Saint GAÉTAN (GAETANO, CAJETAN) de THIENNE (7 août), prêtre et fondateur de l'Ordre des Théatins

Saint Gaétan de Thiene

Fondateur de l'ordre des Théatins (+ 1547)

Contemporain de Martin Luther, il fut de ceux qui, au temps de la Réforme et bien avant le concile de Trente, travaillèrent à préserver l'Italie du protestantisme. Pendant 13 ans, il fut secrétaire au Vatican sous le pape Jules II et le pape Léon X. Ce qu'il y vit n'était guère conforme à l'Évangile et sa piété le portait alors à imiter encore davantage Notre-Seigneur. A la mort de sa mère, il renonça à sa charge et passa les six années suivantes à donner aux pauvres son héritage à Vicence, Venise ou Vérone, visitant les taudis, balayant dans les hôpitaux, soignant les incurables. Il fonda avec son ami Jean-Pierre Carafa, le futur pape Paul IV, un institut de prêtres qui mèneraient, comme lui, une vie pauvre et austère, les Théatins. Ils s'engageaient à ne pas mendier pour eux, à soigner les malades, à répandre l'usage des sacrements parmi les laïcs et à ramener le clergé à ses devoirs. Il mourut à Naples, étendu sur un lit de cendres. Le mode de vie de son Institut inspira les grands réformateurs du XVIe siècle.

Le sanctuaire Saint Cayetano (Saint Gaetan), patron en Argentine du 'pain et du travail' se trouve dans un quartier périphérique de Buenos Aires. Chaque année, le 7 août, des milliers de fidèles se mettent en file indienne pour passer devant la statuette du saint et prier... le cardinal Bergoglio (maintenant Pape François) avait l’habitude de remonter la file des pèlerins pour discuter avec eux et bénir les enfants.

"Ne vas pas à la rencontre de l’autre pour le convaincre de devenir catholique, non, non, vas le rencontrer parce qu’il est ton frère!" Message du Pape pour la Saint Cayetano, patron des travailleurs argentins - 7 août 2013

Chierici Regolari Teatini - site en italien

Mémoire de saint Gaétan de Thienne, prêtre, qui se consacra aux œuvres de charité, en particulier aux souffrants de maladie incurable, encouragea des associations pour la formation chrétienne des laïcs et, pour la réforme de l’Église, fonda une société de clercs réguliers, en engageant ses disciples à vivre à la manière des premiers Apôtres. Il mourut à Naples en 1547.

Martyrologe romain

"Quand nous demandons du travail, nous demandons de pouvoir avoir de la dignité"

Message du Pape pour la Saint Cayetano, patron des travailleurs argentins, août 2016

SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1635/Saint-Gaetan-de-Thiene.html

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo  (1696–1770). San Gaetano Thiene, 1736, 98 X 78, Museu Nacional de Belas Artes  

Gaétan, juriste de formation, était devenu à Rome secrétaire du Pape Jules II, lequel était surtout un homme de guerre, soucieux de restaurer la puissance politique de l'Église. Très déçu par un tel comportement si opposé à l'Évangile, Gaétan quitte la Cour pontificale où son avenir était pourtant prometteur. Ce sont les pauvres qu'il préfère et qui l'attendent. Grand timide, il surmonte à force de prière ses appréhensions.

Il se met au service des orphelins, des incurables et des prisonniers : pour eux, il fonde l'Association de l'Amour divin. Heureusement, il a comme soutien un prêtre ami, Jean-Pierre Caraffa, lequel deviendra Pape sous le nom de Paul IV. Comme ce dernier était évêque de Théate, la congrégation que fonde Gaétan en 1523 sera appelée les Théatins : des clercs et des laïcs rassemblés par une vie sacramentelle intense et par l'amour fraternel, en priorité pour les pauvres et les petits. Mission providentielle, alors qu'à cette époque, Martin Luther stigmatisait les vices et le train de vie du Clergé. Avec d'autres, Gaétan fait partie de ceux qui, avant le concile de Trente, ont travaillé à la Réforme de l'Église en Italie, préservant le pays du Protestantisme.

Saint Gaétan avait mis l'accent dans son Institut sur l'idéal de consécration au Christ, spécialement par la prédication évangélique et le renouveau de la Liturgie. Recteur de paroisse à Vicence, son pays natal, il y déploya une vive ardeur apostolique. Il termine son "combat" à Naples le 7 août 1547 au milieu des pauvres, les préférés du Christ.

En Gaëtan, les mouvements caritatifs comme les Équipes de saint Vincent de Paul et le Secours catholique peuvent trouver un modèle toujours actuel. Gaëtan vient du latin gaietanus, qui signifie "habitant de la ville de Gaète", cité située dans le Latium pendant l'Antiquité romaine.

Rédacteur: Frère Bernard Pineau, OP

SOURCE : http://www.lejourduseigneur.com/Web-TV/Saints/Gaetan-de-Thiene

SAINT GAÉTAN de THIENNE

Fondateur des Théatins

(1480-1547)

Saint Gaétan, né à Vicence, de race illustre, fut consacré à Marie dès le sein de sa mère, puis ensuite à sa naissance. On lui donna le nom de Gaétan, pour conserver un célèbre nom familial; mais on y ajouta le nom de Marie, pour marquer sa consécration à la Reine du Ciel.

Gaétan de Sainte-Marie montra de bonne heure un grand amour pour les pauvres; ce fut là, du reste, un des beaux caractères de toute sa vie. Son coeur d'enfant, tendre et délicat, le faisait pleurer souvent à la vue des misères qui s'offraient à lui; les pauvres, qui le connaissaient tous, l'appelait leur petit ami, en attendant qu'il fût leur père. L'enfant leur rendait mille petits services, et lorsqu'il recevait quelque argent de ses parents à titre de récompense, il n'avait rien de plus pressé que de le distribuer à ses chers mendiants. La petite somme était toujours vite épuisée; alors Gaétan mettait en mouvement tous les ressorts de sa jeune politique, et il finissait toujours par reconstituer son petit trésor. À bout d'expédients, il demandait l'aumône à ses parents pour l'amour de Dieu.

Devenu prêtre, il bâtit une église dans ses domaines pour y exercer le saint ministère. Comme il était très simple et même négligé dans ses vêtements, son père se fâchait souvent et l'accusait de déshonorer son nom en se mêlant aux mendiants. Le plus souvent Gaétan répondait à ce reproche par son silence. Il s'occupa avec zèle des ouvriers, ce qui lui attira la persécution de ses proches, puis l'admiration de tous, quand on vit son ministère opérer de grands fruits de sanctification. Partout où il allait, sa première visite était pour les pauvres et les malades.

Un jour de Noël, Notre-Seigneur lui apparut sous la forme d'un petit enfant; il Le prit dans ses bras et Le caressa longtemps, pendant que son coeur se fondait d'amour.

A Rome, Gaétan, plein du désir de donner au clergé des modèles à imiter, fonda, de concert avec quelques saints prêtres, la congrégation des Théatins. La confiance absolue en Dieu valait plus pour lui que tous les conseils de la prudence humaine, et nulle part la Providence ne le laissa manquer du nécessaire.

Le Saint était déjà âgé quand il tomba malade, à Naples; il refusa un matelas et voulut mourir sur la cendre et le cilice; il refusa aussi un médecin extraordinaire, disant: "Je suis un pauvre religieux, qui ne vaut pas la peine d'être assisté." Marie vint Elle-même chercher son âme. Il laissa la réputation d'un séraphin à l'autel et d'un apôtre en chaire.

Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950.

Saint Gaetan est le patron :

• Des Théatins, mais aussi :

• Des chômeurs et demandeurs d'emploi.

En Argentine, Saint Gaétan est considéré comme le patron des travailleurs. Tous les 7 août, à Buenos Aires, les abords de l'église Saint Gaétan sont fréquentés par des centaines de personnes qui cherchent du travail.

Biographie de Saint Gaétan

Troisième enfant du condottiere Gaspard de Thiène et de la comtesse Maria Porto, Gaétan de Thiène naquit à Vicence en octobre 1480. C'est en souvenir d'un de ses oncles, chanoine et professseur à l'Université de Padoue (mort en 1465), qu'il reçut au baptême le prénom de Gaétan. Orphelin de père dès l'âge de deux ans, il fut éduqué par sa mère, fille spirituelle des dominicains de Santa Corona de Vicence. Après avoir fait ses humanités à Vicence, il fréquenta l'Université de Padoue où il conquit le doctorat in utroque jure (17 juillet 1504). La même année, il reçut la tonsure des mains de l'évêque de Vicence, Pietro Dandolo. Très soucieux de l'éducation religieuse et de la promotion sociale des paysans vivant sur les terres que sa famille possédait à Rampazzo (province de Vicence), il y érigea en 1505, avec son frère Battista, une église dédiée à sainte Marie-Madeleine pour qui la Renaissance avait une grande dévotion.

Désireux d'accroître sa culture, Gaétan partit à Rome (1507) où, remarqué par Jules II, il fut nommé protonotaire apostolique et scrittore des lettres pontiflcales. Il reçut en bénéfice deux églises paroissiales du diocèse de Vicence : Santa Maria di Malo (16 octobre 1507) et Santa Maria di Bressanvido (20 novembre 1507) ; il en confia la cura animarum à des desservants de son choix et de vertu exemplaire. A Rome, il habitait près de l'église San Simone ai Coronari, sur l'actuelle place Lancellotti, non loin du Génois Giambattista Pallavicini, évêque de Cavaillon, puis cardinal, dont il fut l'auxiliaire et le familier, et qu'il assista à l'article de la mort (août 1524). Par la suite, il s'efforça d'aplanir le conflit qui avait éclaté en 1509 entre Jules II et Venise à propos de la Ligue de Cambrai.

Après un bref séjour à Padoue et dans son église paroissiale de Santa Maria di Malo (1512), Gaétan retourna à Rome où il entra dans l'Oratorio del Divino Amore (1515) qui rassemblait alors l'élite des ecclésiastiques de la Ville Eternelle et « la plupart des hommes qui désiraient réellement la réforme de l'Eglise » ; les membres de cette confrérie se réunissaient en l'église de Santa Dorotea, au Transtévère, et leurs activités caritatives s'orientaient vers les incurables du refuge de San Giacomo in Augusta, dont Gaétan deviendra plus tard le custode. Dans ce climat tout imprégné de spiritualité évangélique, la vocation sacerdotale de Gaétan arriva à maturité. Grâce aux dispenses canoniques qui lui furent concédées par Léon X, il fut ordonné sous-diacre, diacre et prêtre les 27, 28 et 29 septembre 1516, par Mgr Francesco Bertoli, évêque titulaire de Milepotamo. Pour mieux s'y préparer spirituellement, il remit la célébration de sa première messe à l'Epiphanie de 1517. Cette année là, il commença de correspondre avec la sœur Laura Mignani, une mystique de Brescia, qu'il prit comme guide spirituel. Dans sa lettre du 28 janvier 1528, il révèle qu'au cours de la nuit de Noël 1517, en la basilique de Sainte-Marie-Majeure, lui apparut la Vierrge qui déposa l'Enfant-Jésus dans ses bras.

