Chapter 13

1662-1780, The Golden Century

 HISTORY OF THE BARNABITES 139

The first half of the 17th century saw the actualization of defined rules and regulations
under the excellent helm of wise superior generals. Finally, with the transferal of the general curia
in 1662 to Rome, the order took its place in the life of the universal Church. Certainly the
attachment of the Barnabites to the See of Peter was profound and expressed itself in fidelity and
service, as the following will show.

In 1682 “Gallicanism” became official doctrine in France. Since the late middle ages,
Gallicanism waxed and waned with the times, and received a notable boost with the work of
Pithou in 1594. In 1683, however, matters reached a peak with the publication of a manifesto by
the Association of French Clergy asserting extensive Gallican prerogatives, which no doubt had
royal approval. In 1690, Pope Alexander VIII condemned the declaration, and the movement went
into a general decline. The final repudiation of Gallicanism came in the declaration of papal
supremacy by the First Vatican Council.

Fr. General Maderni wrote to all the Barnabites that “it is the opinion of all of us (the
General Curia) that none of our confreres should support in any way nor teach the (Gallican)
propositions regarding the Pope…”

The superior of the Barnabite community in Paris echoed the same sentiment: “We must
adhere to the Supreme Pontiff even at the risk of personal danger, supporting nothing which is
against his authority and infallibility….”

The problem for our communities in France was that Gallicanism was a required teaching
in all the schools in France, placing Barnabite schools on a collision course with secular authority.
Fortunately, no inspector ever checked to see if the teaching was being enforced.

Scientific and Literary Activity

There was an unshakable commitment to scientific learning in our schools.

In a letter dated August 12, 1765, Father General Giampietro Besozzi declared:

“Arts and sciences are so interconnected that no one can excel in only one of them without
having some knowledge of the others…We must cultivate all disciplines and not only the
ecclesiastical ones…those purely human and natural, which, although called profane, go
well with piety; and there is no doubt that true piety is not and never has been a friend of
ignorance. The Fathers of the Church, shining lights of holiness, were always the most
scholarly and knowledgeable men of their century. Therefore, my desire is for young
people to be ardent and broadminded in their study; and, as much as I can, I exhort them
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not to be satisfied with the ordinary lectures, of which they have to give a daily account,
but to embrace also other subjects in various fields, as suggested to them, and to study hard
to learn the elements and the principles of each discipline, or at least of the most serious
and difficult.”

He especially prized training in eloquence:

“In the ministry of the Divine Word, which is our most important task, the greatest
contribution man can make to its efficacy is eloquence. This is why we strongly
recommend it, and to this purpose we shall follow the tradition of our early Fathers: our
students of philosophy and theology should often practice writing and reciting...”

Preaching and Spiritual Direction

The Constitutions and the rules for the various offices which derived from the Constitutions
upheld the administration of the sacrament of forgiveness as the “most important task of our order.”
The same held true for preaching.

We already have had the opportunity to see how the Barnabites were in demand as spiritual
directors, the most famous being St. Francis Xavier Bianchi, Apostle of Naples.

Among other preachers worth mentioning are Fr. Gavanti, who was in great demand for
his Lenten sermons; Fr. Manara, superior general and later a bishop, who, besides being in demand
in the major Italian churches for his inspiring teaching, was even requested by the imperial court
in Vienna to preach there during Advent and Lent; and such illustrious preachers as the reverend
fathers Denti, Raggi, Bossi, Recrosio, Viarizzi, Beria, and finally Quadrupani, the “most famous
orator in Italy.” In 1795 he published his “Light and Peace - Instruction for devout souls to discipline
their doubts and deepen their faith,” which has been translated into many languages and is still in print .

An international Congregation

The expansion of the order outside of Italy came about slowly and tentatively. In 1701, a
French province had to be created and in 1749, a German province. In 1725 a Frenchman, Fr.
Capitain, became superior general of the order, followed in 1761 by a German, Fr. Manzador.
 HISTORY OF THE BARNABITES 141

At the height of our expansion

The 18th century was truly a “golden century” in terms of the number of religious houses
and members in our order, which would never again achieve such heights: 788 professed members
(priests, brothers, and novices) in 1724 and 1731, and 72 religious houses in 1748.

This expansion was attributed by Father General Fante to the transfer of the General Curia
from Milan to Rome. In his booklet the “Verace relatione,” he claimed that in 1659 the order had
only about 500 members, while many religious houses were made up of only three or four
members, so that “The superior generals did not know where to turn to find workers to staff
churches, pulpits, [and] classrooms.”

