ADORNO, GIOVANNI AGOSTINO

ADORNO, GIOVANNI AGOSTINO. - Co-founder of the Clerics Regular Minor (v.), born in Genoa in 1551, died in Naples on 29 Sept. 1591. Following the traditions of his noble dogal family, he embarked upon a diplomatic career, visited many Italian courts, and was a member of an embassy to Philip II of Spain. He later abandoned this career and placed himself under the spiritual direction of his fellow citizen Basile Pignatelli, a Theatine. When Pignatelli was transferred, A., stopping on the way at Vallombrosa and at Rome, where he received minor orders, joined him in Naples. There he devoted himself to works of charity and to assisting those condemned to death, in the Compagnia dei Bianchi (v.), and was ordained a priest. He became acquainted with Fabrizio and Ascanio (the future St. Francesco) Caracciolo. Having withdrawn with the latter to the Camaldolese hermitage of S. Salvatore, he there formulated the rule of the new congregation. In Rome they obtained from Sixtus V the brief of approval (1 July 1588). In Feb. 1591, having returned to Rome, he obtained from Gregory XIV two further briefs confirming the institution, to which the privileges of the Theatines were also granted.