Gaétan retourna à Vicence en avril 1518. Il s'agrégea (9 janvier 1519) à la Compagnie des Saints-Clément-et-Jérôme qu'il réforma selon la nouvelle spiritualité de l'Oratoire du Divin Amour. Il fit de mème avec la Compagnie du Saint-Corps du Christ, de Vérone, dont il devint membre le 10 juillet 1519. Les registres de celle-ci témoignent de la ferveur avee laquelle il soutenait la vie spirituelle de ses confrères, notamment en les exhortant à la fréquentation des sacrements. Gaétan de Thiène est d'ailleurs considéré comme l'un des premiers zélateurs de la communion fréquente à son époque. En 1520, à Vicence, il réorganisa l'hôpital de la Miséricorde qu'il transforma en refuge pour incurables et l'unit in spiritualibus à celui de San Giacomo de Rome.

Après le décès de sa mère (novembre 1520) et le mariage d'Elisabetta Porto, l'unique nièce qui lui restait, Gaétan put se consacrer totalement à l'apostolat. En 1522, sur les conseils du célèbre dominicain Giambattista da Crema qu'il avait choisi comme directeur spirituel, il gagna Venise. Au cours du carême de la même année, aidé par quelques nobles dames vénitiennes, il y fonda de ses deniers l'Ospedal Nuovo pour incurables (sur le canal de la Giudecca).

A la fin de 1523, Gaétan retourna à Rome, avec le projet de s'unir avec d'autres clercs dans la pratique d'une vie commune. Il trouva ses premiers compagnons et collaborateurs parmi les membres de l'Oratoire du Divin Amour : Giampietro Carafa (le futur pape Paul IV), Bonifacio de' Colli et Paolo Consiglieri. Tous les quatre renoncèrent à leurs bénéfices ecclésiastiques, et avec l'autorisation de Clément VII (bref du 24 juin 1524), ils prononcèrent leurs voeux solennels le 14 septembre 1524, en la basilique Vaticane, en présence de Mgr C. Bonciani, évêque de Caserte, délégué par le Pape. Ainsi était créé le premier des ordres modernes de clercs réguliers. La base de l'Institut était la vie commune dans la pratique des conseils évangéliques. L'accent était mis sur la pauvreté la plus rigoureuse La norme fondamentale du nouvel institut était le renouveau de la Vita apostolica telle qu'elle est décrite dans les Actes des Apôtres. Les célébrations communautaires de la liturgie eucharistique et chorale ainsi que la cura animarum devaient être exemplaires. Ayant renoncé aux rentes et à la mendicité, les quatre compagnons espéraient que l'exercice de leur ministère et la charité des fidèles leur procureraient des ressources suffisantes. Ils entendaient d'ailleurs s'en remettre totalement à la Divine Providence.

La première demeure des Théatins (ainsi nommés parce que Carafa, qui fut leur premier supérieur, portait le titre d'episcopus theatinus, c'est-à-dire de Chieti) fut située au Champ de Mars, près de l'actuelle église de San Nicola dei Prefetti. Ils résideront ensuite dans une maison du Pinclo, près de l'actuelle Villa Medici. Celle-ci devint rapidement un foyer d'intense spiritualité sacerdotale. Gaétan fut agressé et subit les sévices des troupes d'occupation lors du sac de Rome en 1527. Lui et ses compagnons, qui étaient alors au nombre de douze, furent libérés par un capitaine espagnol. Il gagna Venise, où les Théatins, en novembre 1527, se fixèrent définitivement en l'église San Nicola dei Tolentini. Le 14 septembre 1527, au cours du chapitre général, Gaétan fut élu supérieur de l'Institut, charge qu'il conserva pendant trois ans. Comme à Rome, la communauté devint sous sa direction un centre de réforme et de spiritualité. Avec Giampietro Carafa, il dirigea et soutint saint Jérôme Emilien dans ses œuvres en faveur de l'enfance abandonnée. Il fut aussi très lié avec Bonaventura da Centis, artisan de la réforme de la province franciscaine de Venise, avec le dominicain Bartolomeo da Pisa, avec le bienheureux Paolo Giustiniani qui œuvrait à la réforme des Camaldules, avec l'humaniste et poète Marcantonio Flaminio qui demanda en vain d'être reçu parmi les Théatins, avec le célèbre imprimeur de Salo Paganino Paganini, qu'il invita à Venise pour installer une imprimerie près du couvent des Théatins.

Saint Gaétan œuvra tout particulièrement avec Gian Matteo Giberti à la réforme du diocèse de Vérone, où il résida probablement en 1531et 1532 et de nouveau en 1541. La communauté pouvait désormais élargir le champ de ses activités pastorales et caritatives aux oratoires et hôpitaux de Vicence, Vérone, Padoue, Brescia et Salo (lac de Garde). Mais c'est sur l'Oratoire de Venise que l'influence des Théatins fut particulièrement intense et elle était d'ailleurs plus nécessaire aussi en raison de la position stratégique qu'il occupait du point de vue religieux.

C'est à Venise que Gaétan et ses clercs réguliers entrèrent pour la première fois en contact avec les courants luthériens. En 1530, le nonce Averoldo Altobello confia à Carafa le procès (suivi d'une condamnation) du conventuel Girolamo Galateo qui manifestait des sympathies pour Luther. Dans le bref du 8 mai de la même année qu'il adressa à Carafa, Clément VII loua son zèle et l'encouragea à poursuivre dans cette voie. Le Memoriale que Carafa envoya à Rome le 4 octobre 1533 (il y mettait à nu les plaies de l'Eglise et indiquait les moyens les plus efficaces pour promouvoir la réforme et réprimer les erreurs) témoigne de l'esprit qui animait les clercs réguliers dans leur volonté de préserver la foi et de promouvoir la réforme catholique.

Avec l'autorisation du Saint-Siège (bref de fondation, confirmé par un autre bref de Clément VII du 21 mars 1529), les Théatins furent à la base d'un renouveau d'un autre genre sur le plan liturgique : il s'agissait de la révision soit des textes soit des célébrations liturgiques qu'ils devaient expérimenter dans leur communauté et soumettre ensuite à l'approbation du Siège apostolique. Si la réforme du Petit office de la Sainte Vierge fut rapidement menée à bien. Celle du Bréviaire et du missel romain fut plus longue et plus ardue. Lorsque Pie V rendit obligatoires le Bréviaire puis le Missel romains par les bulles Quod a nobis (9 juillet 1568) et Quo primum (14 juillet 1570), on put se rendre compte à quel point l'œuvre des Théatins et les critères qu'ils adoptèrent pour réaliser cette réforme avaient été utiles.

Au cours de l'été 1533, accompagné par le bienheureux Giovanni Marinoni, Gaétan gagna Naples, appelé par le Conseil de la cité. Après avoir demeuré à Santa Maria della Misericordia, puis à Santa Maria della Stalletta, dite de Jérusalem, grâce à l'intervention du vice-roi Pedro de Toledo, les Théatins s'installèrent près de San Paolo Maggiore (19 mai 1538). Gaétan dirigea in spiritualibus le monastère de la Sapience fondé par Maria Carafa, sœur de Paul IV. Avec l'aide de deux dames de la noblesse espagnole dont il était le conseiller, il contribua à fonder le monastère des Capucines, près de Santa Maria in Gerusalemme, et le foyer des filles repenties de Santa Maria Maddalena. Fin 1534, Gaétan était correttore de la Compagnie des Bianchi qui assistaient les condamnés. Un groupe de prêtres diocésains, formés selon la spiritualité des clercs réguliers, fut installé près de l'hôpital des incurables pour favoriser le renouveau du clergé napolitain. En collaboration avec Giovanni Marinoni et avec l'aide de quelques nobles, Gaétan fut aux origines du Mont de Piété. Il dénonça le péril des cercles crypto-luthériens.

Saint Gaétan fut élu à plusieurs reprises preposito de Naples ; il fut preposito de la maison de Venise de 1541 à 1543. Il retourna ensuite à la maison de Naples dont il fut élu de nouveau preposito (1547). L'acte par lequel les Théatins s'agrégèrent les Somasques est de sa main. Il mourut à Naples le 7 août 1547, après avoir offert sa vie pour la pacification de la ville qui était déchirée par une lutte fratricide.

Béatifié par Urbain VIII (8 octobre 1629), saint Gaétan de Thiène fut canonisé par Clément X (12 avril 1671) qui ordonna la célébralion de sa mémoire dans l'Église universelle (27 mars 1673).

SOURCE : http://missel.free.fr/Sanctoral/08/07.php#biographie1

Saint Cajetan Church, Gustavo A. Madero, Federal District, Mexico : Mosaic of Saint Cajetan

Leçons des Matines avant 1960.

Au deuxième nocturne.

Quatrième leçon. Gaétan naquit à Vicence, de la noble famille de Thienne. Aussitôt qu’elle lui eut donné le jour, sa mère l’offrit à la sainte Vierge, Mère de Dieu. L’innocence brilla tellement en lui dès ses tendres années, que tout le monde le nommait le Saint. Après avoir obtenu à Padoue le grade de docteur dans l’un et l’autre droit, il partit pour Rome, où le Pape Jules II le mit au rang des Prélats. Ordonné Prêtre, il fut si ardemment embrasé de l’amour de Dieu que, se dérobant à la cour, il se voua tout entier à Dieu. Ayant fondé des hôpitaux à ses propres frais, il y servait lui-même les pauvres pestiférés. Le zèle qu’il ne cessa de déployer pour le salut du prochain le fit surnommer le Chasseur d’âmes.

Cinquième leçon. Les mœurs du clergé étaient alors devenues moins régulières ; voulant les ramener à la forme de vie apostolique, il institua un ordre de Clercs réguliers, qui, se déchargeant de toute préoccupation quant aux biens terrestres, devaient ne posséder aucun revenu, ni demander aux fidèles de quoi subsister, mais se contenter, pour vivre, d’aumônes spontanément offertes. Ayant obtenu l’approbation de Clément VII, Gaétan, accompagné de Jean-Pierre Caraffa, Évêque de Chiéti [4] depuis souverain Pontife sous le nom de Paul IV, et de deux autres personnages d’une grande piété, émit solennellement ses vœux devant l’autel majeur de la basilique du Vatican. Lors du sac de Rome, des soldats le brutalisèrent afin de lui extorquer l’argent qu’il avait déjà placé dans les trésors célestes par la main des pauvres. Les coups, les tortures, la prison, il supporta tout avec une patience invincible. Se confiant à la seule providence de Dieu, qui ne lui fit jamais défaut, ainsi que l’attestent plusieurs prodiges, il persévéra avec une constance inébranlable dans la règle de vie qu’il avait embrassée.

