and an elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 1651 to 1679.-Biography:He was born in Munich...
The Theatines were the first to found papal missions in foreign lands, as in: Golconda
Golconda
Golconda may be:Places:* Golkonda, ruined city and fortress in India* Golconda, Illinois, town in the United States* Golconda, Nevada, former town in the United StatesOther:* Golconda...
(in present-day India); Ava (Burma); Peru; Mingrelia (Georgia); the East Indies
Indies
The Indies is a term that has been used to describe the lands of South and Southeast Asia, occupying all of the present India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and also Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, East Timor, Malaysia and...
, the history of which was written by the Theatine Bartolomeo Ferro (Missioni Teatine nelle Indie Orientali); Arabia; Armenia, in which latter country Father Galano, author of the history of the Armenian Church, negotiated and concluded the reconciliation and union of that Church with the Roman Catholic; Persia and in many other places, as is shown by Theatine manuscripts dating from 1530 until the end of the 18th century. In the 19th century the order began to decline, and in 1860, through the well-known suppression of religious orders, it was reduced to a shadow of its former greatness. In accordance with the spirit of its rule, it had never acquired possessions and is the only order which felt the consequences of the law of suppression.
Decline of the Order
By the end of the eighteenth century decline had set in, exacerbated by politic upheavals. Pope Pius XPope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
had a hand in attempts at revival, calling upon the services of Cardinal José de Calasanz Félix Santiago Vives y Tutó. The papal Motu Proprio
Motu proprio
A motu proprio is a document issued by the Pope on his own initiative and personally signed by him....
Auspicato, of December 15, 1909, decreed the union of the Congregation of the Regular Theatine Clergy with the youthful Spanish Congregation of the Holy Family founded at Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
by Josep Manyanet y Vives, but the two groups were separated again in 1916. In 1910 the Theatines were amalgamated with the Congregation of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, which had been founded in Mallorca
Mallorca
Majorca or Mallorca is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the Balearic Islands.The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Cabrera Archipelago is administratively grouped with Majorca...
in 1867.
According to the 2010 Annuario Pontificio, as at 31 December 2008 the Theatines numbered 33 houses, and 189 members, of whom 133 were priests.
Father Francesco di Paola Ragonesi, general of the order, restored the Church of S. Andrea della Valle to its former splendour by his care and zeal, and aided by the munificence of Filippo Giove Romano. The Theatines still operate the church.
The Theatines are also present in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States of America, where they maintain a flourishing mission at Durango, Colorado
Durango, Colorado
The City of Durango is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau said that the city population was 16,887 in 2010 census.-History:...
.
Prominent Members
The Order has numbered among its members Saint Cajetan, invoked for the interposition of Providence, Saint Andrea Avellino, invoked against sudden death, and also the liturgical scholar and cardinal Saint Giuseppe Maria TomasiGiuseppe Maria Tomasi
Saint Giuseppe Maria Tomasi di Lampedusa, CR , often anglicized as Saint Joseph Mary Tomasi, was born at Licata, Sicily, of a princely family. He was an Italian Theatine scholar and reformer, and cardinal. He was beatified by Pope Pius VII in 1803, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in...
. It has also furnished one pope, Paul IV (Giovanni Pietro Carafa), 250 bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s, archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
s, and papal legates, and the cardinals
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
: Blessed Giovanni Marinoni, Blessed Paolo Burali d'Arezzo
Paolo Burali d'Arezzo
Paolo Burali d'Arezzo was an Italian Theatine, bishop and cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was beatified in 1772,-Biography:...
, Giovanni Bernardino Scotti, Francesco
Francesco Pignatelli
Francesco Pignatelli was an Italian cardinal.He entered the order of Theatines in 1665. On September 27, 1684 he was elected archbishop of Taranto. On February 19, 1703 he was transferred to the metropolitan see of Naples and occupied it until his death. Apostolic nuncio in Poland 1700-03...
and Domenico Pignatelli, Giuseppe Capece-Zurlo, Francesco Maria Banditi, and Ferdinando Pignatelli, who was made cardinal by Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
. Father Anton Francesco Vezzosi wrote on notable members of the Order in his work I scrittori de' chierici regolari detti Teatini.
Among noted nineteenth-century Theatines was the Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
Father Gioacchino Ventura dei baroni di Raulica, a philosopher, littérateur, and great sacred orator. He preached and wrote in both Italian and French. One of his most celebrated works being his funeral oration on the death of Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
. He was the friend of many illustrious men of his day, among them the Abbé de Lamennais. He died at Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
in 1860.