Saint Jean-Baptiste de Rossi
Prêtre (+1746)
Prêtre originaire de Gênes, il exerça son ministère à Rome parmi les pauvres, les malades et les prisonniers auxquels il consacrait toutes ses ressources et le meilleur de son temps.
À Rome, en 1764, saint Jean-Baptiste de Rossi, prêtre. Humble et pauvre, il consacra sa vie à s'occuper des pauvres, des miséreux, des abandonnés de toute sorte, en les visitant, les accueillant, les imprégnant de la doctrine du salut.
Prêtre originaire de Gênes, il exerça son ministère à Rome parmi les pauvres, les malades et les prisonniers auxquels il consacrait toutes ses ressources et le meilleur de son temps.
À Rome, en 1764, saint Jean-Baptiste de Rossi, prêtre. Humble et pauvre, il consacra sa vie à s'occuper des pauvres, des miséreux, des abandonnés de toute sorte, en les visitant, les accueillant, les imprégnant de la doctrine du salut.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE :
Saint Jean-Baptiste de Rossi
Confesseur
Giovanni Battista de Rossi naquit dans la petite ville de Voltaggio, au diocèse de Gênes, le 22 Février 1698.
Son père, Charles, était de condition modeste, mais d'une Foi profonde qui le fit veiller de près, tant qu'il vécut, à l'éducation religieuse de ses quatre enfants.
Deux nobles génois, Jean Scorza et Maria Cambiasi, sa femme, qui villégiaturaient à Voltaggio, furent charmés de ses qualités et le demandèrent à son père en qualité de page.
Trois ans après il les quittait, appelé à Rome par un cousin, Don Laurent de Rossi, chanoine de la Basilique de Sainte-Marie in Cosmedin.
Celui-ci, avec une générosité et une affection qui ne se démentirent jamais, le fit instruire au Collège romain.
Jean-Baptiste y suivit les cours avec un tel succès, que, tous les ans, il obtenait le titre de dictateur, réservé à l'élève le plus brillant de chaque classe.
En 1721, avec une dispense de près d'un an, il était ordonné Prêtre, et il commençait l'admirable vie d'apostolat des pécheurs et des pauvres qui l'ont fait comparer à Saint Philippe de Néri et à Saint Vincent de Paul.
Il évangélisa d'abord les pauvres bergers de la campagne romaine qui apportaient à la ville leurs denrées.
Il venait dès le lever de l'aurore, au coucher du soleil, les trouver sur les places où ils s'assemblaient, leur parlait avec affection, s'intéressait à leurs petites affaires, à leur commerce, gagnait leur confiance ; peu à peu il s'insinuait dans ces âmes frustes et grossières, peu soucieuses des choses éternelles; enfin il les touchait, les tournait vers Dieu, éveillait en elles le désir du Salut ; triomphant, il les guidait vers un confesseur, car lui-même ne se croyait pas assez instruit pour s'asseoir au tribunal de la Pénitence.
Bientôt ce travail ingrat et dur ne lui suffit pas. Les vagabonds, puis les prisonniers, les gens d'armes des tribunaux, - voire le bourreau lui-même, - attirèrent ses soins et profitèrent de son dévouement.
Son œuvre préférée fut pendant longtemps l'hospice de Santa-Galla, où un bon Prêtre, Don Vaselli, réunissait déjà des pauvres abandonnés qui avaient besoin d'instruction religieuse.
Jean-Baptiste s'était attaché à cette maison dès le temps où il fréquentait le Collège romain.
Prêtre, il s'y donna plus encore, jusqu'à ce qu'enfin il succéda à Don Vaselli dans la direction, moins imposée par une règle positive que bénévolement acceptée, des Prêtres qui se consacraient à ce Ministère.
Et puis il eut le désir de donner aux pauvres filles qui erraient sans domicile dans les rues de Rome un asile au moins pour la nuit.
Il fonda pour elles l'hospice Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, dirigé par une Prieure et une sous-Prieure.
Ce n'est qu'en 1739 que, triomphant des hésitations de son humilité, le vénérable Tenderini, Évêque d'Orte, l'orienta vers la direction des âmes.
Il s'y révéla immédiatement maître, et maître merveilleux. Dorénavant sa grande et constante occupation fut d'entendre les Confessions ; il y acquit une réputation que l'on peut dire mondiale, puisque, comme un siècle plus tard pour le Saint curé d'Ars, on vit des pénitents lui venir de Portugal, d'Espagne ou même d'Allemagne, attirés par la réputation de sa sainteté et de sa Miséricorde.
Sa santé devenait de plus en plus précaire; les crises de sa maladie, plus fréquentes, secouaient son pauvre corps au point de le laisser pendant plusieurs jours dans une véritable agonie ; il ne se soutenait qu'avec peine sur ses jambes affaiblies, presque hors d'usage ; son estomac refusait à peu près toute nourriture ; il ne pouvait ni lire ni écrire.
Malgré tout il allait, et soit pour confesser, soit pour prêcher, soit pour consoler et encourager, il avait toujours des forces.
C'est qu'il les puisait dans un Amour de Jésus-Eucharistie qui s'épanouissait en un oubli absolu de lui-même.
Détaché de toute grandeur humaine et de toute richesse, il avait fallu un ordre exprès de son confesseur pour lui faire accepter la succession de son cousin, Don Laurent, à sa prébende de chanoine et à sa fortune.
Celle-là, il la garda, comme de force, jusqu'à ce que ses fonctions de confesseur lui eussent rendu impossible l'assistance au chœur.
Mais celle-ci, il ne tarda pas à la disperser tout entière aux mains des pauvres. Et quand il mourut, le 23 Mai 1764, non pas dans la belle maison dont il avait hérité, mais dans une humble chambre de l'hôpital de la Trinité des pèlerins, il ne possédait plus que trois ou quatre meubles, un pauvre bréviaire qu'il donna à des amis, et son lit, qu'il légua à une pauvresse, en réservant toutefois quelques planches pour son cercueil.
SOURCE : http://reflexionchretienne.e-monsite.com/pages/vie-des-saints/mai/saint-jean-baptiste-de-rossi-pretre-1698-1764-fete-le-23-mai.html
JEAN-BAPTISTE DE ROSSI
Prêtre italien, Saint
1698-1764
Giovanni-Battista de Rossi, en français Jean-Baptiste de Rossi,
naquit le 22 février 1698, à Voltaggio, petite ville du diocèse de Gênes.
