St.

Cajetan, Founder of the

Theatine Order
by Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876

St. Cajetan, founder of the holy order, whose members are called
Theatines, was born in 1487, at Vicenza, in Lombardy, of noble and
pious parents. Immediately after his baptism, his mother consecrated
him to the Blessed Virgin, humbly begging her to guard him and take
his spiritual welfare under her motherly protection. His entire after life
proved how effectual his mother's prayers had been. He was never,
even in his most tender years, like other children; his greatest pleasure
consisted in praying, building small altars, giving alms to the poor, and
being most perfect in his obedience to his parents. His whole conduct
was such, that even in childhood, he was called a saint. He afterwards
went to the University, and always made it his greatest care to
preserve his innocence unspotted among so many temptations. Having
received, at Padua, the degree of civil and canon laws, he repaired to
Rome, where he was ordained priest, and preferred by Pope Julius II. to
a high ecclesiastical position.

After the death of the Pope, he resigned his dignity and returned to his
home, desiring to work more effectually for the salvation of souls. He
served the sick in and out of the hospitals, with untiring charity, in the
time of pestilence. His labors were at first, confined to his native town;
later, however, he went to Venice. His principal aim was to save souls.
The sick, he persuaded by kind and gentle exhortations; and others he
moved to virtue by his earnest sermons. The popular saying was, that
Cajetan looked like a seraph when standing before the altar, and like
an Apostle when in the pulpit. His devotion when he said mass, was
equalled by his fervor and zeal while preaching. Whenever he had the
opportunity, he tried to win a soul for the Almighty. After some time, he
went again to Rome, where, inspired by God, and with the co-operation
of three other pious and learned men, he founded an Order for such
priests as desired to live an apostolic life, to reform the negligence of
the clergy, and the corrupt morals of the people of the world; to
observe carefully the sacred ceremonies of the church; restore the
observance of pious conduct in the temples dedicated to the worship
of the Most High; to labor in opposition to the heretics; assist the sick
and dying, and in a word, to promote the welfare of men to the best of
their ability.

He imposed a special obligation on the members in regard to the vow

of poverty; they were not only forbidden to have annual revenues, but
 even to ask alms. They had to leave the whole care of their
subsistence to God, and wait patiently for what Providence would send
them. Hard as this seemed to be, still many were found willing to bear
such abject poverty. The first house of the order was at Rome; but it
was abandoned after the first year, on account of an inroad of imperial
soldiers, who also treated Cajetan with great cruelty. Among these
soldiers there was one who had formerly been acquainted with the
Saint at Vicenza, and knew that, at that time, he was very rich.
Believing that he still possessed great treasures, he tried to force them
from him, by maltreating him most brutally, and several times casting
him into prison.

From Rome, the holy founder went to Venice, where he again nursed
those stricken down with pestilence. He was then ordered by the Pope
to Naples, to found a new house for his Order. This city had to thank
the vigilance of this Saint, under God, for its preservation from heresy;
for, several disciples of Luther, who at that time disseminated his
poisonous doctrines in Germany, had come to Naples and begun
privately, as well as publicly, to maintain, under the name of
"Evangelical liberty," the teachings of Luther. They had also brought
with them several books which contained the Lutheran doctrines,
designing to give them to the people, and thus contaminate the city
with the doctrines they contained. When St. Cajetan was informed of
this, and had, moreover, seen the Evil One standing in the pulpit
beside Bernardin Ochino, one of Luther's disciples, whispering into his
ear every word that he preached, he notified the ecclesiastical
authorities of these facts, and preached so zealously against the new
heresy, that the heretical books were all given up and burnt, and the
inhabitants of the city were preserved in the true faith. The Saint
rendered the same service to several other cities in Italy.

