COMPANY OF THE DIVINE LOVE. — Al-
though the C. of the D. A. are generally confraternities,
they must, however, be distinguished because they played an
important part in that broad movement of spirituality and
charity which developed at the beginning of the 16th century,
and to which the Dominicans, Franciscans, Regular Canons,
etc., gave great impetus. The first C. was established in
Genoa through the zeal of Ettore Vernazza and three other
Genoese citizens, inspired by St. Catherine Fieschi-Adorno,
in 1497; shortly before 1515, that of Rome was instituted in
Trastevere, followed at a short distance by those of Vicenza,
Venice, Naples and others, placed under the protection of St.
Jerome.
They were composed of laymen of every condition, numbering
from 40 to 60, and a very small number of priests, and were
promoted by persons of singular piety, such as St. Cajetan
Thiene, Gian Pietro Carafa and their Theatine companions,
Bartolomeo Stella, Gian Matteo Giberti and others.
“Whoever wishes to be a true brother of this company must
be humble of heart, to which humility all the customs and
institutions of this fraternity are directed; and therefore let
each one direct all his mind and hope to God and place in
Him all his affection, otherwise he would be a false brother.”
This purpose of intense spiritual life was promoted by particu-
lar gatherings and prayers under the direction of the priests,
by a special frequency of the Sacraments, and by the hidden
practice of good works, small and daily, to alleviate common
misfortunes. But in order to meet the most urgent social
misfortunes, the C. undertook foundations to convert, orphans,
endangered girls and in particular the incurables, i.e., those
infected with syphilis and other chronic diseases, establishing
special hospitals for them. But these more important institu-
tions were entrusted, particularly in Genoa, Rome and Venice,
to a “ridotto” or commission of laymen in which the brothers
of the C. had special assistance. “And since this fraternity is
of laymen, who are sometimes frightened from good works
by the talk of others, each one of the brothers is obliged to
keep secret the brothers, the works and the methods of the
fraternity.” This precept was in fact observed with special
care. The golden period of the activity of these C. was the
first half of the 16th century; in Rome the C. ceased in 1527
with the terrible sack, but its spirit survived in the hospital
of the Incurables at St. James in Augusta and in other
charitable foundations.
The “Capitula fraternitatis Divini Amoris” of Genoa were
published by P. Tacchi-Venturi, Storia della Compagnia di Gesù
in Italia (2nd ed., II, Rome 1939, pp. 25-42); the “Statute of
the small hospital of the Ridotto degli Incurabili of Genoa” was
published by Cassiano da Langasco, Gli ospedali degli incurabili
(Genoa 1938, pp. 197-205) with the addition of documents; the
“Capitoli della confraternita del D. A. di Roma” by A. Cistel-
lini, Figure della Riforma pretridentina (Brescia 1948, pp. 273-
77), followed by those of the D. A. of Brescia (pp. 277-82). In
this work (pp. 282-88) there is also the List of the confrères of
the D. A. of Rome.”