Giovanni-Battista était le neuvième et dernier enfant d'une famille modeste.
Son père, Charles de Rossi, qui avait une foi très profonde, veillait de près,
tant qu'il vécut, à l'éducation religieuse de ses enfants.
Giovanni-Battista était un jeune adolescent quand deux nobles
génois, Jean Scorza et Maria Cambiasi, sa femme, qui étaient de passage à
Voltaggio, furent charmés par sa gentillesse. Et ils demandèrent à son père
l'autorisation de l'emmener avec eux, à Gênes, comme page. Giovanni resta avec
eux pendant trois ans. Au bout de trois ans, sur les conseils d'un de ses
oncles, capucin à Rome et de son cousin Lorenzo de Rossi, chanoine de
Sainte-Marie-in-Cosmedin, une belle église de Rome, Giovanni se rendit à Rome,
et son oncle capucin l'inscrivit au Collège romain tenu par les pères Jésuites.
Au collège des Jésuites de Rome, Giovanni-Battista se montra
immédiatement un brillant élève. De plus, il se faisait remarquer par sa piété
active, son amabilité, sa gentillesse, et surtout une joie qui entraînait ses
compagnons à prier et à visiter les pauvres malades. Très vite
Giovanni-Battista comprit qu'il devait être prêtre. Mais souffrant de crises
d'épilepsie, il ne put être ordonné, qu'après avoir obtenu une dispense, en
1721. Dès lors, commença son admirable vie d'apôtre des pécheurs, hommes et
femmes, et des pauvres. Rapidement on le compara à saint Philippe Néri et à
saint Vincent de Paul.
Giovanni-Battista voulait devenir très vite un grand saint; aussi
multiplia-t-il les pénitences. Cependant ses excès de pénitence, en particulier
sur l'alimentation, nuirent gravement à sa santé qui restera désormais fragile.
Il ne pouvait plus poursuivre régulièrement ses études. Il comprendra plus tard
que c'est l'amour qui transforme les cœurs et non les mortifications
excessives. "Apprenez de mon exemple, conseillera-t-il à
des séminaristes, à ne pas vous fier aveuglément à votre jugement
propre mais à prendre conseil de votre confesseur avant d'embrasser un
exercice."
Mais quelle fut ensuite la vie spirituelle de Giovanni? Son plus
grand désir était de marcher sur le chemin de la sainteté et d'y entraîner les
autres. Mais pour cela, il devait vivre une vie intense d'union à Dieu. En
conséquence, chaque matin il passait une heure en méditation surtout de
l'Évangile. Puis il recommandait à Dieu son travail et les besoins des âmes. Le
soir, il prenait encore une demi-heure pour l'oraison mentale, principalement
sur la vie des saints. Zélé pour la prière du bréviaire, il encourageait ses
confrères à ne pas le remettre aux temps libres mais à réciter, autant que
possible, les différents Offices aux heures qui leur correspondent. Quand il
sera chanoine, il montrera une grande fidélité à la récitation chorale de
l'Office divin.
En 1737, son cousin, don Lorenzo décéda, et Jean-Baptiste, sur
l'ordre de son confesseur, devint chanoine à sa place. Héritier de don Lorenzo,
il vendit la somptueuse maison de son cousin et en distribua le prix aux
pauvres. Quant à lui, il s'installa à proximité de l'église dans une espèce de
grenier appartenant à la communauté. Dans l'église se trouvait une image
miraculeuse de la Sainte Vierge pour laquelle Jean-Baptiste avait une grande
dévotion. Sous son influence, les chanoines ajoutèrent à leur Office le chant
des litanies de la Sainte Vierge.
En 1739, l'évêque d'Orte, le vénérable Tenderini l'orienta vers la
direction des âmes. Il s'y révéla un directeur et un confesseur exceptionnel.
Mais Giovanni-Battista continuait à évangéliser les pauvres bergers de la
campagne romaine qui venaient à Rome pour y vendre leurs produits. Dès l'aurore
il était près d'eux et gagnait leur confiance, et il orientait vers Dieu ces
âmes frustes peu soucieuses des choses éternelles. Pendant longtemps il visita
l'hospice de Santa-Galla, fondé en 1650 et où don Vaselli, réunissait des
pauvres abandonnés qui avaient besoin d'instruction religieuse. L'hospice de
Sainta-Galla était animé par une pieuse union d'ecclésiastiques qui se vouaient
à l'accueil des enfants abandonnés pour les instruire de la doctrine
chrétienne. Après la mort de Don Vaselli, Giovanni-Battista lui succéda. Il s'y
dévouera pendant tout le reste de sa vie. Enfin, il voulut donner aux pauvres
filles qui erraient sans domicile dans les rues de Rome un asile au moins pour
la nuit. Il fonda pour elles l'hospice Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, dirigé par une
prieure et une sous-prieure.
En souvenir des peines que Notre-Seigneur avait endurées en prison
lors de sa Passion, Giovanni-Battista visitait les détenus. Interrogé sur son
assiduité, il répondait: "C'est pour les faire sortir de l'enfer
intérieur où ils sont: une fois leur conscience soulagée, les peines de la
détention deviennent plus faciles à accepter et ainsi ils en arrivent à les
supporter pour l'expiation de leurs fautes." Il obtint pour les
femmes prisonnières qu'un établissement leur soit réservé, administré par des
femmes pieuses et charitables. Toutes ces preuves de la charité de
Giovanni-Battista, il les puisait dans un amour de Jésus-Eucharistie qui
s'épanouissait en un oubli absolu de lui-même.
Mais la santé de Giovanni devenait de plus en plus précaire.
Malgré tout il continuait à confesser, à prêcher, et à consoler et à encourager
ceux qui venaient le trouver. Enfin, le 23 mai 1764, Jean-Battista de Rossi
décédait. Il avait 66 ans. Il fut béatifié par le pape Pie IX, le 13 mai 1860;
et canonisé le 8 décembre 1881, par Léon XIII.
