Adorno, Francis

ADORNO, FRANCIS. - Jesuit preacher, b. in Genoa on 13 Sept. 1533, d. there on 13 Jan. 1586. He became acquainted with the Society of Jesus in Portugal and entered it on 10 June 1549 in the novitiate of Coimbra. Recalled to Italy after ten years, he met with great success as a preacher in various cities and was assigned to positions of government (rector of the Colleges of Padua, 1560-67, and of Milan 1581-84, Provincial of Lombardy, 1567-70, 1573-78). But he is chiefly known for his relations with St. Charles Borromeo, whose spiritual director he was (after Fr. Ribera), his counselor in the most varied affairs, one of his most trusted collaborators in the formation of the clergy, in various controversies (such as that over spectacles), in diplomatic and apostolic missions (for example in the Valtellina, 1584). The saint took him as a companion on various pilgrimages. The account that A. dictated of the pilgrimage made in 1578 by Borromeo to the Holy Shroud in Turin is often cited in the Latin version of Giov. Andrea Guarnieri printed in Bergamo in 1579, but the Italian original was published by Msgr. P. Savio in Aevum, 17 (1933), pp. 423-54. Other works of A., for the most part remaining in manuscript, on questions of canon law (in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana) are listed in the bibliography of Sommervogel. In 1580, St. Charles had proposed to Gregory XIII that A. be named general of the Society (Acquaviva was elected); in 1584 he wanted him near him during his last journeys, in the spiritual exercises made at Varallo, and was assisted by him at his death.

Edmondo Lamalle