The holy man was exceedingly severe towards himself. He never

divested himself of his rough hair-shirt. Almost daily he scourged
himself most mercilessly. In partaking of nourishment he was so
temperate, that his life might justly be called a continual fast. He spent
most of his nights in devout exercises, taking but a short rest upon
straw. He never spoke except to honor God or benefit man. He was
indefatigable in his exertions for the salvation of souls, and hence it is
not surprising that God bestowed many graces upon him. One
Christmas Eve, when he was passing the night in the Church of St.
Mary Major, the Holy Child appeared to him, and the Blessed Virgin,
who carried Him, laid Him into the Saint's arms, filling his soul with
heavenly consolation. The holy man had many other visions during his
life, and was often seen in a state of ecstasy during his prayers. He
also possessed the gift of prophecy, and miraculously cured a great
many sick. There was a priest of his Order, whose foot was to be
amputated. The evening before the operation was to be performed, the
Saint examined the foot, which was extremely swollen and affected
with gangrene; he kissed it, made the holy sign of the cross over it,
bandaged it anew, exhorting the sufferer to put his trust in God and to
ask the intercession of St. Francis. After this he turned to God in prayer.
When on the following day, the surgeon came to perform the painful
and dangerous amputation, they found, to their amazement, that the
foot was healed.

When St. Cajetan sailed from Venice to Naples, a terrible storm arose,
and all on board expected the boat to sink every moment. Cajetan took
his Agnus Dei and threw it into the sea, which immediately became
calm. His life is filled with similar events; we, however, having no space
for more of them, will only relate how happily and with what heroic
charity he ended his earthly career.

The authorities at Naples, civil as well as ecclesiastical, had resolved to

institute the Inquisition in the city, to guard the faithful more
thoroughly against heresy. The people were, however, opposed to it to
such an extent, that a revolt was feared, and neither the exhortations
and persuasions of St. Cajetan nor of other men were of any avail. The
holy man was deeply distressed at the danger of so great a city and
still more of so many souls. Hence he offered his life as a sacrifice to
appease the wrath of the Almighty, praying that God would accept of
it, restore peace, and spare the city and its inhabitants. The following
event will show how pleased the Almighty was with this sacrifice. Soon
after the Saint had offered himself to Heaven, he became dangerously
sick, and repeating his offer, died a most peaceful and holy death,
having had the privilege of seeing Christ and the Blessed Virgin. The
Saviour assured him of his salvation, the Divine Mother of her
protection until his death. And yet he would not die in any other
manner than as a penitent; for when the physician said he needed a
more comfortable bed, he protested most emphatically against it,
saying that he would not, in his last hour, allow his body any comfort,
but that he would be laid in his penitential robes upon ashes on the
ground, adding: "There is no road leading to Heaven but that of
innocence or repentance. He who has departed from the first, must
take the second; else he is eternally lost."

He received the last Sacraments with great devotion, turned his eyes
towards Heaven, and rendered up his soul tranquilly to God, in the year
of our Lord 1547. The strife in the city soon after ceased and peace
was restored, as if God had wished to show that He had accepted the
life of St. Cajetan as a peace offering for the salvation of innumerable
souls. Many miracles were wrought by the Almighty to recompense the
great faith which St. Cajetan manifested in the Divine Providence,
 when he instituted such complete poverty in his new order. After his
death also, God honored him by working many miracles through his
intercession.

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

I particularly desire that the last maxim which St. Cajetan gave on his
death-bed should sink deeply into your heart. " There is no road to
Heaven but that of Innocence or Penance." This is a truth which is
founded upon Holy Writ. If then it is your earnest wish to go to Heaven,
examine yourself carefully, and see if you are walking in the right path.
How is it with your innocence? How with your penance? I leave it to
you to answer these questions, and will only say, in the words of St.
Cajetan: "If you have departed from the road of innocence, you must
enter that of penance; else you are eternally lost." Having said this
much to you, I will give you a few instructions on the life of this great
servant of God.

I. St. Cajetan placed a special trust in God in regard to the necessaries

of life. Many persons are too much concerned about their temporal
matters; others, too little; the latter lead an idle life, take no care of
their homes, do not work according to their station in life, or squander
their earnings or inheritance. But by far the greater number are too
greedy of wealth. Their thoughts, from early morning till late at night,
are occupied with their temporal affairs. They do not even take time to
say a morning prayer or to assist at Holy Mass, because they fear to
miss something by it, or think they neglect their household duties.
They give not one thought to God or to their soul during the whole day.
In short, they are as much absorbed in their temporal affairs, as if
riches were the sole aim and object of their existence. They expect
everything from their own exertions, not remembering that all success
depends on the Almighty.