Voyons maintenant les orientations spirituelles vers lesquelles
Giovanni-Battista de Rossi conduisait les personnes qui venaient à lui. Tout
d'abord, il s'efforçait, quand cela était possible, de régulariser, les
situations matrimoniales désordonnées. Ses exhortations au confessionnal,
fortes et persuasives, obtenaient de beaux résultats: célébration du sacrement
de mariage, ou bien, séparation définitive des concubins. Pourtant, pour le
bien des pénitents, il refusait parfois l'absolution à ceux qui manquaient de
contrition, refusaient de se retirer des occasions de pécher ou ne cherchaient
pas à prendre les moyens indispensables pour sortir du péché. Il affirmait
souvent: "Les prêtres ne devraient jamais se résigner à voir les
confessionnaux désertés ni se contenter de constater la désaffection des
fidèles pour ce sacrement."
En 1748, en raison de ses nombreuses difficultés de santé, le
chanoine Giovanni-Battista de Rossi s'installa dans la communauté sacerdotale
de la Trinité-des-Pèlerins, tout en continuant son ministère à
Sainte-Marie-in-Cosmedin, en particulier les jours de marché où les paysans,
qui avaient apporté leurs produits pour les vendre, profitaient de l'occasion
pour se confesser.
Jean-Baptiste de Rossi s'efforçait aussi d'aider les prêtres dans
leur vie spirituelle, et il s'efforçait d'entretenir les amitiés sacerdotales.
Il avait toujours soin de ne pas parler mal des autres ecclésiastiques et des
membres de la hiérarchie. Il demandait aux prêtres "une grande
fidélité à leur vocation qui exige courage et confiance." Et il
leur demandait d'être pleins de sollicitude les uns avec les autres. Il
précisait: "Les moments de prière et d'étude en commun, le partage
des exigences de la vie et du travail sacerdotal sont une part nécessaire de
votre vie. Il est important que vous vous aidiez réciproquement par le moyen de
la prière et par des conseils et des discernements utiles."
Durant les deux dernières années de sa vie, la fièvre ne
quittait plus Giovanni-Battista. En août 1762, sa santé était tellement
délabrée qu'il dut aller refaire ses forces dans la région du lac de Nemi. Là,
l'épilepsie de sa jeunesse réapparut avec des crises violentes. Le 8 septembre
1763, il se fit conduire à Sainte-Marie-in-Cosmedin pour y célébrer la Nativité
de Marie. Il affirme à ses confrères: "Priez pour moi. Je ne
reviendrai plus ici: c'est l'ultime fête que je célèbre avec vous."
Paulette Leblanc
Église San Giovanni
Battista de’ Rossi, Rome, Appio Latino
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista de Rossi, dans le quartier Appio-Latino sur la via Cesare Baronio
Giovanni Battista de Rossi
A distinguished Christian archaeologist, best known for his work in
connection with the Roman catacombs, born at Rome, 23 February, 1822; died at Castel
Gandolfo on Lake Albano, 20 September, 1894. De Rossi, the
modern founder of the science of Christian archaeology, was well-skilled in secular
archaeology, a master of epigraphy, an authority on the ancient and medieval topography of Rome, an excellent historian, and a very
productive and many-sided author. In addition to his professional acquaintance
with archaeology De Rossi had a thorough knowledge of law, philology, and theology. He was the son of Commendatore
Camillo Luigi De Rossi and Marianna Marchesa Bruti, his wife, who had two sons,
Giovanni and Michele Stefano. Two days after birth Giovanni was baptized in the parish church of Santa Maria sopra
Minerva and, according to Roman custom was confirmed while still very young, by
Cardinal Franzoni, Prefect of the Propaganda. Up to 1838 De Rossi attended the
preparatory department of the well-known Jesuit institution, the Collegio
Romano, and through his entire course ranked as its foremost pupil. From 1838
to 1840 he studied philosophy there, and jurisprudence (1840-44) at the Roman
University (Sapienza), where he was a disciple of the celebrated professors
Villani and Capalti. At the close of his university studies he received, after a
severe examination, the degree of doctor utriusque juris ad honorem.
De Rossi showed so strong
an interest in Christian antiquity that on his eleventh birthday
his father wished to give him the great work of
Antonio Bosio, "La Roma Sotterranea". In 1843, before he received the
doctor's degree, he matured a plan for a systematic and critical collection of
all Christian inscriptions. In 1841, notwithstanding the
protests of his anxious father, he visited, for the first time, under the
guidance of the Jesuit Father Marchi, one of the then much neglected catacombs. After this De Rossi and Marchi
pursued their archaeological studies together, so that they were known as the
inseparable friends", though the difference in years was great. As soon as
he had finished his studies De Rossi was appointed scriptor at the Vatican Library and bore this
modest but honourable title, in which he took especial pride, all his life. Great credit is due
him for his careful cataloguing of hundreds of Vatican manuscripts. The free use of the treasures of
the Vatican Library and archives was a rich source of development for his intellectual powers, especially in the
sense of breadth and catholicity of interest. His official duties were not heavy, and he was
able to carry on his private studies without hindrance. In 1838, in company
with his parents, he went on his first journey and visited Tuscany, where the innumerable treasures of
art completely absorbed his attention. During the summers of 1844-50 he visited
the territory of the ancient Hernici in Latium and also Naples; in this way the knowledge he attained of the period of
the Roman Republic was not purely theoretical. In 1853 he travelled for the
first time by himself and went again to Tuscany, also to the Romagna, Lombardy, and Venice. In 1856 he visited Liguria, Piedmont, Switzerland, France, and Belgium; in 1858 he went again to Piedmont, visited the western part of Switzerland, and the district of the Rhine as
far as Cologne; from Cologne he went by way of Aachen, Trier, and Frankfort to Bavaria and Austria, and back to Rome by way of Venice and the Romagna. On a second
trip to France in 1862 he visited the northern part of
that country, and after going for a short time to London returned by way of Paris and Switzerland to Rome. In 1864 he went to Naples for a second time, and in 1865
was in France for the third time, visiting particularly
the southern French cities. In 1868 he was again in France, and in 1869 and 1870 he went to Tuscany and Umbria; in 1872-75 he
explored the vicinity of Rome; in 1876 and 1879 he investigated
the treasures of Naples and the surrounding country,
and in 1878 he made a trip again to Venice and Lombardy.
