The Montelores Catholic Community

From 'A Catholic Dictionary,' by William Addis and Thomas Arnold, Benziger Brothers, 1893.

"This congregation of "Regular Clerks" who played a huge part in the Counter-Reformation, derived its name from Theate, or Chieti, of which John Peter Caraffa, one of its founders, was bishop. The idea of its institution arose in the mind of St. Cajetan, a native of Vicenza, who, having made his legal studies with great distinction at Padua, was appointed protonotary apostolic in the Roman Curia. He became a fervent member of the confraternity of the Divine Love;' and, thirsting more and more for the salvation of souls, he resigned his office and took holy orders. Family affairs caused him to return to Vicenza, whence he proceeded to Venice, and laboured there for a considerable time. On the advice of his confessor he again fixed his abode at Rome. The reform of the lives of Christians, and especially of the irregularities too common at that time among the clergy, presented itself to him as the object to which God willed him to devote his life. Meeting with Bishop Caraffa, who at the time was thinking of renouncing his preferments and joining the order of Camaldoli, St. Cajetan persuaded him to take part in the holy enterprise which he had matured. Two other men of piety and experience, Paul Consiglieri and Boniface de Colle, joined them; and these four, renouncing whatever benefices they had, founded the Theatine Congregation in 1524. It was approved by Clement VII the same year in a brief which permitted them to take the three ordinary vows, elect a superior, receive new members, and frame statues, imparting to them at the same time the privileges of the canons of St. John Lateran. They embraced a more than Franciscan poverty, 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. Caraffa was elected the first superior; at the end of three years he was succeeded by St. Cajetan. By degrees the value of their services was recognized and their numbers increased. St. Cajetan died in 1547; Caraffa, having been elevated to the cardinalate in 1536, was elected Pope in 1555, and took the title of Paul IV. The congregation received many favours and made signal progress during his pontificate. Besides numerous houses in Italy, they established themselves in Spain, Poland, and Bavaria; with the aid of Cardinal Mazarin they opened a house at Paris. The learned Cardinal Thomassi and Father Ventura belonged to this congregation, which at the present day appears not to be found out of Italy. The Theatine nuns were founded by the B. Ursula Benincasa, who, having been suspected of being a visionary and a mystic, was declared by St. Philip Neri to be a soul truly enlightened by God; she died in 1618. (Helyot) If you are interested in reading some of the spiritual writings of the Theatine Order, please click on the picture to your right!"