Sixième leçon. L’amour du culte divin, le zèle pour entretenir la maison de Dieu, l’observance des rites sacrés, une participation plus fréquente à l’adorable Eucharistie, furent les choses qu’il s’appliqua le plus à encourager. Plus d’une fois il découvrit et confondit à néant les embûches et les erreurs de l’hérésie. Il prolongeait son oraison pendant huit heures environ, et l’accompagnait de larmes, souvent ravi en extase. Le don de prophétie l’a rendu célèbre. Étant, la nuit de Noël, près de la crèche du Seigneur, à Rome, il mérita de recevoir dans ses bras l’enfant Jésus, des mains de la Vierge Mère. Quelquefois Gaétan passait des nuits entières à châtier son corps à coups de discipline ; jamais on ne put l’amener à adoucir l’austérité de sa vie, et il témoigna souvent le désir qu’il avait de mourir couché sur la cendre et revêtu d’un cilice. Enfin la douleur qu’il ressentit de voir le peuple offenser Dieu par une sédition le fit tomber malade et, réconforté par une vision céleste, son âme passa de la terre au ciel. C’est à Naples qu’il mourut, et l’on y conserve très religieusement son corps dans l’église de Saint-Paul. Les miracles qu’il opéra pendant sa vie et après sa mort l’ont rendu glorieux, et le souverain Pontife Clément X l’a inscrit au nombre des Saints.

Au troisième nocturne.

Lecture du saint Évangile selon saint Matthieu. Cap. 6, 24-33.

En ce temps-là : Jésus dit à ses disciples : Nul ne peut servir deux maîtres. Et le reste.

Homélie de saint Augustin, Évêque. Liber 2 de Sermone Domini in monte, cap. 14

Septième leçon. « Nul ne peut servir deux maîtres ». A cette même intention (bonne ou mauvaise [5]), se rapporte ce que notre Seigneur expose en conséquence de son assertion, disant : « Ou il haïra l’un et il aimera l’autre, ou il s’attachera à l’un et méprisera l’autre ». Il faut examiner attentivement ce passage ; le Seigneur lui-même indique quels sont ces deux maîtres, en ajoutant : « Vous ne pouvez servir Dieu et mammon ». Les Hébreux donnent, dit-on, aux richesses, le nom de mammon. En langue punique, ce mot a le même sens ; car mammon signifie gain.

Huitième leçon. Servir mammon, c’est être l’esclave de celui que sa perversité a préposé aux choses terrestres, et que le Seigneur appelle « prince de ce monde ». Donc : « ou l’homme le haïra et aimera l’autre », c’est-à-dire Dieu, « ou il s’attachera à l’un et méprisera l’autre ». En effet, quiconque est esclave des richesses, s’attache à un maître dur et a une domination funeste ; enchaîné par sa cupidité, il subit la tyrannie du démon, et certes il ne l’aime pas ; car, qui peut aimer le démon ? Mais cependant il le supporte.

Neuvième leçon. « C’est pourquoi, continue le Sauveur, je vous dis : Ne vous inquiétez point pour votre vie de ce que vous mangerez, ni pour votre corps de quoi vous vous vêtirez ». Il ne veut pas que notre cœur se partage à la recherche, non seulement du superflu, mais même du nécessaire, et que, pour nous le procurer, notre intention se détourne de sa véritable fin, dans les actions que nous paraissons faire par un motif de miséricorde. C’est-à-dire qu’il ne veut pas que, tout en paraissant nous dévouer aux intérêts du prochain, nous ayons moins en vue son utilité que notre avantage personnel, et que nous nous regardions comme exempts de fautes, parce que nous ne voulons obtenir que le nécessaire et non le superflu.

[1] Matth. 6, 33.

[2] Deut. 10, 15.

[3] Eccli. 45, 9.

[4] Chieti, en latin Theate, d’où le nom de Théatins.

[5] S. Augustin vient dans le chapitre précédent de son explication du Sermon sur la Montagne, de parler longuement de la bonne et de la mauvaise intention, en expliquant ces paroles de notre Seigneur : « Si ton œil est simple, tout ton corps sera lumineux ».

Dom Guéranger, l’Année Liturgique

Gaétan apparut comme le zélateur du sanctuaire, à l’heure où la fausse réforme lançait par le monde ses manifestes de révoltée. La grande cause du péril d’alors avait été l’insuffisance des gardiens de la cité sainte, leur connivence par complicité de cœur ou d’esprit avec les doctrines et les mœurs païennes, qu’une renaissance mal entendue avait ramenées. Ravagée par le sanglier de la forêt, la vigne du Dieu des armées retrouverait-elle jamais sa fertilité des beaux jours [8] ? Gaétan reçut de l’éternelle Sagesse la révélation du nouveau mode de culture qui convenait à cette fin pour une terre épuisée.

L’urgent besoin de ces jours néfastes était le relèvement du clergé par la dignité de la vie, le zèle et la science. Il fallait à cette œuvre des hommes qui, clercs eux-mêmes dans l’acception entière du mot et la variété des obligations qu’il comporte, fussent pour les membres de la sainte hiérarchie un modèle permanent de la perfection primitive, un supplément à leurs impuissances, un levain qui peu à peu régénérerait et soulèverait la masse entière [9]. Mais où trouver ailleurs que dans la vie des conseils et la stabilité des trois vœux qui en forment l’essence, l’impulsion, la puissance, la durée nécessaires aux éléments d’une telle entreprise ? L’inépuisable fécondité de l’Ordre religieux ne fit pas plus défaut à l’Église en ces temps de décadence qu’aux époques de sa gloire. Après les moines tournés vers Dieu dans leurs solitudes, et attirant sur la terre qu’ils semblaient oublier la lumière et l’amour ; après les familles des religieux mendiants, gardant par le monde leurs habitudes claustrales et l’austère parfum du désert : les clercs réguliers faisaient leur entrée sur le champ de bataille, où leur poste de combat, leur genre extérieur de vie, leur costume même, allaient confondre leurs rangs avec ceux de la milice séculière ; ainsi on fortifie les cadres d’une troupe hésitante en y versant des soldats éprouvés de mêmes armes, qui agissent par la parole, l’exemple et l’entraînement sur les faibles.

Comme d’autres avaient été les initiateurs des grandes formes antérieures de la vie religieuse, Gaétan fut le patriarche des Clercs réguliers. Le 24 juin 1524, un bref de Clément VII approuvait sous ce nom l’institut qu’il fondait cette année même avec l’évêque de Théate, d’où vint aussi aux nouveaux religieux l’appellation de Théatins. Bientôt, Barnabites, compagnie de Jésus, Somasques de saint Jérôme Émilien, clercs réguliers Mineurs de saint François Carracciolo, clercs réguliers Ministres des infirmes, clercs réguliers des Écoles pies, clercs réguliers de la Mère de Dieu, d’autres encore, se pressaient dans la voie ouverte et montraient l’Église toujours seule belle, toujours digne de l’Époux, laissant retomber de son poids sur l’hérésie l’accusation d’impuissance qu’elle lui avait lancée.

Ce fut sur le terrain du détachement des richesses, dont l’amour avait causé mille maux dans l’Église, que Gaétan voulut commencer et qu’il mena le plus avant la réforme. On vit les Théatins présenter au monde un spectacle inconnu depuis les Apôtres, pousser le zèle du dénuement jusqu’à s’interdire la faculté de mendier, et attendre toutes choses de l’initiative spontanée des fidèles. Héroïque hommage rendu à la Providence de Dieu, à l’heure même où Luther en niait l’existence, et que maintes fois le Seigneur se plut à reconnaître par des prodiges.

Qui comme vous, ô grand Saint, fit honneur à la parole de l’Évangile : Ne vous inquiétez du manger, ni du boire, ni du vêtement [10] ? Vous connaissiez aussi l’autre parole, également divine : Celui qui travaille mérite qu’on le nourrisse [11] ; vous saviez qu’elle s’appliquait principalement aux ouvriers de la doctrine [12] ; vous n’ignoriez point que d’autres semeurs du Verbe avaient avant vous fondé sur elle l’incontestable droit de leur pauvreté, embrassée pour Dieu, à revendiquer du moins le pain de l’aumône. Sublime revendication d’âmes affamées d’opprobres à la suite de Jésus, et rassasiant en elles ainsi surtout l’amour ! Mais la Sagesse qui plie les aspirations des saints aux circonstances du temps où elle place leur vie mortelle, fit prédominer en vous sur la soif des humiliations l’ambition d’exalter dans votre pauvreté la sainte Providence ; n’était-ce pas ce qu’il fallait à un siècle dont le néo-paganisme semblait, avant même d’avoir écouté l’hérésie, ne plus compter sur Dieu ? Hélas ! de ceux même à qui le Seigneur s’était donné pour possession au milieu des enfants d’Israël [13], on pouvait trop justement dire : Ils recherchent comme des païens les biens de ce monde [14]. Vous eûtes à cœur, ô Gaétan, de justifier le Père qui est aux cieux, de montrer qu’il était toujours prêt à tenir la promesse faite pour lui par son Fils adoré : Cherchez premièrement le royaume de Dieu et sa justice, et toutes ces choses vous seront données par surcroît [15].

C’était bien ainsi que, par le fait, il s’imposait de commencer la réforme du sanctuaire à laquelle vous aviez résolu de dévouer votre vie. Il fallait tout d’abord rappeler les membres de la sainte milice à l’esprit de la formule sacrée qui fait les clercs, au jour béni où, déposant l’esprit du siècle avec ses livrées, ils disent dans la joie de leur cœur : Le Seigneur est la part de mon héritage et de mon calice ; c’est vous, à Dieu, qui me rendrez mon héritage [16].

Le Seigneur, ô Gaétan, reconnut alors votre zèle et bénit vos efforts. Gardez en nous le fruit de votre labeur. La science des rites sacrés reste grandement redevable à vos fils ; puissent-ils prospérer, dans une fidélité renouvelée aux traditions de leur père. Que votre bénédiction de patriarche accompagne toujours les nombreuses familles des Clercs réguliers marchant à la suite de la vôtre. Que tous les ministres de la sainte Église éprouvent qu’au ciel vous restez puissant pour les maintenir, et, au besoin, les ramener dans la voie de leur saint état, comme vous l’étiez sur la terre. Que l’exemple de votre confiance sublime en Dieu apprenne à tous les chrétiens qu’ils ont au ciel un Père dont la Providence n’est jamais en défaut pour ses fils.

[8] Psalm. LXXIX.

[9] Matth. XIII, 33.

[10] Matth. VI, 31.

[11] Matth. X, 10.

[12] I Tim V, 17-18.

[13] Num. XVIII, 20.

[14] Matth. VI, 32.

[15] Ibid. 33.

[16] Pontificale roman. De clerico faciendo, ex Psalm. XV, 5.