These journeys of De
Rossi are of much importance for the proper appreciation of his scientific
labours. Such long and fatiguing expeditions were undertaken solely in order to
inspect museums, libraries, galleries, archives, and other
institutions of learning and art, to form personal relations with the scholars
of the countries visited, and to increase the range of his mental outlook, always fixed on a
subject as a whole. De Rossi's extraordinary knowledge of the most obscure monuments
of the civilized countries of Europe, and his thorough familiarity with manuscript sources, made it possible for
him, as undisputed leader and master, to guide the science of Christian archaeology, during several decades, into new
paths. These journeys help to explain De Rossi's remarkable literary
productiveness, when considered in connection with his minute investigation of
all the monuments, both on the surface and underground, of the city of Rome and the Roman Campagna. These
investigations covered the ancient pagan life of Rome, the early Christian period, also the Middle Ages.
De Rossi's personal
relations with the leading scholars of Italy and other countries began in
his early youth. When he was fourteen the famous Cardinal Mai, Librarian of the Holy Roman Church, found him copying Greek
inscriptions in the inscription gallery of the Vatican and became greatly
interested in the lad; the acquaintance later ripened into a warm friendship.
In 1847 began his connection as a scholar with the famous epigraphist
Bartolommeo Borghesi of San Marino; at a later date Borghesi's works were
issued at the expense of Napoleon III under De Rossi's direction. A
few years after forming the acquaintance of Borghesi a correspondence was begun
between De Rossi and the Benedictine Dom Pitra, of Solesmes, later Cardinal, and Librarian the Holy Roman Church, which ended in a warm friendship
with Pitra. This, however, led to an estrangement between Leo XIII and De Rossi. Father Bruzza,
the learned Barnabite, was also an intimate friend of De Rossi.
Wilhelm Henzen, long director of the German archaeological institute at Rome, lived in friendship and daily
communication with De Rossi for forty years. When the Berlin Academy of
Sciences, urged by Theodor Mommsen, undertook its monumental publication, the
"Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum", it sent a flattering letter to De
Rossi to request his co-operation. This led to an intimate friendship with
Mommsen. The latter's numerous collaborators on the "Corpus", among
them Edwin Bormann, the noted authority of epigraphy, found De Rossi ever ready
to assist and guide them. Martigny, the editor of the Bullettino (see
below), as well as Paul Allard, editor of the French edition of "Roma
Sotterranea", and Desbassyns de Richemont, were all closely united to De
Rossi by the interests of their common work. To these must be added Louis
Duchesne, the brilliant director of the Ecole de Rome, and collaborator with De Rossi on
the recent edition (1894) of the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum".
Léopold Delisle, the celebrated savant, palaeographer, and historian, for many
years the head of the Bibliothèque Nationale at Paris, was a man of the same learned
tastes as De Rossi; their meeting led to a very active scientific
correspondence, and later to a strong attachment, based on their scholarly
interests. When, about 1850, Edouard Le Blant formed the acquaintance of De
Rossi, he was totally ignorant of archaeology, but an
accidental remark of De Rossi led him to take up this science; eventually he became a
distinguished archaeologist and the director of the Ecole de Rome.
Among German Catholics De Rossi's closest friendship
as a scholar was with Franz Xaver Kraus. The cool reception he had from Döllinger, whom he once met at Munich, prevented the forming of any
lasting relations. From 1884 Joseph Wilpert came into closer relations with De
Rossi, who, up to his death, gave this scholar all the possible aid and showed
the younger man the greatest friendship. The same may be said of Johann Peter
Kirsch, archaeologist, patrologist, and historian. De Rossi also encouraged the
labours of Anton de Waal, the founder and editor of the "Römische
Quartalschrift", and was a helpful friend to numerous other German
scholars. For many years De Rossi's relations were especially intimate with
Giuseppe Gatti, his assistant in various kinds of learned work. Gatti's fine
scholarship enabled De Rossi to carry on daily confidential discussions of
learned questions which, after the death of Henzen, had apparently come to an
end. Gatti continues De Rossi's labours in the province of ancient
inscriptions. Henry Stevenson, who died too soon, Mariano Armellini, an
enthusiast in archeology, Luigi Scagliosi, the numismatist, Orazio Marucchi, a popularizer of Christian archeology, Cosimo Stornaiolo, the
"Grecian", besides many other Italians, among whom Gennaro Aspreno Galante
of Naples deserves to be named, found in De Rossi a
fatherly friend and counsellor. Among his English disciples and friends were
especially J. Spencer Northcote and W. R. Brownlow who made
known to the English-speaking world the results of De Rossi's scholarly
investigations and publications. For years Northcote and Brownlow, and Lewis at Oxford, were in constant correspondence
with De Rossi.
Stress is thus laid on
the important personal acquaintance and friendships of De Rossi, in order to
emphasize with what skill he stimulated interest in Christian archeology in all directions. Equally
important, perhaps, were the relations established by him in the years 1850-70
during which he conducted many strangers, often of high rank, through the catacombs, or acted as their guide among the
monumental ruins of Rome. The friendships thus made often
secured for him the loan of monuments and documents which otherwise would never
have been sent, even temporarily to a foreign country, but which were brought
to him at Rome by the diplomatic couriers of all
countries, not excepting Russia, using his opportunity to examine
these objects at his leisure. The immediate superiors of De Rossi in the
Vatican Archives treated him always as a friend and an equal, and allowed him
entire freedom in all his studies. Pius IX honoured him with a fatherly affection,
striking evidence of which was given on more than one occasion. Though the science of Christian archaeology was rather foreign to the mental temper of Leo XIII that pope often showed that, on the
proper occasion, he could do justice to De Rossi's great
reputation. In Rome De Rossi was exceedingly popular; nearly
all the educated citizens, as well as the foreign
residents, knew and honoured him. Without some knowledge of these facts De Rossi's
learned labours and extraordinary success would be only superficially
understood.