The booklet lists five formation houses (St. Alexander and St. Barnabas in Milan, Pavia,
Montù, Macerata) in existence prior to 1662, with a total of 40 students, while in 1677 the 120
seminarians were dispersed among fourteen formation houses (Genoa, Vercelli, Asti, Vienna,
Bologna, Pisa, Rome, Perugia, and San Severino, besides the five mentioned above): “Thanks be
to God, in all these places the young men who are being educated are religious as well as scholars.”

Noteworthy events

a) Theologate in Rome

The 1662 general chapter decided to open a theologate (“school of theologians”) in Rome.
Starting in 1669, every province would send at least two students to study there.

b) 1666

Both Superior General Fr. Cuttica and Procurator General Fr. Tusconi died within the same
year, 1666, and only two months apart. It was a whole 15 months before the next general chapter
could convene and elect new leaders. Meanwhile interim leaders would have to serve. Fr. Gallicio
asked the Pope to choose candidates for both positions. Hence the Pope appointed a commission,
which nominated the reverend fathers Gallicio, Falconio, Marchelli, and Maderni. The Pope
proceeded to appoint Fr. Marchelli as superior general, and Fr. Fanti as procurator general.

c) The Corio family and the controversy over the transfer of the Curia to Rome

The Corio family had given two brothers to the congregation, but they strenuously opposed
the decision to move the general curia from Milan to Rome. They even went so far as to sway
influential and powerful people to get Lombard people elected at the general chapter of 1674.
According to the new ruling only six capitulars came from Milan, and they had not yet agreed on
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whom to nominate as superior general. A violent and vengeful reaction met the election of Fr.
Fanti on the first ballot, who was not a Lombard. The political authorities in Milan forbade Fr.
Rastelli and Fr. Ferrari from returning to Milan, and sequestered all properties of the order (situated
in the Duchy of Milan) unless and until Fr. Fanti decided to return the curia to Milan.

In vain did influential people attempt to explain to them the essential, unalienable freedom
of the capitulars... Finally only Fr. Ferrari was allowed to return, while Fr. Rastelli had to wait
until 1677. Having seized all properties of the Barnabites, the communities had no revenues
Naturally Superior General Fanti refused to be pressured. Meantime Cardinal Odelscalchi, a
Milanese, became Pope Innocent XI, and the Corio faction hoped that he would support them! Fr.
Fanti was granted permission to address the Senate about the intolerable situation of the order in
Milan.

Senator Danese Casati, an ally of the Barnabites, prepared a special report which gave a
detailed account of the state of the congregation: “It is said that the Congregation since it moved
the Curia to Rome has declined in observance and reputation. To be convinced of this enormous
lie it is enough to compare its status before and now…the congregation in 1659 was reduced to
more or less 500 members…At present, the congregation has grown to about 800 subjects, and all
houses are well staffed in number and quality…At this time, all the students of the congregation,
about 35-40, are distributed in Italy in five houses of studies: St. Alexander, St. Barnabas, Pavia,
Montù, and Macerata. At the moment the students in Italy number 120... The house of St. Charles
in Rome, which had 24-25 subjects, at present has 45, and among them a school of theologians
selected from the four provinces... These well known truths prove as false that the residence of the
generals in Rome has harmed the congregation. Instead it has gained in reputation and in every
kind of honor.”

Thanks to the intervention of Cardinal Castaldi, a peaceful resolution to this disgraceful

situation was obtained:

1) The general chapters were to alternate between Rome and Milan;

2) When the chapter was held in Rome the new membership rule would be followed, when
Milan‘s turn followed, the old rule would be implemented;

3) The next chapter would be held in Rome but with the old membership rule.

The Pope approved this compromise on February 11, 1677, although in 1680, Innocent XI
complained that 78 capitulars in Milan were too many, and the three-year term (for the superior
general) was too short!