Bhx cardinal Schuster, Liber Sacramentorum

Ce cher Saint, doux et si humble qu’il demanda à Dieu que son tombeau, après sa mort, ne fût connu de personne († 1547), a le mérite d’avoir été, avant même saint Ignace, un des représentants les plus autorisés de la réforme ecclésiastique accomplie au XVIe siècle.

Rome chrétienne le vénère comme un de ses citoyens d’élection. La basilique Libérienne évoque encore le souvenir de la messe qu’il célébra à la crèche du Seigneur avec la ferveur d’un Séraphin, le jour où il mérita de recevoir dans ses bras le Divin Enfant.

La confession du Prince des Apôtres conserve également le souvenir du jour mémorable — c’était le 14 septembre 1524 — où Gaétan de Thienne et l’ardent Jean-Pierre Caraffa (le futur Paul IV) instituèrent le nouvel Ordre des Clercs Réguliers, en émettant le vœu difficile de se confier entièrement à la divine Providence pour vivre seulement des aumônes qui leur seraient spontanément offertes par les fidèles.

Saint Gaétan eut une part notable dans la réforme du Bréviaire sous Clément VII. Sa fête entra dans le Missel au temps de Clément X, et Innocent XI l’éleva au rang du rite double.

La messe est celle des confesseurs, à l’exception des parties suivantes : Prière. — « O Dieu qui avez accordé au bienheureux Gaétan la grâce de suivre la règle de vie jadis donnée à vos Apôtres ; par son intercession faites que, d’après ses exemples, nous mettions en vous toute notre confiance et désirions seulement les choses célestes ». La règle apostolique de vie, c’est la pauvreté parfaite consacrée par vœu, selon l’exemple des Apôtres qui, ayant tout abandonné, suivirent le Sauveur.

La lecture évangélique sur le parfait abandon à la divine Providence est commune au quatorzième dimanche après la Pentecôte. Le Seigneur nous y enseigne qu’il ne veut point supprimer l’action, mais seulement la préoccupation excessive. Dieu veut que nous agissions ; où nous n’arrivons pas, nous, il arrivera, lui. Aide-toi, le ciel t’aidera, dit un proverbe populaire, bien expressif.

Il est un autre proverbe populaire qui ne manque pas, non plus de vérité. Lascia fare a Dio, ch’è santo vecchio. Cela veut dire que Dieu sait ce qu’il fait, et ce qui convient davantage à notre bien.

Francesco Solimena. San Gaetano di Thiene

Dom Pius Parsch, Le guide dans l’année liturgique

La confiance en la divine Providence.

1. Saint Gaétan. — Jour de mort : 7 août 1547. Tombeau : à Naples, dans l’église Saint-Paul. Vie : Saint Gaétan est le fondateur de l’ordre des Théatins. Jules II l’éleva, jeune encore, à la dignité de prélat. Ordonné prêtre en 1517, il renonça à la cour papale et se voua tout entier au service de Dieu. Il soignait de ses propres mains les malades. Son zèle de tous les instants au salut du prochain lui valut le surnom de « Chasseur d’âmes ». Dans le but de restaurer la discipline ecclésiastique, il institua, en 1524, un Ordre de clercs réguliers appelés à donner l’exemple d’une vie vraiment apostolique. Dédaigneux des biens de la terre, ces religieux ne devaient posséder aucun revenu et même ne rien solliciter des fidèles, se contentant pour leur subsistance de ce qui leur était spontanément offert. Ils vivaient ainsi dans une absolue confiance envers la divine Providence. Saint Gaétan passait souvent jusqu’à huit heures en prière. Il eut un rôle particulièrement actif dans la réforme du bréviaire sous Clément VII. La vertu dominante de ce saint, plein de mansuétude, fut l’humilité. A Rome, près de la Crèche, une nuit de Noël, il mérita de recevoir l’Enfant Jésus des bras de la Vierge Marie. Pendant le sac de Rome par Charles-Quint, il fut violemment maltraité par les soldats déçus de n’en pouvoir obtenir les biens qu’il avait distribués aux pauvres. La nouvelle d’une sédition populaire l’affecta si profondément qu’il en mourut.

2. La messe (Os justi). — Messe du commun des confesseurs, excepté l’Évangile et l’Oraison. L’Église y insiste sur la principale vertu de saint Gaétan, une grande confiance en Dieu et un vif désir du ciel. « Accorde-nous, par son intercession et son exemple, de mettre toujours en toi notre confiance et de n’avoir d’autres désirs que les biens du ciel ».

C’est pourquoi l’Évangile nous annonce le « joyeux message » de la confiance en Dieu. « Regardez les oiseaux du ciel : ils ne sèment ni ne moissonnent, ils n’amassent rien dans les greniers ; votre Père céleste les nourrit. Ne valez-vous pas beaucoup plus qu’eux ? Considérez les lis des champs comme ils grandissent ; ils ne travaillent pas et ils ne filent pas. Je vous le dis, Salomon même, dans toute sa gloire, n’a pas été vêtu comme l’un d’eux ».

Voici les deux pensées que l’Église inscrit au programme de notre journée ; le matin : « Ne vous inquiétez point et ne dites pas : Que mangerons-nous ? Que boirons-nous ? Votre Père sait ce qui vous est nécessaire » ; et, le soir : « Cherchez d’abord le royaume de Dieu et sa justice, et tout cela vous sera donné par surcroît ».

3. L’examen particulier liturgique. — On connaît la pratique de l’examen particulier préconisée par saint Ignace. Elle consiste à examiner sa conscience sur tel défaut ou telle vertu nettement déterminée. C’est un exercice excellent.

Depuis des siècles, l’Église nous offre quelque chose de semblable. Lorsqu’elle observe chez un saint une vertu particulièrement frappante, elle ne cesse de nous la proposer en exemple toute la journée. Comment ? Il nous est aisé de le voir aujourd’hui. L’Église s’y prend de quatre manières :

1) Elle nous montre cette vertu en pratique dans la vie même du saint. Ceci à matines. Les mots nous touchent ; les exemples nous entraînent.

2) Elle nous la fait demander dans l’oraison du jour, non pas seulement une fois, mais jusqu’à six fois : à toutes les Heures de l’Office. C’est la grande prière de la journée, le point culminant de chaque partie de l’office.

3) Par la messe, surtout, nous participons à la vertu du saint. L’avant-messe d’aujourd’hui est éminemment instructive : le Christ nous y apprend pour ainsi dire lui-même, de sa propre bouche, la sollicitude du Père éternel pour ses enfants. Puis, cet enseignement, l’Église le pénètre de la rosée de grâce du Saint-Sacrifice. Ainsi, la Sainte Communion de ce jour a pour fruit particulier la confiance en la divine Providence.

4) Voici enfin le quatrième procédé de l’Église. Elle nous fait chanter les passages essentiels du saint Évangile. Ce qu’on chante se grave profondément dans le cœur. Au lever du soleil, nous chantons aujourd’hui cette parole du Christ : « Ne vous inquiétez pas... » ; et à la tombée de la nuit : « Cherchez d’abord le Royaume de Dieu... » De tout cela nous pouvons conclure que l’Église fait preuve d’une habileté admirable à enseigner la pratique de la vertu.

SOURCE : http://www.introibo.fr/07-08-St-Gaetan-de-Thienne

Pietro Gagliardi, San Gaetano,1882, Ħamrun, Malta

Saint Cajetan

Also known as

• Cajetan the Theatine
• Cajetan of Thiene
• Cayetano
• Gaetano
• Gaetanus
• Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene
• Gaetano da Thiene

Memorial

• 7 August

Profile

Cajetan was born the second son of pious and noble parents, Caspar de Thienna and Maria Porta, who dedicated him as an infant to the Blessed Virgin Mary. From childhood he was known as “the Saint”, and in later years as “the hunter of souls.” A distinguished student, he studied law in Padua, Italy, and was offered positions in the government, but he turned them down and left his native town to seek a religious vocation and obscurity in Rome. Found out, he was forced at age 28 to accept a position at the court of Pope Julius II. He was ordained a priest at age 36.

On the death of Pope Julius, Cajetan returned to Vicenza and disgusted his relatives by joining the Confraternity of Saint Jerome, whose members normally were drawn from the lowest and poorest classes. Cajetan spent his fortune in building hospitals, and devoted himself to nursing the plague–stricken. He founded a bank to help the poor and offer an alternative to loan sharks; it later became the Bank of Naples. He was known for a gentle game he played with parishioners in which he would bet prayers, rosaries or devotional candles on whether he would perform some service for them; he always did, and they always had to “pay” by saying the prayers.

To renew the lives of the clergy, on 3 May 1524 in Rome, with the help of three others, including the future Pope Paul IV, he formed the Congregation of Clerks Regular, known as the Theatines. They devoted themselves to preaching, the administration of the Sacraments, and the careful performance of the Church‘s rites and ceremonies. Saint Cajetan was the first to introduce the Forty Hours’ Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as an antidote to the heresy of Calvinism. When the Germans, under the Constable Bourbon, sacked Rome, Saint Cajetan was scourged to extort money from him; what his attackers did not understand was that he had long before spent his worldly wealth on good works.

Cajetan had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. His piety was rewarded one Christmas eve when she appeared to him and placed the Infant Jesus in his arms. When Saint Cajetan was on his death-bed, resigned to the will of God, she appeared to him again, this time surrounded by ministering angels. He said, “Lady, bless me!” Mary replied, “Cajetan, receive the blessing of my Son, and know that I am here as a reward for the sincerity of your love, and to lead you to Paradise.” She then told him to have patience with the illness that had attacked him, and gave orders to the choirs of angels to escort his soul to heaven. “Cajetan,” she said, “my Son calls you. Let us go in peace.” And so, he did.

Born

• October 1480 at Vicenza, Italy as Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene

Died

• 1547 at Naples, Italy of natural causes

Beatified

• 8 October 1629 by Pope Urban VIII

Canonized

• 12 April 1671 by Pope Clement X

Patronage

• job seekers
• unemployed people
• Theatines

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cajetan/

Francesco Solimena  (1657–1747). Saint Cajetan Appeasing Divine Anger, prima metà del XVIII sec, basilica di San Paolo Maggiore , Napoli  piazza San Gaetano, nel centro antico della città.

Heaven’s Bright Queen – Apparition to Saint Cajetan, Founder of the Theatins, Lombardy, Italy, 1517

Article

Saint Cajetan was born at Vicenza in 1480, and was dedicated from infancy to the Blessed Mother of God. After having made legal studies with great distinction at Padua, he was appointed Prothonotary Apostolic at the Roman Curia. But he gave all the time he could spare to the wrork of pious fraternities, spending his fortune in building hospitals and devoting himself in person to the nursing of the plague-stricken. Finally, his zeal for souls led him to resign his office and enter the priesthood. In 1524, in conjunction with Bishop Caraffa, who was afterwards Pope, he founded the first congregation of regular clerks, which took its name from Chieti, or Theate, the See over which his co-laborer had presided.