By his peculiar training,
therefore, De Rossi was well fitted to understand sympathetically the early Christian literature, as well the rise
and development of the Roman State as shown in the monuments it has left. In
regard to the Roman State, he never held the somewhat mechanical and no longer
undisputed theory of Mommsen. He penetrated also with marvellous insight the
growth of the primitive Christian hierarchy. Amid his books and papers De Rossi
pondered over the ruins of the temples and palaces of antiquity;
reviewed his own subterranean explorations; followed the early Christians in their thoughts, wishes,
hopes, and ideals; contemplated the triumph of the Church, liberated by Constantine the Great and entering triumphantly the basilicas; and gathered from yellowed manuscripts the traditions that a learned
multitude of pious and painstaking monks had written concerning the Christian past, and in addition the
accounts they have left us of their own times. In this way De Rossi was soon
universally acknowledged, even in his lifetime, as the prince of Christian archaeologists.
Owing to his
extraordinary literary productivity, which was the natural result of the
conditions outlined above, a distinction must be drawn between his minor and
his greater works. The list of his minor writings (monographs) begins in 1849
with the memoir: "Inscrizione onoraria di Nicomaco Flaviano", which
appeared in the Annali dell Instituto di corrispondenza archeologica (pp.
283-363). These archaeological and ecclesiastico-historical papers number 203,
not including the so-called literary letters in which De Rossi answered the
questions addressed him by various scholars. Most of these letters were given
publicity in books or periodicals by those to whom they were sent. Nor does
this total include an almost countless series of Latin inscriptions,
expressions of literary homage, congratulatory epigrams, etc. Most of the
monographs, often quite lengthy, appeared in "Bulletino dell Instituto di
corrispondenza archeologica"; "Bullettino archeologico
Napolitano"; "Revue archéologique"; "Bullettino della
commissione archeologica communale di Roma"; "Bibliothèque de l'école
des chartes"; "Ephemeris epigraphica"; "Studi e documenti
di storia e diritto"; "Dissertazioni dell accademia romana pontificia
di archeologia"; "Mélanges d'archéologie et d'histoire de l'école
française de Rome"; "Römische Quartalschrift", and in other
Italian and foreign periodicals and reviews. A few of these papers appeared as
separate volumes or as learned tributes on anniversary occasions. They vary in
length from one to one hundred and thirty-two printed pages.
The titles of his larger
and monumental works are as follows:
- "Inscriptiones christianae Urbis Romae
septimo saeculo antiquiores" (vol. I, Rome, 1861; part I of vol. II,
Rome, 1888); Giuseppe Gatti is completing this work (cf. "Archivio
dell R. Società Romana di storia patria", 1887, 696 sqq.; also the
same society's "Conferenze pel corso di metodologia
della storia", part III, Rome, 1888).
- "La Roma
Sotterranea Cristiana" (vol. I with an atlas of forty plates, Rome, 1864; vol. II with an atlas
of sixty-two and A, B, C, D plates, Rome, 1867; vol. III with an atlas of
fifty-two plates, Rome, 1877). The plates for the fourth volume were
already printed in part when De Rossi died (see "Bullettino di
archeologia cristiana", 1864, I, 1864, 63-64; 1867, II, 89-90; 1876,
III, 155--57).
- "Bullettino di archeologia cristiana";
the first series, in quarto, appeared in monthly numbers (1863-69), with
illustrations in the text and coloured plates; it consisted of one hundred
and twenty-six monographs and communications. The second series, in
octavo, appeared quarterly (1870-75), with twelve lithographic plates in
each volume, and contained altogether fifty-three papers. The third
series, also in octavo, appeared (1876-81), in quarterly numbers, each
volume having twelve lithographic plates; the papers numbered altogether
fifty-one. The fourth series, in octavo, appeared in yearly volumes
(1882-89), each volume having twelve lithographic plates; the six volumes
contain altogether forty-three papers. The fifth series, in octavo,
appeared annually (1889-94), with zincotype plates and illustrations in
the text; the last number was issued in 1894 by Giuseppe Gatti. The final
volume of each series contained a full index which De Rossi prepared with
the greatest care.
- "Musaici delle chiese di Roma anteriori al
secolo XV" (Rome, 1872), an imperial folio consisting of
chromolithographic plates with a text in French and Italian. The work
closed with the twenty-fifth number, issued after De Rossi's death.
- "Codicum
latinorum bibliothecae Vaticanae", vol. X, Pt. I, Nos. 7245-8066, Pt.
II, Nos. 8067-8471; vol. XI, Nos.
8472-9019; vol. XII, Nos. 9020-9445; vol. XIII, Nos. 9446-9849. The
indexes to vols. XI, XII, XIII, "Codicum lat. Vat." are: Pt. I,
index of authors; Pt. II, index of places, things, and persons. These manuscript indexes are used as reference books in the
Vatican Library.
- "Inscriptiones
Urbis Romae latinae. Collegerunt Gulielmus Henzen et Johannes Baptista de
Rossi. Ediderunt Eugenius Bormann et Gulielmus
Henzen" (Berlin, 1876--). This constitutes the sixth volume of the
"Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum consilio et auctoritate academiae
litterarum regiae Borussicae editum" (Berlin). The invitation to De
Rossi to act as one of the leading editors was given 22 January, 1854.
- The five annual reports (1854-58), concerning the
preparatory work for the above-mentioned "Corpus Inscriptionum",
which appeared in the monthly bulletins of the Royal Academy of Science of Berlin. The other annual reports have not been
published; this is also the case with De Rossi's synopses of the
epigraphical manuscripts in the libraries of Italy, France, Germany Switzerland, and Austria. The last named summaries are of the
greatest importance.
- "Oeuvres
complètes de Bartolommeo Borghesi" (9 vols., Paris, 1862-84). Napoleon III entrusted the task of collecting and
editing the works and letters of the celebrated Borghesi to a committee of
French, German, and Italian scholars, among whom De Rossi may be said to
have been the most important and assiduous.
- "Martyrologium Hieronymianum", prepared
and edited in collaboration with Louis Duchesne in vol. 1, November, of
the Acta SS. (Brussels, 1894). This edition is a masterpiece and most of
the objections raised against it by German scholars are of little
importance.
The works briefly
described above give some conception of the learned labours De Rossi carried on
during his life. They are proofs of the genius with which he
grasped a subject, of his extraordinary industry, his learned mastery of the
most varied subjects, and the unwavering determination with which he unearthed
obscure points; they also show the triumphs with which his toils were so richly crowned. The estimation in which his work
was field is proved by the two international celebrations in
1882 and 1892 upon his sixtieth and seventieth birthdays.
