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Founder of the Order of
Somascha; b. at Venice, 1481; d. at Somascha, 8 Feb., 1537; feast,
20 July; son of Angelo Emiliani (popularly called Miani) and of
Eleonore Mauroceni, joined the army, and in 1508 defended
Castelnuovo against the League of Cambray. Taken prisoner and
miraculously liberated, he made a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our
Lady of Treviso, in fulfillment of a vow. He was then appointed
podestà of Castelnuovo, but after a short time returned to
Venice to supervise the education of his nephews. All his spare time
was devoted to the study of theology and to works of charity. After
his ordination to the priesthood in 1518, the hospitals and the
hovels of the poor were his favourite resorts. In the year of plague
and famine (1528), he seemed to be everywhere, and showed his zeal
especially for the orphans, whose number had so greatly increased.
He rented a house for them near the church of St. Rose and, with the
assistance of some pious laymen, ministered to their wants. To his
charge was also committed the hospital for incurables, founded by
St. Cajetan. In 1531 he went to Verona and induced the citizens to
build a hospital; at Brescia he erected an orphanage, at Bergamo one
for boys and another for girls. Here also he founded the first home
for fallen women who wished to do penance. Two priests, Alessandro
Besuzio and Agostino Bariso, now joined him in his labours of
charity, and in 1532 Jerome founded a religious society, placing the
motherhouse at Somascha, a secluded hamlet between Milan and
Bergamo. In the rule, Jerome puts down as the principal work of the
community the care of orphans, poor, and sick, and demands that
dwellings, food and clothing shall bear the mark of religious
poverty. Jerome fell a martyr to his zeal; contracting a disease at
Bergamo, he died at Somascha. He was beatified by Benedict XIV in
1747, and canonized by Clement XIII in 1767. The Office and Mass in
his honour were approved eight years later. His biography was first
written by Scipio Albani (1600); another by Andreas Stella (1605).
The best was written by Aug. Tortora (Milan, 1620; in "Acta SS.",
Feb., II, 217 sq.).
After the death of Jerome his community was about
to disband, but was kept together by Gambarana, who had been chosen
superior. He obtained the approval (1540) of Paul III. In 1547 the
members vainly sought affiliation with the Society of Jesus; then in
1547-1555 they were united with the Theatines. Pius IV (1563)
approved the institution, and St. Pius V raised it to the dignity of
a religious order, according to the Rule of St. Augustine, with
solemn vows, the privileges of the mendicants, and exemption. In
1569 the first six members made their profession, and Gambarana was
made first superior general. Great favour was shown to the order by
St. Charles Borromeo, and he gave it the church of St. Mayeul at
Pavia, from which church the order takes its official name "Clerici
regulares S. Majoli Papiae congregationis Somaschae". Later the
education of youth was put into the programme of the order, and the
colleges at Rome and Pavia became renowned. It spread into Austria
and Switzerland, and before the great Revolution it had 119 houses
in the four provinces of Rome, Lombardy, Venice, and France. At
present the order has ten houses in Italy two of which are in Rome.
The general resides in Rome at S. Girolamo della Carita.
The Source of this information is from
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