CARAFA, VINCENZO. - Seventh general of the Society of Jesus, b. at Andria to M. Maddalena Carafa (v. above) on 9 May 1585, d. at Rome on 8 June 1649. Having entered the Order in 1604, he gave throughout his life and in the various offices of master of novices, rector, provincial, a singular example of virtue and zeal, distinguishing himself in his love for the poor, in his care for the sick (he had made a vow to devote himself to the care of the plague-stricken), in ministries for the souls most in need, preaching on the galleys, in public squares, in prisons, without neglecting the higher classes; he reorganized, in fact, the Congregation of the Nobles of Naples so that they might add to individual perfection the outreach of a broad social action, through various works of charity and benevolence. He also established in all the churches of the Order the "Confraternity of the Good Death," immediately approved and favored by the Popes.
His generalate (he was elected to the office on 7 Jan. 1646) was brief and wholly directed to confirming and promoting the primitive spirit of the Order. During the famine and plague of Rome in 1648 and '49 he skillfully organized works of charity, to the point of feeding several thousand poor for two months; and he placed himself at the service of those struck by the disease until he contracted the illness, which brought him to death.
Besides his letters and instructions addressed to his subjects, C. published several ascetical opuscules under the name of Luigi Sidero: Fascetta di mirra (Rome 1635); Comino del cielo (4 opuscules, Naples 1640; the 2nd of them was placed on the Index [20 June 1651] donec corrigatur, on account of certain titles given to the Virgin: cf. the Latin version, Cologne 1660, preface and index; corrected ed., Rome 1654); Itinerario all'altra vita (ibid. 1643); Il cittadino del cielo (ibid. 1643); Il peregrino della terra (ibid. 1645).
Bibliography7 works
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