“They embraced a more than Franciscan poverty,” says Mr. Arnold, “for they bound themselves not only to have no property or rents, but to abstain from asking for alms, being persuaded that the providence of God and the unsolicited charity of the faithful would sufficiently supply their wants.”

The Theatins devoted themselves to preaching the administration of the sacraments, and the careful performance of the rites and ceremonies of the Church. They have produced many eminent, men, including Cardinal Thomassi and Father Ventura, The holy brotherhood lived in Rome on Mount Pincio, and the year after settling there, the Constable of Bourbon, commander of the army of Charles V., marched from Milan to Rome, and took the city in May, 1527. Philibert of Chalons, Prince of Orange, who succeeded in command after the wicked Constable had been slain, plundered the city, and was guilty of great cruelties. The house of the Theatins shared the fate of the rest, and Saint Cajetan being recognized, and imagined to be possessed of great wealth, was barbarously scourged and tortured to extort from him his supposed treasure.

The mystery of the Nativity was his special subject of contemplation, in which the eternal love of God for man was made so wonderfully manifest. It was in the year 1517, when, according to his custom, Cajetan was rapt in ecstasy before the altar of the Crib on Christmas eve. Tears flowed down his cheeks, so deeply was he moved by the mystery of the birth of the Lord, whom he pictured to himself as a little helpless Child lying in the arms of His Mother. Then arose in his heart the great desire to entreat the venerable Mother of God that she would lay the Divine Child in his arms, but his humility permitted him not. Whilst, however, his heart longed for this favor, behold! there appeared to him Saint Jerome and Saint Joseph, who desired him to hold out his arms and approach them to the Divine Mother. He did so, and the Queen of Angels truly laid the Child Jesus in his arms. The happiness which entered into his heart, passes description. The impression which this vision left behind never departed from the holy man during the course of his life, but so often as he received the Body and Blood of the Lord in Holy Communion he paused a little, believing that Mary herself was there offering him, under the form of the most Holy Sacrament, her Divine Child to caress.

Saint Cajetan was the first to introduce the custom of the Forty Hours Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as a means of counter-acting the heresy of Calvin, who propagated a fearful disrespect for the Eucharistic Presence of our Lord.

He always cherished a tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin and when, writes Father Bowden:

“He was on his death-bed, resigned to the Will of God, eager for pain to satisfy his love, and for death to attain to life, he beheld the Mother of God, radiant with splendor, and surrounded by the ministering seraphim. In profound veneration, he said: ‘Lady, bless me!’ Mary replied: ‘Cajetan, receive the blessing of my Son, and know that I am here as a reward for the sincerity of your love, and to lead you to Paradise.’ She then exhorted him to patience in fighting an evil spirit who troubled him, and gave orders to the choirs of angels to escort his soul in triumph to Heaven. Then turning her countenance full of majesty and sweetness upon him, she said: ‘Cajetan, my Son calls thee. Let us go in peace.'”

When his hour of death came, his physicians told him not to lie on the floor, but he replied, “My Saviour died upon the Cross; suffer me to die upon ashes.” Thus died Saint Cajetan on 7 August 1547.

MLA Citation

• William J Walsh. “Apparition to Saint Cajetan, Founder of the Theatins, Lombardy, Italy, 1517”. The Apparitions and Shrines of Heaven’s Bright Queen, 1905. CatholicSaints.Info. 1 August 2014. Web. 12 December 2020. <https://catholicsaints.info/heavens-bright-queen-apparition-to-saint-cajetan-founder-of-the-theatins-lombardy-italy-1517/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/heavens-bright-queen-apparition-to-saint-cajetan-founder-of-the-theatins-lombardy-italy-1517/

Seguace di Martin Johann Schmidt  (1718–1801). Glorie des hl. Kajetan, 1740, 74 X 57, Monogramma e data: M.I.S 17(40)

Cajetan (Gaetano) of Thienna, Priest (RM) 

Born in Vicenza, Lombardy, Italy, in 1480; died in Naples, Italy, on August 7, 1547; beatified by Urban VIII in 1629; canonized by Clement X in 1671. Saint Cajetan, founder of the blue-habited Theatines, was the son of Lord Gaspar of Thienna (Tiene) and his wife Mary di Porto. Both were known for their piety. At his birth his mother, a fervent Dominican tertiary, dedicated Cajetan to the Blessed Virgin. Although his father died while fighting for the Venetians against King Ferdinand of Naples when Cajetan was only two, the example of his mother helped Cajetan to grow into a man of sweet temper, constant recollection, and unwavering compassion, especially toward the poor and afflicted.

After attaining a doctorate in both civil and canon law at Padua, Italy, he became a senator in Vicenza. He built a parochial chapel at his own expense at Rampazzo, where those living far from the parish church might be catechized and worship. Thereafter he fled to Rome in 1506, where he had hoped to live in obscurity among the crowds; however, Pope Julius II compelled him to accept the office of protonotary in his court. Although Julius II was one of the least inspiring examples of a pope, Cajetan saw through the lustful, simonious, indulgent, war-loving court to the essential holiness of the Church. He knew that despite the vices and follies of Her servants, Holy Mother Church still held the keys to the salvation of the world.

He thanked God for the flowering of the arts in the Renaissance, knowing that the genius of the artist was but a reflection of the creativity of God. Yet he knew that the Church was in need of reformation. Unlike his contemporaries Luther and Savonarola, however, Cajetan wanted to bring about the reform patiently and humbly. He put his trust in the Holy Spirit and the love Christ has for His Bride.

During the thirteen years Cajetan labored in Rome for reform, he did what he could to bring comfort to others: he visited the sick in hospitals and sought out the incurable and the dying in their homes. He had joined the Confraternity of Divine Love, a small, unofficial group devoted to works of charity. They cared for the sick, the poor, foundlings, and prisoners. Gradually their influence spread further afield in Italy.

He resigned as protonotary upon Julius's death in 1513 and was ordained in 1516. The following year, while praying at the Christmas crib in the church of Saint Mary Maggiore, he had a mystical experience. He records, "Encouraged by the Blessed Saint Jerome, whose bones lie in the crypt beneath the crib, I took from the hands of the timid Virgin who had just become a mother her tender Child, in whom the eternal Word had been made flesh."

In 1518, Cajetan returned to Vicenza and his dying mother. There he joined the Oratory of Saint Jerome. Upon Mary di Porto's death, he dedicated his considerable inheritance to relieving distress, first in Vicenza and then in Verona and Venice. He founded a similar oratory at Venice and continued his work, particularly with the incurable.

In 1523, he returned to Rome, Paul Consiglieri, Boniface da Colle, and Bishop Giovanni Pietro Caraffa of Chieti (or Theate), who later became Pope Paul IV. These men helped Cajetan implement his vision of an order of priests whose lives would be as simple as those of the Apostles and who would serve as models for the secular clergy. The members of the Congregation of Clerks Regular (more generally known as the Theatines) were to dress in black and concentrate on the essentials of the priestly life: embracing poverty, spreading charity, and bringing life in the sacraments. The institute was approved by Pope Clement VII with Bishop Caraffa as the order's first provost general.

In 1524, twelve priests installed themselves in a house on the Pinicio in Rome, where Cajetan occupied himself in the humblest tasks. When Rome was sacked three years later by Charles V, the Theatines moved to Venice, where the famine and plague gave them ample opportunity to devote themselves to the service of others. The Venetians called them "hermits" because of their extreme simplicity of life and Cajetan they named "the saint of Providence." Cajetan was elected superior in 1530, and Caraffa re- elected in 1533. That same year the Theatines founded a house in Naples with Cajetan as its superior. Thereafter, the order rapidly spread throughout Italy, then Europe.

In Naples Cajetan fought widespread opposition to the reforms of the bishops and the prevalent heresies. Later, with Blessed John Marinoni, he founded the montes pietatis to help extend loans to the poor and combat usury.

Cajetan, one of the great Catholic reformers, died in Naples, worn out by his frequent travels and many obligations as superior, on a bed of ashes. At his request, he was buried in a common grave in the church of Saint Paul. Many of the reforms of the Council of Trent were anticipated and implemented by Cajetan long before that council convened (Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth).

In art, Saint Cajetan is depicted as a Theatine monk with a winged heart. He may sometimes be shown (1) with a book, pen, lily, and flaming heart (not to be confused with Saint Augustine, who never has a lily); (2) seeing a vision of the Holy Family with a lily at his feet; or (3) holding the Christ-Child as an angel holds a lily nearby (Roeder). He is venerated in Chieti and Naples (Roeder).

SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0807.shtml

Monumento a Gaetano Thiene a piazza San Gaetano, nel centro storico di Napoli.

St. Cajetan

 (GAETANO.)

Founder of the Theatines, born October, 1480 at Vicenza in Venetian territory; died at Naples in 1547. Under the care of a pious mother he passed a studious and exemplary youth, and took his degree as doctor utriusque juris at Padua in his twenty-fourth year. In 1506 he became at Rome a prothonotary Apostolic in the court of Julius II, and took an important share in reconciling the Republic of Venice with that pontiff. On the death of Julius in 1523 he withdrew from the court, and is credited with founding, shortly after, an association of pious priests and prelates called the Oratory of Divine Love, which spread to other Italian towns. Though remarkable for his intense love of God, he did not advance to the priesthood till 1516. Recalled to Vicenza in the following year by the death of his mother, he founded there a hospital for incurables, thus giving proof of the active charity that filled his whole life. But his zeal was more deeply moved by the spiritual diseases that, in those days of political disorder, infected the clergy of all ranks, and, like St. Augustine in earlier times, he strove to reform them by instituting a body of regular clergy, who should combine the spirit of monasticism with the exercises of the active ministry.

Returning to Rome in 1523 he laid the foundations of his new congregation, which was canonically erected by Clement VII in 1524. One of his four companions was Giovanni Pietro Caraffa, Bishop of Chieti (in Latin Theate), afterwards Paul IV, who was elected first superior, and from whose title arose the name Theatines. The order grew but slowly. During the sack of Rome in 1527 the Theatines, then twelve in number, escaped to Venice after enduring many outrages from the heretic invaders. There Cajetan met St. Hieronymus Æmiliani (see SOMASCHI), whom he assisted in the establishment of his Congregation of Clerks Regular. In 1533 Cajetan founded a house in Naples, where he was able to check the advances of Lutheranism. In 1540 he was again at Venice, whence he extended his work to Verona and Vicenza. He passed the last four years of his life, a sort of seraphic existence, at Naples where he died finally of grief at the discords of the city, suffering in his last moments a kind of mystical crucifixion. He was beatified by Urban VIII in 1629, and canonized by Clement X in 1671. His feast is kept on the 7th of August.

Keating, Joseph. "St. Cajetan." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 7 Aug. 2016 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03145a.htm>.

Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Marcia L. Bellafiore.

Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03145a.htm

Statua di Gaetano Thiene realizzata dallo scultore spagnolo Pedro Alonso de los Ríos, nella chiesa di Tommaso De Vio a Madrid

Weninger’s Lives of the Saints – Saint Cajetan, Founder of the Theatine Order

Article

Saint 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 Saint 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 Saint 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 ecstacy 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 Saint Francis. After this he turned to God m 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 Saint 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 Saint 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 Saint Cajetan as a peace offering for the salvation of innumerable souls. Many miracles were wrought by the Almighty to recompense the great faith which Saint 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.

Überlingen ( Baden-Württemberg ).Saint Nicholas minster - Altar ( 1727 ) of Saint Cajetan: Vision of Christ by Saint Cajetan

Überlingen ( Baden-Württemberg ). Münster St.Nikolaus - Kajetanaltar ( 1727 ) - Vision der Christi durch den heiligen Kajetan. Photographie : Wolfgang Sauber

Practical Considerations

I particularly desire that the last maxim which Saint 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 Saint 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.

• Saint 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 some hing 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 feeds 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 to-morrow 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.” (Matthew 6:2) Saint Cajetan never suffered from want. God frequently assisted him by miracle. 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 you 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. (Deuteronomy 27) 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. “Be- hold, says He, this day I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose therefore life.”

MLA Citation

• Father Francis Xavier Weninger, DD, SJ. “Saint Cajetan, Founder of the Theatine Order”. Lives of the Saints, 1876. CatholicSaints.Info. 25 March 2018. Web. 12 December 2020. <https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-cajetan-founder-of-the-theatine-order/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-cajetan-founder-of-the-theatine-order/

Chiesa di San Gaetano, Cosenza

August 7

St. Cajetan of Thienna, Confessor

See his life compiled by Antonio Caraccioli, Pr. of his Order, published in Latin with those of the three other founders in 1612. Also the same given more at large in Italian, by F. Jos. Silos, of the same Order, on the occasion of his canonization in 1671, with the bull of his canonization, and the comments of the Bollandists. See also his life written by Del Tufa, bishop of Acerra; Helyot, Hist. des Ord. Relig. t. 4, p. 71. Contin. Fleury, t. 32, et la Vie de S. Cajetan de Thienne, par D. Bernard. Paris, 1698, 12mo.

A.D. 1547

ST. CAJETAN was son of Gaspar, lord of Thienna, 1 and Mary Porta, persons of the first rank among the nobility of the territory of Vicenza, in Lombardy, and eminent for their piety. The saint was born in 1480. 2 His mother by earnest prayer recommended him from his birth to the patronage of the Blessed Virgin, and as he grew capable of instruction, never ceased setting before his eyes the example of our divine Redeemer’s humility, meekness, purity, and all other virtues; and such was his docility to her lessons that from his infancy he was surnamed the Saint. The perfect mortification of his passions from the cradle, made an unalterable sweetness of temper seem as it were the natural result of his constitution. The love of prayer taught a constant recollection, and the continual application of his mind to eternal truths, made him shun all loss of time in amusements or idle conversation; for no discourse seemed agreeable or interesting to him, unless it tended to raise the mind to God. His affections were entirely weaned from the world, and he directed all his aims to the life to come. His tender charity towards all men, particularly his compassion for the poor, and all who were in affliction, were remarkable on all occasions. The long exercises of devotion which he daily practised, were no hinderance to his studies, but sanctified them, and purified the eye of his understanding, enabling him the better to judge of truth. He distinguished himself in the study of divinity; likewise in the civil and canon laws, in which faculty he took the degree of doctor with great applause at Padua.

To devote himself perfectly to the divine service he embraced an ecclesiastical state; and, out of his own patrimony, built and founded a parochial chapel at Rampazzo, for the instruction and benefit of many who lived at a considerable distance from the parish church. After this he went to Rome not in quest of preferment, or to live at court, but hoping to lie concealed in that great city, and to lead an obscure and hidden life, which it was impossible for him to do in his own country. Nevertheless, Pope Julius II. compelled him to accept the office of protonotary in his court, and by that means drew him out of his beloved solitude, though the saint had the art to join interior recollection with public employments, and to live retired in courts. Being much delighted with the end proposed by the confraternity in Rome, called of the love of God, which was an association of zealous and devout persons who devoted themselves by certain pious exercises and regulations to labour with all their power to promote the divine honour, he enrolled himself in it. Upon the death of Julius II. he resigned his public employment, and returned to Vicenza. There he entered himself in the confraternity of St. Jerom, which was instituted upon the plan of that of the love of God in Rome; but which in that place consisted only of men in the lowest stations of life. This circumstance was infinitely pleasing to the saint, but gave great offence to his worldly friends, who thought it a blemish to the honour of his family. He persisted, however, in his resolution, and exerted his zeal with wonderful fruit in the most humbling practices of charity. He sought out the most distressed objects among the sick and the poor over the whole town, and served them with his own hands, being most assiduous about those who laboured under the most loathsome diseases in the hospitals of the incurables, the revenues of which house he considerably augmented. In obedience to the advice of his confessor, John of Crema, a Dominican friar, a man of great prudence, learning, and piety, the saint removed to Venice, and taking up his lodgings in the new hospital of that city, pursued his former manner of life. He was so great a benefactor to that house as to be regarded as its principal founder, though his chief care was to provide the sick with every spiritual succour possible. He at the same time emaciated his body with penitential austerities, and seemed to rival the most eminent contemplatives in the sublime grace of prayer; and it was the common saying both at Rome, Vicenza, and Venice, that Cajetan was a seraph at the altar, and an apostle in the pulpit.

By the advice of the same director, Cajetan left Venice to return to Rome, in order to associate himself again to the confraternity of the love of God, among the principal members of which, many were no less eminent for their learning and prudence than for their extraordinary piety. He deliberated with them on some effectual means for the reformation of manners among Christians, grieving that the sanctity of this divine religion should be so little known and practised by the greater part of those who profess it. All agreed that this could not be done but by reviving in the clergy the spirit and zeal of those holy pastors who first planted the faith. To put all the clergy in mind what this spirit ought to be, and what it obliges them to, a plan was concerted among the associates for instituting an order of regular clergy upon the perfect model of the lives of the apostles. The first authors of this design were St. Cajetan, John Peter Caraffa, afterwards pope under the name of Paul IV., but at that time archbishop of Theate, now called Chieti, a town in Abruzzo; Paul Consigliari, of the most noble family of Ghisleri, and Boniface de Colle, a gentleman of Milan. Those among them who were possessed of ecclesiastical livings addressed themselves to Pope Clement VII. for leave to resign them with a view of making such an establishment. His holiness made great difficulties with regard to the archbishop; but at length he gave his consent. The plan of the new institute was drawn up, laid before the pope, and examined in a consistory of cardinals in 1524. The more perfectly to extirpate the poison of avarice, always most fatal to the ecclesiastical order where it gets footing, and to establish in the hearts of those who are engaged in that state the most perfect spirit of disinterestedness, and the entire disengagement of their hearts from the goods of this world, the zealous founders made it an observance of their institute, though not under any vow or obligation (as several French writers of note have mistaken), that this regular clergy should not only possess no annual revenues, but should be forbidden ever to beg or ask for necessary subsistence, content to receive the voluntary contributions of the faithful, and relying entirely upon Providence. The cardinals objected a long time to this rule, thinking it inconsistent with the ordinary laws of prudence. But their opposition was at length overcome by the founders, who urged that Christ and his apostles having observed this manner of life, the same might be perfectly copied by those who were their successors in the ministry of the altar, and of the divine word. But this clause was added to the rule, that if a community should be reduced to extreme necessity, they should give notice of their distress by a toll of the bell. The Order therefore was approved by Clement VII. in 1524, and Caraffa was chosen the first general. As he still retained the title of archbishop of Theate, these regular clerks were from him called Theatins. 3 The principal ends which they proposed to themselves were to preach to the people, assist the sick, oppose errors in faith, restore among the laity the devout and frequent use of the sacraments, and reestablish in the clergy disinterestedness, regularity, a perfect spirit of devotion, assiduous application to the sacred studies, the most religious respect to holy things, especially in whatever belongs to the sacraments and pious ceremonies.

Rome and all Italy soon perceived the happy effects of the zeal of these holy men, and the odour of their sanctity drew many to their community. They lived at first in a house in Rome, which belonged to Boniface de Colle; but, their number increasing, they took a larger house on Monte Pincio. In the following year they were afflicted with a calamity which had like to have put an end to their Order soon after its birth. The army of the Emperor Charles V., which was commanded by the constable Bourbon, who had deserted from the French king to the emperor, marched from the Milanese to Rome, and took that city by assault on the 6th of May, 1527. This Duke of Bourbon, after having committed horrible outrages, was killed by a musket shot in mounting the wall; but Philibert of Challons, prince of Orange, took upon him the command of the army, which was composed in a great measure of Lutherans, and other enemies of the see of Rome. The pope and cardinals retired into the castle of St. Angelo; but the German army plundered the city, and were guilty of greater cruelties and excesses than had been committed by the Goths a thousand years before. The house of the Theatins was rifled, and almost demolished; and a soldier, who had known St. Cajetan at Vicenza before he renounced the world, falsely imagining he was then rich, gave an information to his officer against him to that effect; whereupon he was barbarously scourged and tortured to extort from him a treasure which he had not. Being at length discharged, though in a weak and maimed condition, he and his companions left Rome, with nothing but their breviaries under their arms, and with clothes barely to cover themselves. They repaired to Venice, where they were kindly received, and settled in the convent of St. Nicholas of Tolentino. Caraffa’s term for discharging the office of general expired after three years, in 1530, and St. Cajetan was chosen in his room. It was with great reluctance that he accepted that charge; but the sanctity, zeal, and prudence with which he laboured to advance the divine honour, especially by inspiring ecclesiastics with fervour and the contempt of the world, drew the esteem of the whole world on his Order. The fruits of his charity were most conspicuous during a raging plague which was brought to Venice from the Levant, and followed by a dreadful famine. Excited by his example, Jerom Emiliani, a noble Venetian, in 1530, founded another congregation of regular clerks, called Somasches, from the place where they lived, between Milan and Bergamo, the design of which was to breed up orphans, and such children as were destitute of the means of a suitable education.