De Rossi's father died in
1850, and his mother in 1861. In the latter year he married Costanza, daughter
of Count Pietro Bruno di San Giorgio Tornafort of Piedmont, by whom he had two daughters; Marianna,
the elder, died in 1864. The second, Natalia, born in 1866, married the
Marchese Filippo Ferraioli. De Rossi's brother Michele Stefano was his zealous assistant in the exploration
of the catacombs; the geological questions connected with these
subterranean places of burial and all kindred subjects are treated by Michele
in separate papers in "Roma Soterranea". He also prepared the very
accurate plans of the catacombs.
De Rossi was a portly man
of fine appearance, somewhat over the middle height. The full,
well-proportioned face was surrounded by a grayish beard which left the chin free. The
clear, calm eyes lost much of their strength, so that he could not always
supervise properly the work of his painters and this explains the numerous
inaccurate illustrations in his works which Wilpert has corrected. The smoothly
brushed hair gave greater prominence to the high domed forehead. In walking De
Rossi bent slightly forward, which mannerism gave to his gait an appearance of
much deliberateness. On the street he was generally busy with a book or
pamphlet. De Rossi heard Mass every day and went to Communion nearly every
week. Generous, unobtrusive charity was a second nature with him. Every evening
he gathered all the members of his household about him for the recitation of
the rosary. Although he very often received tempting
offers to desert the cause of the Holy See and join the party of United Italy, he rejected all such proposals,
even when they came from the highest authorities. On this point he was
absolutely immovable. A few months after the international celebration of his
seventieth birthday in 1892, De Rossi had an attack of apoplexy from which he
never entirely recovered. Unable after this to use his right hand he continued
to write with the left for the "Bullettino" and in making the
corrections to the "Martyrologium". But his days were numbered. In
the summer of 1894 Leo XIII offered him the use of an apartment
in the papal palace at Castel Gandolfo, where he
peacefully passed away, a true son of the Church. He was buried in the Agro Verano (general
cemetery) at Rome.
Baumgarten, Paul Maria. "Giovanni
Battista de Rossi." The Catholic
Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 24 May 2020 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04739c.htm>.
Transcription. This article was
transcribed for New Advent by Michael C. Tinkler.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of
New York.
SOURCE : https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04739c.htm
Saint Giovanni Battista Rossi
Also
known as
- John
Baptist de Rossi
- John
Baptist Rossi
- John
Baptist de Rubeis
Profile
One of four children born to Charles de Rossi and
Frances Anfossi. Taken by a wealthy noble couple to Genoa, Italy for schooling. There he met some Capuchin friars who thought well of
him, and helped him continue his education in Rome, Italy. Studied under the Jesuits at the Roman College at age
13. Member of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin and
the Ristretto of the Twelve Apostles. Epileptic. His self-imposed acts of
austerity nearly broke his health, and he never completely regained his
strength. Studied philosophy and theology under the Dominicans. Ordained on 3 March 1721, assigned to Rome.
Helped start a hospice
for homeless women near Saint Galla’s hospice in Rome. Canon of Santa Maria, Cosmedin in 1737; he used his compensation from the position to
purchase an organ for the church. Missioner and catechist to the teamsters, farmers, herdsmen, homeless, sick, beggars, prostitutes, and prisoners of the Campagna region. For
many years, John was avoided hearing confessions for fear he would have
a seizure in the confessional, but the bishop of Civitá Castellana convinced him it was
part of his vocation. John relented, and soon became a sought after confessor in Rome; he once said that the shortest road to heaven was to
guide others there by the confessional. Sought after preacher. Assigned as catechist to many government and prison officials, including the public
hangman. Miracle worker. Always had a special
devotion to Saint Aloysius Gonzaga.
Born
- 22 February 1698 at Voltaggio, diocese of Genoa, Italy
- 23 May 1764 at Trinita dei Pellegrini, Italy of multiple strokes
- relics initially at Saints Trinita church
- relics translated to Saint John Baptist Rossi parish church in Rome, Italy in 1965
SOURCE : http://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-baptist-rossi/
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista de' Rossi (Roma)
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista de Rossi, dans le quartier Appio-Latino sur la via Cesare Baronio
Book of Saints – John Baptist dei Rossi
Article
(Saint) (May 23) (18th century) An Italian Saint, born near Genoa, who, educated in Rome and ordained priest, became a
model of holy living to the secular clergy of the Eternal City. He was
appointed Canon in one of the Roman churches, and devoted all his time and
powers to his priestly work among the people, living himself a life of prayer
and penance. He was especially admirable for his whole-hearted sacrifice of
self in the helping of the poor. He died A.D. 1764, at the age of sixty, and
was canonised by Pope Leo XIII A.D. 1881.
MLA Citation
- Monks of Ramsgate. “John
Baptist dei Rossi”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 7 June 2017. Web. 24 May 2020.
<https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-john-baptist-dei-rossi/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-john-baptist-dei-rossi/
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista de' Rossi (Roma)
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista de Rossi, dans le quartier Appio-Latino sur la via Cesare Baronio
New Catholic Dictionary – Saint John Baptist de Rossi
Article
Confessor, born Voltaggio, Italy,
1698; died Rome, Italy, 1764. He was ordained in 1721, but having through indiscreet practises of
mortification contracted spells of epilepsy, he fulfilled the duties of the
sacred ministry by instructing and preaching to the poor of the Campagna, thus
becoming known as the apostle of the abandoned, and winning many sinners to
repentance. In 1731 he established near Saint Galla a house of
refuge for the homeless. In 1735 he was compelled to accept a canonry at Saint
Mary in Cosmedin, vacated by the death of a relative. He was subsequently
induced to hear confessions and was given the unusual faculty to do so in any
of the churches of Rome, in the exercise of which privilege he displayed
extraordinary zeal. Canonized, 1881. Relics in
Saints Trinita. Feast, 23 May.
MLA Citation
- “Saint
John Baptist de Rossi”. New Catholic Dictionary. CatholicSaints.Info.
