GIROLAMITI. — This was the name given to certain congregations of hermits that arose in Spain and Italy in the 14th and 15th centuries. They followed the so-called Rule of s. Agostino, revised with additions taken from the writings of s. Girolamo and from other rules, and regarded s. Girolamo as their founder.
I. SPANISH HERMITES OF S. GIROLAMO. - They were established by Pietro Fernandez Pecha of Guadalajara (d. 1374), chamberlain of King Pietro il Crudele. He, his brother Alfonso, bishop of Jaén, and the Portuguese Basco joined some Italian hermits who professed the Rule of the Third Order of S. Francesco, had been disciples of Tommasuccio da Siena, and had settled at Lupiana near Toledo. Other autonomous hermitages soon arose. Pecha obtained confirmation of the institution from Gregory XI at Avignon in 1374; however, the so-called Rule of s. Agostino had to be adopted. Cardinal Ximenez sent the G. to America for the evangelization of the Indians, and Filippo II entrusted them with the monastery of the Escorial. The following belonged to the G.: Fernando de Talavera y Mendoza, first archbishop of Granada; Pedro de Cabrera, commentator on s. Tommaso; Francesco de Geronimo; and Antonio de Rosario, who were known composers.
In 1375 a women’s branch also arose, the Gerolamine, founded by Maria Garcias (d. 1426) at Toledo and later developing in the principal cities of Spain and in Mexico.
II. POOR HERMITS OF S. GIROLAMO OF THE CONGREGATION OF PISA. — Founded by Bl. Pietro dei Gambacorta of the lords of Pisa (d. 1435). In 1377, Bl. Pietro, a young man of twenty-five, became a hermit on Montebello near Urbino, and within a few years founded other hermitages that joined together into a Congregation, following the Rule of the Third Order of S. Francesco and practicing the most severe penance. The G. soon established themselves in Venice, Padua, Treviso, and Vicenza, and in 1434 founded the convent of S. Onofrio in Rome. At the end of the seventeenth century they also established several foundations in Austria and Bavaria. In 1568, Pius V had them adopt the so-called Rule of S. Agostino, with their own constitutions and solemn vows. Having been reduced to very few religious, the Congregation was suppressed in 1933 by Pius XI through the apostolic letter Inter Iustituta (AAS, 25 [1933], p. 147 ff.).
III. G. OF THE OBSERVANCE OR OF LOMBARDY. — They arose from the Congregation of the G. of Spain through a reform movement promoted by their superior general Lope de Olmedo (d. 1433), who in 1424 added to the Rule very strict constitutions taken from the Carthusians: absolute abstinence from meat, Lenten fasting from 30 September (s. Girolamo) until Easter, etc. Martin V approved the reform, constituted its members as an autonomous Congregation, and assigned them the church of S. Alessio on the Aventine. The G. of the Observance spread in Spain and Italy, especially in Lombardy. In 1595 the Spanish convents rejoined the G. of Spain, while the Italian monasteries, having become autonomous, had their own superior general, who resided at Ospedaletti near Lodi. The Congregation subsequently died out.