At the end of the three years of Cajetan’s office, Caraffa was made general a second time, and our saint was sent to Verona, where both the clergy and laity were in the greatest ferment, tumultuously opposing certain articles of reformation of discipline which their bishop was endeavouring to introduce among them. The saint in a short time restored the public tranquillity, and brought the people unanimously and cheerfully to submit to a wholesome reformation, of which they themselves would reap all the advantages. Shortly after he was called to Naples to found a convent of his Order in that city. The count of Oppido bestowed on him a convenient large house for that purpose, and used the most pressing importunities to prevail upon him to accept a donation of an estate in lands: but this the saint constantly refused. A general reformation of manners at Naples both in the clergy and laity was the fruit of his example, preaching, and indefatigable labours. No occupations made him deprive himself of the comfort and succour of his daily long exercises of holy prayer, which he sometimes continued for six or seven hours together, and in which he was often favoured with extraordinary raptures. In 1534 Caraffa was created Cardinal by Paul III. Clement the Seventh’s successor. He was afterwards raised to the papacy upon the death of Marcellus II. in 1555, and died in 1559. Our saint was then gone to receive the recompense of his labours. In 1537 he went back to Venice, being made general a second time; but after his three years were expired, returned to Naples, and governed the house of his Order in that city till his happy death. Being worn out by austerities, labours, and a lingering distemper, he at length perceived his last hour to approach. When his physicians advised him not to lie on the hard boards, but to use a coarse bed in his sickness, his answer was: “My Saviour died on a cross, suffer me at least to die on ashes.” His importunity prevailing, he was laid on a sackcloth spread on the floor, and strewed with ashes; and in that penitential posture he received the last sacraments, and calmly expired in the greatest sentiments of compunction on the 7th of August, 1547. Many miracles wrought by his intercession were approved at Rome after a rigorous scrutiny, a history of which is published by Pinius the Bollandist. St. Cajetan was beatified by Urban VIII. in 1629, and canonized by Clement X. in 1671. His remains are enshrined in the church of St. Paul at Naples. 4

  The example of this saint inculcates to us the holy maxims of disinterestedness which Christ has laid down in his gospels. He teaches us that all inordinate desires, or excess of solicitude for the goods of this world is a grievous evil, and extremely prejudicial to all Christian virtues; he presses upon all his followers the duty of fighting against it in the strongest terms, and explains the rigorous extent of his precept in this regard. 5 It is incredible how much avarice steels the heart against all impressions of charity, and even of humanity, and excludes all true ideas of spiritual and heavenly things. The most perfect disinterestedness and contempt of the world, necessary in all Christians, is more essentially the virtue of the ministers of the altar; it always formed the character of every holy pastor. But alas! how often does the idol of covetousness, to the grievous scandal of the faithful, and profanation of all that is sacred or good, now-a-days find a place in the sanctuary itself! New fences against this evil have been often set up, but all become ineffectual in those who do not study perfectly to ground their souls in the true spirit of the opposite virtue.

Note 1. The house of Thienna, illustrious for the antiquity of its nobility, its alliances and military honours, still subsists at Vicenza. Two branches of this house were settled in France; one in Dauphiny in the year 1563, under Charles IX. and the other near Loches in Touraine, according to F. Giri. Nicholas of Thienna, says this author, was page to Francis I. captain of a company of artillery under Henry II. and highly esteemed under the three following reigns, and under that of Henry IV. He married Jane de Villars, daughter of Honoratus of Savoy, marquis de Villars, and grand admiral of France. But these two branches of the house of Thienna, although originally from Vicenza, were not descended from Gaspar of Thienna, father of St. Cajetan; John Baptist, only brother to our saint, having but one daughter, in whom the branch of Gaspar of Thienna was extinct.

  Our saint was called Cajetan, from his uncle the famous Cajetan of Thienna, who was canon of Padua, and esteemed one of the greatest philosophers of his age. We have a work of his printed at Padua, an. 1476, fol. under the following title: “Gaëtani de Tienis Vicentini Philosophi clarissimi in IV. Aristotelis Meteorum libros expositio.” This edition is “rare and very much sought after,” says the author of the Bibliographie instructive, No. 1277. Spondanus mistakes in pretending that St. Cajetan was called Marcellus. Fleury has been guilty of the same mistake, Instit. au Droit Eccles. t. 1, p. 202. [back]

Note 2. Baillet says that St. Cajetan was born either at Vicenza or at Thienna; but he is the only person who has admitted this alternative. All the historians of his life are unanimous that he was born at Vicenza; nevertheless the day of his birth is not exactly known; most authors place it at the latest in 1480. [back]

Note 3. Baillet is mistaken in dating the bull of the institution of regular clerks of St. Cajetan in 1525, it being given in 1524. The 14th of September following, St. Cajetan and his companions made their vows. See the form of these vows in the life of the saint, by J. B. Caraccioli, p. 49, of the edition of Pisa, in 1738.

  St. Cajetan was the first institutor of regular clerks, that is, priests united by vows to fulfil the duties of an ecclesiastical state. They reckon generally eight congregations of regular clerks in Italy. 1. Regular clerks of St. Paul, called Barnabites, from their house dedicated to God in honour of St. Barnaby at Milan, instituted in 1533. 2. Regular clerks of the Society of Jesus, instituted in 1540. 3. Regular clerks of St. Mayeul or Somasquos, thus called from a village near Milan, instituted in 1530. This congregation was united to that of the Theatins in 1546, and again separated in 1555. 4. Regular clerks, Minors, instituted in 1588. 5. Regular clerks, ministering to the sick, called also cross-bearers, from a red cross which they wear on their cassock, instituted in 1591. 6. Regular clerks of pious schools, instituted in 1621. 7. Regular clerks of the Mother of God, instituted at Lucca in 1628. 8. Theatins; but as these were the first, they had no other name given them in the bull of their institution than that of regular clerks, without any other addition, as Spondanus in his Church Annals takes notice. These different congregations have nearly the same dress; they make use of the ancient cassock which the secular priests wore towards the end of the sixteenth century, and in the beginning of the seventeenth.

  Thomassin (Discipl. de l’Eglise, t. 1, p. 1806. Edit. 1725,) says, that the life of the regular clerks is nearly the same as that of the canon regulars; there is yet this difference, that the ancient canon regulars observed the fasts, the abstinences, the silence, and the night watchings of the monks; whereas the regular clerks, according to their institution, embraced the functions of the ecclesiastical state, without practising the great austerities of those religious men who dedicated themselves to silence and retirement. See the statutes of the canon regulars of the Order of Premontré. [back]

Note 4. The Order of Theatins has eight houses in Naples, two in Rome, several in other parts of Italy, Spain, and Poland, and one in France, which was founded at Paris by Cardinal Mazarin in 1648. [back]

Note 5. Matt. vi. 24. [back]

Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73).  Volume VIII: August. The Lives of the Saints.  1866.

SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/8/071.html

San Gaetano Brescia

Miniature Lives of the Saints – Saint Cajetan

Article

Cajetan was born at Vicenza in 1480, of noble and pious parents, who dedicated him to our Blessed Lady. From childhood he was known as the Saint, and in later years as “The hunter of souls.” A distinguished student, he left his native town to seek obscurity in Rome, but was there forced to accept office at the court of Julius II. On the death of that Pontiff he returned to Vicenza, and disgusted his relatives by joining the Confraternity of Saint Jerome, whose members were drawn from the lowest classes, while he spent his fortune in building hospitals, and himself in nursing the plague-stricken. To renew the lives of the clergy, he instituted the first community of Regular Clerks, known as Theatines. They devoted themselves to preaching, the administration of the Sacraments, and the careful performance of the Church’s rites and ceremonies. Saint Cajetan was the first to introduce the Forty Hours’ adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as an antidote to the heresy of Calvin. He had a most tender love of our Blessed Lady, and his piety was rewarded. One Christmas Eve she placed the Infant Jesus in his arms, and she appeared to console him as he died. When the Germans, under the Constable Bourbon, sacked Rome, Saint Cajetan was barbarously scourged, to extort from him riches which he had long before securely stored in heaven. Worn out with toil and sickness, he went to his reward in 1547.

Imitate Saint Cajetan’s devotion to our Blessed Lady by invoking her aid before every work.

Let us pray our most Blessed Advocate, the Mother of our Redeemer, to deign to cover our iniquities, and plead for us before the just Judge, her Son. — Saint Cajetan

When Saint Cajetan was on his deathbed, resigned to the will of God, eager for pain to satisfy his love, and for death to attain to life, he beheld the Mother of God, radiant with splendour, and surrounded by ministering Seraphim. In profound veneration he said, “Lady, bless me.” Mary replied, “Cajetan, receive the blessing of my Son, and know that I am here as a reward for the sincerity of your love, and to lead you to Paradise.” She then exhorted him to patience in fighting an evil spirit who troubled him, and gave orders to the choirs of angels to escort his soul in triumph to heaven. Then turning her countenance mil of majesty and sweetness upon him, she said, “Cajetan, my Son calls thee. Let us go in peace.”

For she is an infinite treasure to men, which they that use become the friends of God. – Wisdom 7:14

MLA Citation

• Henry Sebastian Bowden. “Saint Cajetan”. Miniature Lives of the Saints for Every Day of the Year, 1877. CatholicSaints.Info. 8 March 2015. Web. 12 December 2020. <https://catholicsaints.info/miniature-lives-of-the-saints-saint-cajetan/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/miniature-lives-of-the-saints-saint-cajetan/

Chiesa di San Gaetano e Meridiana, Forio d'Ischia

Pictorial Lives of the Saints – Saint Cajetan

Article

Cajetan was born at Vicenza, in 1480, of pious and noble parents, who dedicated him to our Blessed Lady. From childhood he was known as the Saint, and in later years as “the hunter of souls.” A distinguished student, he left his native town to seek obscurity in Rome, but was there forced to accept office at the court of Julius II. On the death of that Pontiff, he returned to Vicenza, and disgusted his relatives by joining the Confraternity of Saint Jerome, whose members were drawn from the lowest classes; while he spent his fortune in building hospitals, and devoted himself to nursing the plague-stricken. To renew the lives of the clergy, he instituted the first community of Regular Clerks, known as Theatines. They devoted themselves to preaching, the administration of the Sacraments, and the careful performance of the Church’s rites and ceremonies. Saint Cajetan was the first to introduce the Forty Hours’ Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as an antidote to the heresy of Calvin. He had a most tender love for our Blessed Lady, and his piety was rewarded; for one Christmas eve she placed the Infant Jesus in his arms. When the Germans, under the Constable Bourbon, sacked Rome, Saint Cajetan was barbarously scourged, to extort from him riches which he had long before securely stored in heaven. When Saint Cajetan was on his death-bed, resigned to the will of God, eager for pain to satisfy his love, and for death to attain to life, he beheld the Mother of God, radiant with splendor and surrounded by ministering seraphim. In profound veneration, he said, “Lady, bless me!” Mary replied, “Cajetan, receive the blessing of my Son, and know that I am here as a reward for the sincerity of your love, and to lead you to Paradise.” She then exhorted him to patience in fighting an evil who troubled him, and gave orders to the choirs of angels to escort his soul in triumph to heaven. Then, turning her countenance full of majesty and sweetness upon him, she said, “Cajetan, my Son calls thee. Let us go in peace.” Worn out with toil and sickness, he went to his reward in 1547.

Reflection – Imitate Saint Cajetan’s devotion to our Blessed Lady, by invoking her aid before every work.