7 June 2017. Web. 24 May 2020. <https://catholicsaints.info/new-catholic-dictionary-saint-john-baptist-de-rossi/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/new-catholic-dictionary-saint-john-baptist-de-rossi/
Pictorial Lives of the Saints – Saint John Baptist de Rossi
Article
Saint John Baptist de
Rossi is the first instance in modern times of the canonization as Confessor of
a priest belonging to no religions Order or Congregation. He was born at
Voltaggio, a little town about fifteen miles north of Genoa, February 22, 1698.
From the first he was distinguished for his piety and purity. The parish church
was his favorite resort, and thither he would hasten after the early morning
class to serve as many Masses as he could. The gravity and modesty he showed in
holy places struck all who saw him, and many declared he was like a little
angel just come down from heaven and still full of the vision of God. When our
Saint was ten years old, a wealthy couple of Genoa visited Voltaggio; attracted
by the unaffected piety and winning ways of the boy, they obtained from his
parents permission to adopt him, and took him to their palace, where he was
treated as their son.
After a residence of
three years in Genoa, he removed, with his mother’s consent, his father having
died in the meanwhile, to Rome, where his cousin, Laurence de Rossi, was the
Canon of S. Maria in Cosmedin. There he began at once to attend the lower
classes of the Roman College, and there was no more industrious or saintly
student to be found. At the age of eighteen he received the tonsure, and the
following year minor orders. He was then selected for a lengthened course of
scholastic theology; but in striving to purify his soul he overtaxed his
strength, and one day, while devoutly hearing Mass, he fell on the floor of the
church in a swoon. From that time out he was subject to epileptic fits, which
rendered his projected studies impracticable. This being the case, our Saint
looked elsewhere. A course of lectures on the text of Saint Thomas, then being
delivered, was attracting no little attention, and a large number of students
attended. As the labor of following the course was comparatively light, John
Baptist joined the class. In spite of his feeble health he applied himself most
industriously, and still practised such mortifications as were prudent. Walking
along the streets, his eyes were never raised from the ground, and in the
coldest weather he wore no gloves.
When he was twenty-three
years old he was ordained a priest. The first shape his charity assumed was an
active interest in the young students who flock to Rome from every part of the
Catholic world. He organized special services for them, preached sermons
specially suited to them, and gathered them about him in his visits to the
hospitals, to assist him in soothing and relieving the sick and dying. This
charitable work over, they would enter a church and recite the Rosary aloud,
after which they would enjoy themselves at some innocent game.
Another charity which
attracted our Saint was the spiritual care of the drovers and cattlemen who
frequented the market-places. The most of these were ignorant and depraved,
caring for no one and with no one to care for them. By visiting their haunts at
early dawn, before their work began, John Baptist won them by his kind words, and
at last led many to the confessional who had not been there in years, and some
who had never been. Hitherto he had not heard confessions himself, but now, at
the instance of his bishop, he applied for and received faculties for the
administration of the Sacrament of Penance.
In February, 1735, John
Baptist, much against his own inclination, was appointed assistant to his
cousin, Laurence de Rossi, who was growing feeble; and when, two years after,
that good man died, his property and canonry were left to our Saint. Within a
fortnight the new Canon of Santa Maria in Cosmedin had got rid of a great part
of the property. He entered upon the duties of his new office at once, and soon
gathered round him crowds of devout worshippers. His confessional was besieged
by eager penitents, but always the poorest and most ignorant. The rich and
noble he managed to put off, saying they could find confessors in plenty. He
would never permit the confessional to be a medium for almsgiving. He himself
would not bestow an alms from that tribunal on a penitent, no matter how poor,
nor would he there accept a present from the rich, as he feared it might deter
him from speaking plainly and freely. His devotion to the poor and ignorant was
remarkable. He sought out the most abject and abandoned people, and pursued
this work of Christian charity with such zeal as to merit the title of “Venator
Animarum,” the hunter of souls. In 1740, when Pope Benedict XIV. determined to
institute catechism classes for the instruction of criminals serving short
sentences, he found an able assistant in our Saint. He had no difficulty in
winning the hearts of the convicts from the start, and there was a perceptible
reformation wrought in a short time.
The endless labor and
the severe penances which the Saint imposed on himself finally told on his
delicate frame, and on May 23, 1764, a stroke of apoplexy ended his mortal
life, and brought him the endless bliss of the presence of God, for which his
soul had so long yearned.
After the death of the
holy man many miracles bore witness to his sanctity. Among others was the case
of Sister Mary Theresa Leonori, of the Convent of Saint Cecilia at Rome, who in
1859 suffered from a throat disease which the best medical authorities
pronounced incurable. Wasted and enfeebled by her sickness, entirely deprived
of speech, suffering great pain, and unable to partake of any nourishment, her
death was momentarily looked for. Human aid failing her, the pious Sister
besought the help of Saint John Baptist, and Our Lord, to show His love for His
faithful servant, deigned to work a miracle at the Saint’s intercession. Sister
Mary Theresa was instantly cured and rose from her bed of suffering a well
woman.
MLA Citation
- John Dawson Gilmary Shea.
“Saint John Baptist de Rossi”. Pictorial
Lives of the Saints, 1922. CatholicSaints.Info. 15 December 2018. Web. 24 May
2020. <https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-john-baptist-de-rossi/>
SOURCE :
https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-john-baptist-de-rossi/
St. John Baptist de Rossi (Feast: May 23)
Giovanni Battista
de Rossi was born in the Piedmontese village of Voltaggio, in the diocese of
Genoa, and was one of four children. His parents, of modest means, were devout
and well esteemed.
A nobleman and his
wife vacationing in Voltaggio, and impressed with the ten-year-old John
Baptist, obtained permission from his parents to take him to live with them and
be trained in their house in Genoa.
After three years,
hearing of his virtues, John’s cousin, Lorenzo Rossi, Canon of Santa Maria in
Cosmedin, invited him to join him in Rome. Thus John Baptist entered the Roman
Jesuit College at thirteen. Despite episodes of epilepsy, brought on by
excessive zeal in imposing harsh penances upon himself, he was granted a
dispensation and was ordained at the age of twenty-three.
From his student
days he loved visiting hospitals. Now, as a priest there was much more he could
offer suffering souls. He particularly loved the Hospice of St. Galla, a night
shelter for paupers. There he labored for forty years.