That year Fr. Fanti was reelected superior general to the dismay of the Corio faction, which
had the gall to lodge a protest with Rome. All to no avail. When the Congregation of Religious
examined the election proceedings and found nothing amiss, the controversy at last was brought
 HISTORY OF THE BARNABITES 143

to a close. Meantime the congregation was in serious financial straits because of the sequestration
of goods in Lombardy, therefore in 1677 the reverend fathers had to decide not to accept novices,
at least in Italy, because of the lack of funds!

d) Controversy with Bishop Caramuel of Vigevano

Bishop Caramuel of Vigevano certainly did not enjoy a high standing with religious people
thanks to his epithet “a prince of laxities.” The Barnabites of the St. Charles community in that
city rather recklessly allowed their students to publish a play satirizing the bishop… This prompted
the bishop to order the expulsion of Fr. Morino and Fr. Cuchino from the diocese. The superior
provincial kept postponing action against the two priests until the bishop himself took matters into
his own hands by having Fr. Cuchino thrown in jail, the superior dismissed, etc. Such
highhandedness prompted the Congregation of Religious to intervene, but the bishop preferred to
ignore it. Finally the Pope appointed Bishop Bartholomew Menatti of Lodi to undertake a full
investigation… The Bishop meanwhile attempted to take the school away from the Barnabites.
The Holy See finally ordered a trial of the Bishop of Vigevano, who died shortly afterward.

e) Vienna and the Ottomans

In 1683 the Ottoman Moslems were closing in on Vienna as the next stage in their conquest
of Europe. To safeguard the future of the congregation in that city, Superior General Maderni had
the novices and professed students transferred to Milan. He also reprimanded two priests who had
fled the city, while he praised those others who remained to help and support the people.

In the Austrian town of Mistelbach our Father Niklauz went so far as to draw up a plan of
defense should the Ottomans attack the town.

f) 1725 - First non-Italian Superior General

At the general chapter of 1725, the Barnabite members haling from Piedmont and France
got Fr. Charles Augusto Capitain elected as superior general, which elicited a violent reaction on
the part of Spanish Cardinal Cianfuegos. In retaliation for electing a Frenchman, he banned the
three representatives from the Lombard province from returning to Milan. Fr. Reseghino, the new
provincial superior, waited two years before he could return to St. Barnabas.

During his term as superior general, Fr. Capitain faced an extraordinary controversy:
regarding the wearing of beards. From the time of the holy founder, who also was bearded, it was
customary for members of the order to wear a beard. Because beards happened to be a source of
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great vanity in that era some members called for the prohibition of beards. They were hotly
opposed by a vociferous faction of beard supporters. As usual, the Pope (Benedict XIII) had to
intervene and settle the matter which he did in an official breve that prohibited the wearing of
beards.

g) State of the Congregation at the dawn of the 18th century

By the 18th century, the Barnabites no longer limited themselves to the activities of the
sacred ministry, but had committed themselves to education, specifically the teaching of youth,
but also to teaching in seminaries.

The preaching apostolate had also grown into a major ministry. Cardinals, bishops and
princes often requested Barnabite preachers on special occasions or to serve as confessors. Usually
the superior general did not refuse such requests so long as they did not require prolonged absences
from the community.

In 1700 the Barnabites numbered 780 members distributed among four provinces: the
Roman province with eleven religious houses, the Lombard province with fifteen, the Piedmontese
province with nineteen, and the Tuscan province with twelve. The Piedmontese province, the
largest, included all the religious houses in Savoy and France, many of which were quite distant
from one another. This caused the general chapter of 1701 to approve a fifth province: France,
with Fr. Charles Augustus Capitain as its first provincial superior.

More and more universities were requesting the order to send them qualified priests to
teach. The same general chapter of 1701 left this matter up to the superior general’s discretion.

Among abuses and privileges at this time, like the use of honorific titles, we mention the
administration of family properties and goods.

Fr. Roero, superior general, wrote to the superior of the Lombard Province: “The abuse of
these secular agencies introduced into the administration of the Lombard Province, is intolerable…
Not only do I not want it to spread, but indeed I wish I could eradicate any permission already
given… I am more interested in justice… than all the legacies of the world… The most beautiful
legacy is to attend to the good government of what God has given us, and to serve our churches
well… Good reputation is more important than money…”

The end of the "golden century," marked by the holiness of St. Francis M. Bianchi and the
Venerable Francesco Castelli, also was marked by an injury to the living organism of the
congregation, for on July 27, 1781, Emperor Joseph II declared the Barnabite province of
Lombardy to be detached from the rest of the order. At the same time he established:

1) the end of dependence upon superiors living outside of Lombardy;

 HISTORY OF THE BARNABITES 145

2) the formation of a congregation with its own jurisdiction;

3) No one from Lombardy province would be permitted to attend the general chapter in
Rome;

4) The provincial chapter had full power to appoint the superiors, both provincial and local;
5) All foreign religious who did not support this edict were to be expelled.
Again the order had to face a time of anguish and distress.