May you not belong to either of these classes. Work for your livelihood
according to your position; avoid idleness; but above all, trust in God,
Who will assuredly not forsake you, if you do your duty. "Behold the
birds of the air; for, they neither sow nor do they reap, nor gather into
barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are you not of much
more value than they? And for raiment why are you solicitous?
Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they labor not, neither do
they spin. And if the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow is
cast into the oven, God does so clothe; how much more you, O ye of
little faith? Seek therefore first the kingdom of God and His justice, and
all things shall be added unto you (Matt. vi. ii)." St. Cajetan never
suffered from want. God frequently assisted him by miracles. With
 many men it is quite different. They are often in want, and God does
not assist them. For some, it is their own fault; for others, it is a trial.
The latter must console themselves with the thought that this want
serves them to obtain salvation. God wishes to lead them, like Lazarus,
through poverty, into Heaven. Had Lazarus possessed worldly goods
like the rich man, perhaps he would have had to, suffer in hell like him.
Therefore, they must not grieve over their poverty, but bear it with
resignation. They must endeavor to lead a Christian life and put entire
trust in God, and He will surely not forsake them.

But those who have come to poverty, because they have been idle, or
worked on Sundays or holidays without necessity, or sought for gain by
unlawful means, should not be surprised, if they suffer want; for, how
can they reasonably expect to be blessed by the Almighty, if they so
often, without shame or fear, transgress His commandments? Do they
not know that God's curse threatens him who transgresses His laws?
"Cursed shalt thou be in the city, cursed in the field. Cursed shall be
thy barn and cursed thy stores. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy womb
and the fruit of thy ground, the herds of thy oxen and the flocks of thy
sheep," etc. But the Almighty also promises His blessing to those who
keep His commandments: "Blessed shalt thou be in the city and in the
fields; blessed shall be the fruit of thy womb and of thy ground, and
the fruits of thy oxen and the droves of thy herds. Blessed thy barns,"
etc. (Deut. xxvii.) If men desire that God should help them in their
poverty, they must resolve to keep His commandments better, to work
according to their station, and take sufficient care of their affairs. "
Behold, says He, this day I have set before you life and death, blessing
and cursing. Choose therefore life."

__________________________

Prayer of Saint Cajetan

and Visit to the Blessed Sacrament

Look down, O Lord, from Thy sanctuary, and from the high habitation of
heaven, and behold this sacred oblation which our great High Priest,
Thy holy Servant, the Lord Jesus, immolates unto Thee for the sins of
His brethren, and be propitious to the multitude of our iniquities.
Behold, the voice of the blood of Jesus, our brother, crieth to Thee from
the cross. Graciously hear, O Lord; be appeased, O Lord, hearken and
do? Delay not for Thy own sake, my God, because Thy name is invoked
upon this city and upon Thy people, and do with us according to Thy
mercy.
 (Plenary indulgence on the first Thursday of each month for
communicants visiting the blessed Sacrament and reciting this prayer.
Partial indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines on other
Thursdays. --Pius VII.)

Ejaculation
May all praise and thanks be continually given to the most holy and
most august Sacrament.
(Indulgence one hundred days)

The Origin of the Congregation of the Perpetual Adoration

and the Exposition of the Forty Hours

Several Fathers of the Theatine Order, taking example by the zeal of

their saintly founder, could not endure that our Divine Redeemer, Who
in His love tarrieth with us poor men in the Most Holy Sacrament under
the form of an insignificant Host, should be so little sought, honoured,
and praised with thanksgiving. The thought therefore occurred to them
to found a congregation whose members should undertake in turns to
pray before the Blessed Sacrament. All the hours of the year were
distributed amongst the members, so that every hour of the year the
Most Holy Sacrament should be adored in deepest humility.

