Barbarigo, Marco Antonio

BARBARIGO, MARCO ANTONIO. - Cardinal, archbishop of Corfu from 1678 to 1685, bishop of Montefiascone and Corneto (Tarquinia) from 1687 to 1706. Born in Venice to Agostino and Chiara Barbarigo on 6 March 1640 and died in Montefiascone on 26 May 1706. At the age of 25 he entered the Maggior Consiglio; but his inclination to a more perfect life led him in 1671 to enter the priesthood. Blessed Gregory Barbarigo, a distant relative of his, called him to himself, appointed him canon of the cathedral of Padua, and at his school he became a zealous and charitable priest. He accompanied Blessed Gregory in 1676 to the Conclave and remained with him, in accordance with the wish of Innocent XI, for more than a year in Rome. When the see of Corfu fell vacant, he was elected to it and entered it on 24 September 1678.

The tranquil and fruitful government of B. was interrupted in 1685 by a serious incident, provoked by Francesco Morosini, generalissimo of the Venetian fleet; the Republic condemned the archbishop, sequestered his property and forced him to take refuge in Rome. Once the case was clarified, Innocent XI appointed B. cardinal (2 September 1686) and then bishop of the united sees of Montefiascone and Corneto (Tarquinia), of which he took possession on 20 October 1687. His qualities of government earned him the reputation of another Charles Borromeo, which still endures, immortalized above all by two grandiose works. The first is the celebrated "Barbarigo" seminary, in which he promoted good studies, endowing it generously and enriching it with a magnificent library. The second was the creation of the Institute of schools and Maestre Pie for the girls of the common people, who for the most part grew up without instruction and true Christian education. For this purpose he made use of the venerable Rosa Venerini, foundress of the Maestre Pie of Viterbo, who opened about 10 schools in the principal centers of the diocese and started a good number of teachers, among them St. Lucia Filippini (v.), who later became, at the direct proposal of Venerini, superior of the institute of Montefiascone. The tireless bishop earned the special praises of Clement XI and of his contemporaries, who held him in the estimation of a saint. Indeed, the cause of his beatification and canonization is being prepared.

Giuseppe Lâw