CROSTA, CLINO. — Theologian, born at Consiglio Rumo (Como) in 1860, died at Como in 1936.
A profound scholar, he became particularly well known as one of the most strenuous supporters, in Italy, of the definability as a dogma of faith of the bodily assumption into heaven of the B. V. For the purpose of illustrating and defending this truth, for many years he edited a monthly periodical, L'Assunta, and published a volume, L'Assunta nell'odierna teologia cattolica (3rd ed., Milan 1930). He left a valuable course of dogmatic theology for seminaries: Theologia dogmatica in usum scholarum ad quadriennium accommodata (3rd ed., Gallarate 1932). He wrote other pamphlets of solid theological learning for purposes of popularization.
Clemente Gaddi
of the Most Holy Saviour. Through the efforts of C., supported by St. Alfonso and Mgr. Falcoia, the conservatory of St. Francis de Sales subsequently adopted the new rule of the Most Holy Saviour. A victim of others’ incomprehension, having left there in 1733, she went to Pareti di Nocera to reform a women’s conservatory that had fallen into decline, and after an attempt at cloistered life at Roccapiemonte she reached Foggia in 1738, where she founded the monastery of the Most Holy Saviour and where she died. The cause of beatification was introduced in 1901.
She possessed charisms comparable to those of St. Gertrude; although illiterate, she composed about ten works, the fruit of her contemplations: chief among them are the Autobiografia, the Trattenimenti dell'anima con lo sposo Gesù, the Esercizio di amore di Dio per tutti li giorni dell'anno, and the Distinzioni di molti gradi di orazione; numerous Canzoncine spirituali e morali, among which, noteworthy for their daring subject matter and freshness of feeling, are the Tarantella al dolcissimo nome di Gesù and the Dialogo tra Gesù e un'anima zingarella.
At the basis of her spirituality, C. places the mystery of the Incarnate Word, asserting that contemplation of Christ’s humanity leads to knowledge of the Divinity. The form may appear deficient, but the theological language is exact.