MLA Citation

• John Dawson Gilmary Shea. “Saint Cajetan”. Pictorial Lives of the Saints, 1922. CatholicSaints.Info. 13 December 2018. Web. 12 December 2020. <https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-cajetan/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-cajetan/

Mattia Bortoloni, Gloria di san Gaetano da Thiene, Accademia

San Gaetano Thiene Sacerdote

7 agosto - Memoria Facoltativa

Vicenza, ottobre 1480 - Napoli, 7 agosto 1547

Nacque a Vicenza dalla nobile famiglia dei Thiene nel 1480, e fu battezzato con il nome di Gaetano, in ricordo di un suo celebre zio, il quale si chiamava così perché era nato a Gaeta. Protonotario apostolico di Giulio II, lasciò sotto Leone X la corte pontificia maturando, specie nell'Oratorio del Divino Amore, l'esperienza congiunta di preghiera e di servizio ai poveri e agli esclusi. È restauratore della vita sacerdotale e religiosa, ispirata al discorso della montagna e al modello della Chiesa apostolica. Devoto del presepe e della passione del signore, fondò (1524) con Gian Pietro Carafa, vescovo di Chieti (Teate), poi Paolo IV (1555-1559), i Chierici Regolari Teatini. Per la sua illimitata fiducia in Dio è venerato come il santo della provvidenza.

Etimologia: Gaetano = nativo di Gaeta, dal latino

Martirologio Romano: San Gaetano da Thiene, sacerdote, che a Napoli si dedicò a pie opere di carità, in particolare adoperandosi per i malati incurabili, promosse associazioni per la formazione religiosa dei laici e istituì i Chierici regolari per il rinnovamento della Chiesa, rimettendo ai suoi discepoli il dovere di osservare l’antico stile di vita degli Apostoli.

Nacque a Vicenza dalla nobile famiglia dei Thiene nel 1480, e fu battezzato con il nome di Gaetano, in ricordo di un suo celebre zio, il quale si chiamava così perché era nato a Gaeta.

Laureatosi a Padova in materie giuridiche a soli 24 anni, si dedicò allo stato ecclesiastico, senza però farsi ordinare sacerdote, perché non si sentiva degno; fondando nel contempo nella tenuta di famiglia a Rampazzo, una chiesa dedicata a S. Maria Maddalena, che è ancora oggi la parrocchia del luogo.

Trasferitosi a Roma nel 1506, divenne subito segretario particolare di papa Giulio II, ed ebbe l’incarico di scrittore delle lettere pontificie, ufficio questo che gli diede l’opportunità di conoscere e collaborare con tante persone importanti.

Siamo nel periodo dello splendore rinascimentale, che vede concentrati a Roma grandi artisti, intenti a realizzare quanto di più bello l’arte era in grado di offrire, e che ancora oggi il Vaticano e Roma offrono all’ammirazione del mondo; nel contempo però la vita morale della curia papale, del popolo e del clero, a Roma come altrove, non brillava certo per santità di costumi.

Gaetano non si lasciò abbagliare dallo splendore della corte pontificia, né si scoraggiò per la miseria morale che vedeva; egli ripeteva: “Roma un tempo santa, ora è una Babilonia”; invece di fuggire e ritirarsi in un eremo, da uomo intelligente e concreto, passò all’azione riformatrice, cominciando da sé stesso; incoraggiato da una suora agostiniana bresciana Laura Mignani, che godeva di fama di santità.

Prese ad assistere gli ammalati dell’ospedale di San Giacomo, si iscrisse all’Oratorio del Divino Amore, associazione che si riprometteva di riformare la Chiesa partendo dalla base, il tutto alternandolo con il lavoro in Curia; anche in queste attività conobbe altre personalità, che avevano lo stesso ideale riformista.

Nel settembre 1516 a 36 anni, accettò di essere ordinato sacerdote, ma solo a Natale di quell’anno, volle celebrare la prima Messa nella Basilica di S. Maria Maggiore. In una lettera scritta a suor Laura Mignani a cui era legato da filiale devozione, Gaetano confidò che durante la celebrazione della Messa, gli apparve la Madonna che gli depose tra le braccia il Bambino Gesù; per questo egli è raffigurato nell’arte e nelle immagini devozionali con Gesù Bambino tra le braccia.

Ritornato nel Veneto, nel 1520 fondò alla Giudecca in Venezia l’Ospedale degli Incurabili. Instancabile nel suo ardore di apostolato e di aiuto verso gli altri, ritornò a Roma e nel 1523 insieme ad altri tre compagni: Bonifacio Colli, Paolo Consiglieri, Giampiero Carafa (vescovo di Chieti, diventerà poi papa con il nome di Paolo IV), chiese ed ottenne dal papa Clemente VII, l’autorizzazione a fondare la “Congregazione dei Chierici Regolari” detti poi Teatini, con il compito specifico della vita in comune e al servizio di Dio verso gli altri fratelli.

Il nome Teatini deriva dall’antico nome di Chieti (Teate), di cui uno dei fondatori il Carafa, ne era vescovo. L’ispirazione che egli sentiva impellente, era di formare e donare alla Chiesa sacerdoti che vivessero la primitiva norma della vita apostolica, perciò non ebbe fretta a stendere una Regola, perché questa doveva essere il santo Vangelo, letto e meditato ogni mese, per potersi specchiare in esso.

Le costituzioni dell’Ordine furono infatti emanate solo nel 1604. I suoi chierici non devono possedere niente e non possono neanche chiedere l’elemosina, devono accontentarsi di ciò che i fedeli spontaneamente offrono e di quanto la Provvidenza manda ai suoi figli; con le parole di Gesù sempre presenti: “Cercate prima il regno di Dio e la sua giustizia e tutte queste cose vi saranno date in aggiunta”.

Nel 1527 avvenne il feroce ‘Sacco di Roma’ da parte dei mercenari Lanzichenecchi, il papa Clemente VII della famiglia fiorentina de’ Medici, fu costretto a rifugiarsi in Castel S. Angelo difeso dal Corpo delle Guardie Svizzere, che subì pesanti perdite negli scontri.

Anche s. Gaetano da Thiene, come tanti altri religiosi, fu seviziato dai Lanzichenecchi e imprigionato nella Torre dell’Orologio in Vaticano; riuscito a liberarsi si rifugiò a Venezia con i compagni dell’Istituzione.

Rimase nel Veneto fino al 1531, fondando, assistendo e consolidando tutte le Case del nuovo Ordine con le annesse opere assistenziali; accolse l’invito del celebre tipografo veneziano Paganino Paganini, affinché i Padri Teatini si istruissero nella nuova e rivoluzionaria arte della stampa tipografica, inventata nel 1438 dal tedesco Giovanni Gutenberg.

Nel 1533 per volere del papa Clemente VII, si trasferì insieme al suo collaboratore il beato Giovanni Marinoni, nel Vicereame di Napoli, stabilendosi prima all’Ospedale degli Incurabili, fondato in quel tempo dalla nobile spagnola Maria Lorenza Longo, insieme ad un convento di suore di clausura, dette ‘le Trentatrè’, istituzioni ancora oggi felicemente funzionanti; e poi nella Basilica di S. Paolo Maggiore posta nel cuore del centro storico di Napoli, nella città greco-romana.

La sua attività multiforme si esplicherà a Napoli fino alla morte; fondò ospizi per anziani, potenziò l’Ospedale degli Incurabili, fondò i Monti di Pietà, da cui nel 1539 sorse il Banco di Napoli, il più grande Istituto bancario del Mezzogiorno; suscitò nel popolo la frequenza assidua dei sacramenti, stette loro vicino durante le carestie e le ricorrenti epidemie come il colera, che flagellarono la città in quel periodo, peraltro agitata da sanguinosi tumulti.

Per ironia della sorte, fu proprio il teatino cofondatore Giampiero Carafa, divenuto papa Paolo IV a permettere che nell’Inquisizione, imperante in quei tempi, si usassero metodi diametralmente opposti allo spirito della Congregazione teatina, essenzialmente mite, permissiva, rispettosa delle altre idee.

E quando le autorità civili vollero instaurare nel Viceregno di Napoli, il tribunale dell’Inquisizione, il popolo napoletano (unico a farlo nella storia triste dell’Inquisizione in Europa) si ribellò; la repressione spagnola fu violenta e ben 250 napoletani vennero uccisi, per difendere un principio di libertà.

Gaetano in quel triste momento, fece di tutto per evitare il massacro e quando si accorse che la sua voce non era ascoltata, offrì a Dio la sua vita in cambio della pace; morì a Napoli il 7 agosto 1547 a 66 anni, consumato dagli stenti e preoccupazioni e due mesi dopo la pace ritornò nella città partenopea.

L’opera che più l’aveva assillato nella sua vita, era senza dubbio la riforma della Chiesa, al contrario del contemporaneo Martin Lutero, operò la sua riforma dal basso verso l’alto, formando il clero e dedicandosi all’apostolato fra i poveri, i diseredati e gli ammalati, specie se abbandonati.

A quanti gli facevano notare che i napoletani non potevano essere così generosi negli aiuti, come i ricchi veneziani, rispondeva: “E sia, ma il Dio di Venezia è anche il Dio di Napoli”.

Il popolo napoletano non ha mai dimenticato questo vicentino di Thiene, venuto a donarsi a loro fino a morirne per la stanchezza e gli strapazzi, in un’assistenza senza risparmio e continua. La piazza antistante la Basilica di S. Paolo Maggiore è a lui intitolata, ma la stessa basilica, per secoli sede dell’Ordine, è ormai da tutti chiamata di S. Gaetano; il suo corpo insieme a quello del beato Marinoni, del beato Paolo Burali e altri venerabili teatini è deposto nella cripta monumentale, che ha un accesso diretto sulla piazza, ed è meta di continua devozione del popolo dello storico e popoloso rione.

Nella piazza, come in altre zone di Napoli, vi è una grande statua che lo raffigura; da secoli è stato nominato compatrono di Napoli. Il suo è uno dei nomi più usati da imporre ai figli dei napoletani e di tutta la provincia. Egli venne beatificato il 23 novembre 1624 da papa Urbano VIII e canonizzato il 12 aprile 1671 da papa Clemente X.

San Gaetano da Thiene è la testimonianza di quanto la Chiesa nei secoli, attraverso i suoi figli, sia stata sempre all’avanguardia e con molto anticipo sul potere laico, nel realizzare, inventare e gestire opere di assistenza in tutte le sue forme per il popolo, specie dove c’è sofferenza. Ecco così i Monti di Pietà per giusti prestiti ed elargizioni, l’istituzione degli ospedali, orfanotrofi, ospizi, lebbrosari, ecc. a cui ieri come oggi i governanti più avveduti e non ostili, hanno dato il loro consenso o il prosieguo, anche se a distanza a volte di molto tempo.

Autore: Antonio Borrelli

SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/28700

Voir aussi : http://hodiemecum.hautetfort.com/archive/2007/08/07/7-aout-saint-gaetan-de-thiene-fondateurs-des-clercs-regulier.html