Humiliati
Humiliati
A penitential order probably dating from the early 12th century . After suppressing a revolt in Lombardy, Emperor Henry II took a number of nobles to Germany as captives. These devoted themselves to works of charity and mortification, and adopted a penitential robe. They were called Barrettini from their headdress. Later allowed to return to Italy , they introduced improved German methods of woolen manufacture there. In 1134 their first monastery was founded at Milan; some years later they adopted the Rule of Saint Benedict. They became prominent in every community in which they were established. Saint Charles Borromeo , appointed to correct serious abuses which had developed within the order, was murderously attacked by a member of a minority group opposing reform, and the society was suppressed, 1571. The wives of the first Humiliati formed a community under Clara Blassoni, and were joined by a number of followers. They engaged in the care of lepers, and were sometimes called Hospitallers of the Observance. Though the suppression of the male branch of the order was a serious misfortune to the congregation, some houses continued their existence and are still found in Italy .
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Humiliati
I. A penitential order dating back, according to some authorities, to the beginning of the eleventh, but more probably to the beginning of the twelfth century, to the reign of Emperor Henry V, who, after quelling a rebellion in Lombardy, led the principal nobles of the cities implicated back to Germany as captives. Converted from the vanities of the world, these assumed a penitential garb of grey and gave themselves up to works of charity and mortification, whereupon the emperor, after receiving their pledges of future loyalty, permitted their return to Lombardy. At this time they were often called Barettini, from the shape of their head-dress. Their acquaintance with the German woollen manufactures enabled them to introduce improved methods into Italy, thus giving a great impetus to the industry, supplying the poor with employment and distributing their gains among those in want. On the advice of St. Bernard, in 1134, many of them, with the consent of their wives, withdrew from the world, establishing their first monastery at Milan. They exchanged their ashen habit for one of white. Some years later, on the advice of St. John Meda of Oldrado (d. 1159), they embraced the Rule of St. Benedict, adapted by St. John to their needs; they received papal approbation from Innocent III about 1200, and from many succeeding pontiffs The order grew rapidly, gave many saints and blessed to the Church, assisted in combating the Cathari, formed trades associations among the people, and played an important part in the civic life of every community in which they were established. In the course of time, however, owing to the accumulation of temporal goods and the restriction of the number of members admitted (for at one time there were only about 170 in the 94 monasteries), grave abuses crept in, which St. Charles Borromeo was commissioned by Pius V to reform. His fearless efforts roused such opposition among a minority that a conspiracy was formed and a murderous assault made on him by one of the Humiliati, a certain Girolamo Donati, called Farina, which, though it was unsuccessful, was responsible for the execution of the chief conspirators and the suppression of the order by a Bull of 8 Feb., 1571. The houses and possessions were bestowed on other religious orders, including the Barnabites and Jesuits, or applied to charity.
II. The wives of the first Humiliati, who belonged to some of the principal families of Milan, also formed a community under Clara Blassoni, and were joined by so many others that it became necessary to open a second convent, the members of which devoted themselves to the care of the lepers in a neighbouring hospital, whence they were also known as Hospitallers of the Observance. The number of their monasteries increased rapidly, but the suppression of the male branch of the order, which had administered their temporal affairs, proved a heavy blow, involving in many cases the closing of monasteries, though the congegation itself was not affected by the Bull of suppression. The nuns observed the canonical Hours, fasting rigorously and taking the discipline at stated times. Some retained the ancient Breviary of the order, when other houses adopted the Roman Breviary. The habit consists of a robe and scapular of white over a tunic of ashen grey, the veils being usually white, though in some houses black. The lay sisters, who retain the name of Barettine, wear grey. There are still in Italy five independent houses of Humiliati.
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HÉLYOT, Dict. des ordres relig. (Paris, 1859); HEIMBUCHER, Orden und Kongregationen (Paderborn, 1908).
F.M. RUDGE Transcribed by WGKofron With thanks to Fr. John Hilkert and St. Mary’s Church, Akron, Ohio
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIICopyright © 1910 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, June 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., CensorImprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Humiliati
a monastic order founded about 1134 by some Italian noblemen whom the emperor Henry II had sent as hostages to Germany. In 1151 they were transformed into canons of St. Benedict, and as such received the sanction of pope Innocent III in 1200. A corresponding order of nuns was afterwards organized in Milan by a lady name(d Blassoni (whence they were also called Nuns of’ Blassoni). Notwithstanding the numerous disorders they occasioned, these nuns did great good as nurses, etc.; their rule was adopted in some ninety-eight convents, but they were finally suppressed by Pius V in 1571. A few convents, without particular attention to dress and observances of the old order, still remain in Italy. The habit of the order consisted in a white dress and cloak, to which a white scapulary was afterwards added; also a small hood. The nuns’ dress was white, with gray under-garments, or vice versa. Pierer, Univers. Lexikon, 8, 609; Fehr, Allgem. Gesch. der Mnchsorden (Tb. 1845), p. 132 sq.; Helyot, Geschichte d. Klster u. Ritterorden, 6; 179 sq.; Aschbach, Kirchen- Lexikon, 3, 347; Wetzer und Welte, Kirchen-Lex. 5, 396 sq. (J. H.W.)