Besides the devotion of the perpetual adoration, which was the result
of the love of our Lord, the same congregation founded that of the
Exposition of the Forty Hours, in honour of the forty hours during which
the body of Jesus lay in the grave.
 Saint Cajetan of Thienna, Confessor
from the Liturgical Year, 1901

Cajetan appeared in all his zeal for the sanctuary at the time when the
false reform was spreading rebellion throughout the world. The great
cause of the danger had been the incapacity of the guardians of the
holy City, or their connivance by complicity of heart or of mind with
pagan doctrines and manners introduced by an ill-advised revival.
Wasted by the wild boar of the forest, could the vineyard of the Lord
recover the fertility of its better days? Cajetan learned from Eternal
Wisdom the new method of culture required by an exhausted soil.
 The urgent need of those unfortunate times was that the clergy should
be raised up again by worthy life, zeal, and knowledge. For this object
men were required, who being clerks themselves in the full acceptation
of the word, with all the obligations it involves, should be to the
members of the holy hierarchy a permanent model of its primitive
perfection, a supplement to their shortcomings, and a leaven, little by
little raising the whole mass. But where, save in the life of the counsels
with the stability of its three vows, could be found the impulse, the
power, and the permanence necessary for such an enterprise? The
inexhaustible fecundity of the religious life was no more wanting in the
Church in those days of decadence than in the periods of her glory.
After the monks, turning to God in their solitudes and drawing down
light and love upon the earth seemingly so forgotten by them; after the
mendicant Orders, keeping up in the midst of the world their claustral
habits of life and the austerity of the desert: the regular clerks entered
upon the battle-field, whereby their position in the fight, their exterior
manner of life, their very dress, they were to mingle with the ranks of
the secular clergy; just as a few veterans are sent into the midst of a
wavering troop, to act upon the rest by word and example and dash.

Like the initiators of the great ancient forms of religious life, Cajetan
was the Patriarch of the Regular Clerks. Under this name Clement VII.,
by a brief dated 24th June, 1524, approved the institute he had
founded that very year in concert with the Bishop of Theati, from
whom the new religious were also called Theatines. Soon the
Barnabites, the Society of Jesus, the Somasques of St. Jerome Emilian,
the Regular Clerks Minor of St. Francis Carracciolo, the Regular Clerks
ministering to the sick, the Regular Clerks of the Pious Schools, the
Regular Clerks of the Mother of God, and others, hastened to follow in
the track, and proved that the Church is ever beautiful, ever worthy of
her Spouse; while the accusation of barrenness hurled against her by
heresy, rebounded upon the thrower.

Cajetan began and carried forward his reform chiefly by means of

detachment from riches, the love of which had caused many evils in
the Church. The Theatines offered to the world a spectacle unknown
since the days of the Apostles; pushing their zeal for renouncement so
far as not to allow themselves even to beg, but to rely on the
spontaneous charity of the faithful. While Luther was denying the very
existence of God's Providence, their heroic trust in It was often
rewarded by prodigies.

Let us now read the life of this new patriarch:

Cajetan was born at Vicenza of the noble house of Thienna, and was at
once dedicated by his mother to the Virgin Mother of God. His
 innocence appeared so wonderful from his very childhood that
everyone called him "the "Saint." He took the degree of Doctor in
canon and civil law at Padua, and then went to Rome where Julius II.
made him a Prelate. When he received the priesthood, such a fire of
divine love was enkindled in his soul, that he left the court to devote
himself entirely to God. He founded hospitals with his own money and
himself served the sick, even those attacked with pestilential maladies.
He displayed such unflagging zeal for the salvation of his neighbour
that he earned the name of the "Hunter of souls."