He also worked at
the hospital of Trinita dei Pellegrini and extended his assistance to other
poor such as cattlemen who came to market at the Roman forum. He had a great
pity for homeless women and girls and from the little that he made in Mass
stipends, and the 400 scudi sent to him by the Pope, he rented a refuge for
them.
John Baptist was
also selected by Pope Benedict XIV to deliver courses of instruction to prison
officials and other state servants. Among his penitents was the public hangman.
In 1731 Canon
Rossi obtained for his cousin a post of assistant priest at St. Maria in
Cosmedin. He was a great confessor to whom penitents flocked, and as a
preacher, the saint was also in demand for missions and retreats.
On the death of
Canon Rossi, Fr. John inherited his canonry, but applied the money attached to
the post to buy an organ, and hire an organist. As to the house, he gave it to
the chapter and went to live in the attic.
In 1763 St. John
Baptist’s health began to fail, and he was obliged to take up residence in the
hospital of Trinita dei Pellegrini. He expired after a couple of strokes on May
23, 1764 at sixty- six years of age. He died so poor that the hospital prepared
to pay for his burial. But the Church took over and he was given a triumphant
funeral with numerous clergy and religious, and the Papal choir, in attendance.
San Giovanni Battista de' Rossi Sacerdote
Voltaggio, Genova, 22 febbraio 1698 - 23 maggio 1764
Nacque nel 1698 a Voltaggio, in provincia di Genova ma a 13 anni, per motivi
di studio, si trasferì a Roma nella casa di uno zio sacerdote, canonico a Santa
Maria in Cosmedin. A Roma frequentò il liceo presso i gesuiti del Collegio
Romano avviandosi agli ordini sacri. In quel periodo fu colto dai primi
attacchi di epilessia, malattia che lo avrebbe fatto soffrire per tutta la
vita. Venne ordinato sacerdote
l'8 marzo 1721 e da allora diede ancora più slancio al suo apostolato, avviato
in precedenza, tra gli studenti, i poveri e gli emarginati. Sulla scia
di quell'impegno nacque la Pia Unione dei sacerdoti secolari di Santa Galla dal
nome di un ospizio maschile da lui diretto. Giovanni ne volle uno anche per
donne e lo dedicò a Luigi Gonzaga santo cui era devotissimo. Eletto canonico di Santa Maria in Cosmedin,
venne dispensato dall'obbligo del coro per potersi dedicare con maggiore
libertà ai suoi impegni apostolici. Negli ultimi mesi di vita
l'epilessia si aggravò costringendolo a un vero e proprio calvario. Morì il 23
maggio 1764. Fu canonizzato da Leone XIII l'8 dicembre 1881. (Avvenire)
Etimologia: Giovanni =
il Signore è benefico, dono del Signore, dall'ebraico
Martirologio Romano: A Roma, san Giovanni Battista de Rossi, sacerdote,
che accolse i poveri e i più emarginati, insegnando loro la sacra dottrina.
Non è nato per essere
capo: a lui basta ubbidire e lavorare sodo, sia da laico come poi da sacerdote.
Giovanni Battista de’ Rossi è uno dei pochi sopravvissuti di una famiglia
segnata da troppi lutti: il papà muore prematuramente, e la maggior parte dei
fratellini se ne va prima di raggiungere l’adolescenza. E’ nato nel 1698 a
Voltaggio, nell’alessandrino, ma frequenta il genovese per le scuole che una
famiglia benestante gli fa frequentare, perché chi lo avvicina resta incantato
dalla sua intelligenza ma soprattutto dalla sua pietà e dalla dolcezza del suo
carattere. Alla morte di papà alcuni sacerdoti, parenti o amici di famiglia, lo
accolgono per carità e gli fanno proseguire gli studi e, di trasferimento in
trasferimento, togliendo così alla famiglia il peso di una bocca in più da
sfamare. arriva fino a Roma. Dove, com’è naturale, si prepara al sacerdozio,
assecondando una vocazione che nutre fin da bambino, aiutato anche da
un’intelligenza non comune che gli permette di completare in anticipo gli studi
per cui è necessario ottenere dal papa la dispensa per l’ordinazione
sacerdotale. Non aspetta però il sacerdozio per buttarsi nell’apostolato: gli
oratori romani e i gruppi studenteschi lo vedono protagonista attivo: mai con
ruolo dirigenziale, solo e sempre come semplice gregario. E sono proprio i
giovani a fargli corona alla prima messa, che celebra all’altare di San Luigi,
nella chiesa di Sant’Ignazio, a marzo del 1721. Ormai la sua strada è
tracciata: precedenza assoluta ai giovani, alla catechesi, alle fasce più
deboli della Roma del suo tempo, ai malati che visita a domicilio per portare
conforto cristiano e sostegno materiale. Un occhio di riguardo lo vuole avere
anche per i confratelli sacerdoti, per i quali fonda la Pia Unione dei
Sacerdoti Secolari: sostegno, arricchimento spirituale, aggiornamento culturale
per un clero che a metà Settecento non brillava per cultura e preparazione
teologica. Il resto della sua vita lo trascorre in confessionale: chiede ed
ottiene la facoltà di confessare solo a 40 anni, ma da quel momento sarà questo
il suo apostolato specifico, che porta i romani ad assediarlo nel confessionale
per lunghissime ore ogni giorno ed a renderlo ricercatissimo per la direzione
spirituale. C’è chi si domanda come faccia a reggere ad un così intenso ritmo
di lavoro apostolico per le strade del quartiere del Campidoglio, sui pulpiti,
nei confessionali, nei tuguri della povera gente, al letto degli ammalati.
Tanto più che lui stesso non è la salute fatta persona, soggetto com’è a
frequenti crisi epilettiche e tormentato da una fastidiosa malattia agli occhi:
la sua vita vorticosa e la sua inarrestabile carità rappresentano il trionfo
della volontà sulla fragilità fisica, dell’impegno apostolico sui limiti
imposti dalla malattia. Nato da famiglia umile e povera, tale sceglie di
restare fino alla morte, che sopraggiunge il 23 maggio 1764, ad appena 66 anni.
Beatificato
da Pio IX nel 1860, sarà proclamato santo da Leone XIII nel 1881.
Autore: Gianpiero
Pettiti
