CARAFA, VINCENZO

CARAFA, VINCENZO. - Seventh General of the Society of Jesus, born in Andria from M. Maddalena Carafa (v. SORA) on May 9, 1585, died in Rome on June 8, 1649. Having entered the Order in 1604, he gave

always throughout his life and in his various offices as master of novices, rector, and provincial, a singular example of virtue and zeal, distinguishing himself in his love for the poor, his care for the sick (he had made a vow to devote himself to the care of plague victims), and in his ministry to the neediest souls, preaching on the galleys, in public squares, and in prisons, without neglecting the highest social classes; indeed, he reorganized the Congregation of the Nobles of Naples so that they might combine individual perfection with the radiance of a broad social action through various works of charity and beneficence. He also established in all the churches of the Order the "Confraternity of the Good Death," which was immediately approved and favored by the Popes.

His generalate (he was elected to the office on Jan. 7, 1646) was brief and entirely devoted to confirming and promoting the primitive spirit of the Order. During the famine and pestilence in Rome in 1648 and '49, he skillfully organized charitable works, going so far as to feed several thousand poor people for two months; and he placed himself at the service of those struck by the disease until he contracted the malady himself, which led to his death.

In addition to his letters and instructions addressed to his subjects, C. published several ascetic pamphlets under the pseudonym Luigi Sidero: Fascetta di mirra (Roma 1635); Comino del cielo (4 pamphlets, Napoli 1640; the 2nd of these was placed on the Index [June 20, 1651] donec corrigatur, on account of certain titles given to the Virgin: cf. the Latin version, Colonia 1660, preface, and the corrected ed., Roma 1654); Itinerario all'altra vita (ivi 1643); Il cittadino del cielo (ivi 1643); Il peregrino della terra (ivi 1645).