His great desire was to restore Ecclesiastical discipline, then much

relaxed, to the form of the Apostolic life, and to this end he founded
the Order of Regular Clerks. They lay aside all care of earthly things,
possess no revenues, do not beg even the necessaries of life from the
faithful, but live only on alms spontaneously offered. Clement VII.
having approved this institution, Cajetan made his solemn vows at the
High Altar of the Vatican basilica, together with John Peter Caraffa,
Bishop of Chieti, who was afterwards Pope Paul IV., and two other men
of distinguished piety. During the sack of Rome, he was most cruelly
treated by the soldiers, to make him deliver up his money, which the
hands of the poor had long ago carried into the heavenly treasures. He
endured with the utmost patience stripes, torture, and imprisonment.
He persevered unfalteringly in the kind of life he had embraced, relying
entirely upon Divine Providence: and God never failed him, as was
sometimes proved by miracle.

He was a great promoter of assiduity at the divine worship, of the

beauty of the House of God, of exactness in holy ceremonies, and of
the frequentation of the most Holy Eucharist. More than once he
detected and foiled the wicked subterfuges of heresy. He would prolong
his prayers for eight hours, without ceasing to shed tears; he was often
rapt in ecstasy and was famous for the gift of prophecy. At Rome, one
Christmas night, while he was praying at our Lord's crib, the Mother of
God was pleased to lay the Infant Jesus in his arms. He would spend
whole nights in chastising his body with disciplines, and could never be
induced to relax anything of the austerity of his life: for he would say,
he wished to die in sackcloth and ashes. At length he fell into an illness
caused by the intense sorrow he felt, at seeing the people offend God
by a sedittion; and at Naples, after being refreshed by a heavenly
vision, he passed to heaven. His body is honoured with great devotion
in the Church of St. Paul in that town. As many miracles worked by him
both living and dead made his name illustrious, Pope Clement X.
enrolled him amongst the Saints.

Prayer:
 Who has ever obeyed so well as thou, O great Saint, that word of the
Gospel: Be not solicitous therefore saying: What shall we eat? or what
shall we drink? or wherewith shall we be clothed (St. Matth. vi. 31)?
Thou didst understand, too, that other divine word: The workman is
worthy of his meat (Ibid. x. 10. 3), and thou knewest that it applied
principally to those who labour in word and doctrine (1 Tim. v. 17.).
Thou didst not ignore the fact that other sowers of the word had before
thee founded on that saying the right of their poverty, embraced for
God's sake, to claim at least the bread of alms. Sublime right of souls
eager for opprobrium in order to follow Jesus and to satiate their love!
But Wisdom, who gives to the desires of the Saints the bent suitable to
their times, caused the thirst for humiliation to be overruled in thee by
the ambition to exalt in thy poverty the holy Providence of God; this
was needed in an age of renewed paganism, which, even before
listening to heresy, seemed to have ceased to trust in God. Alas! even
of those to whom the Lord had given himself for their possession in the
midst of the children of Israel, it could be truly said that they sought
the goods of this world like the heathen. It was thy earnest desire, O
Cajetan, to justify our Heavenly Father and to prove that He is ever
ready to fulfil the promise made by His adorable Son: Seek ye
therefore the kingdom of God, and His justice, and all these things shall
be added unto you (St. Matth. vi. 33).

Circumstances obliged thee to begin in this way the reformation of the

sanctuary, whereunto thou wert resolved to devote thy life. It was
necessary, first, to bring back the members of the holy militia to the
spirit of the sacred formula of the ordination of clerks, when, laying
aside the spirit of the world together with its livery, they say in the joy
of their hearts: "The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my
cup: it is Thou, O Lord, that wilt restore my inheritance to me (Ps. xv.
5)."

The Lord, O Cajetan, acknowledged thy zeal and blessed thine efforts.
Preserve in us the fruit of thy labour. The science of sacred rites owes
much to thy sons; may they prosper, in renewed fidelity to the
traditions of their father. May thy patriarchal blessing ever rest upon
the numerous families of Regular Clerks which walk in the footsteps of
thine own. May all the ministers of holy Church experience the power
thou still hast, of maintaining them in the right path of their holy state,
or, if necessary, of bringing them back to it. May the example of thy
sublime confidence in God, teach all Christians that they have a Father
in heaven, whose Providence will never fail His children.