FRANCESCO DE’ GUARDI. — Painter, born on 5 Oct. 1712 in Venice, died there on 1 Jan. 1793. He was a pupil of his elder brother Giovanni Antonio (1698-1760), but formed his style particularly on the examples of Sebastiano and Marco Ricci and, to a lesser extent, of G. B. Tiepolo, his brother-in-law.
Famous above all as a view-painter, in which he excelled for the freedom of his rapid touch, the intuitive perspective synthesis of the landscape and the sensitivity of his colouring, G. also painted very notable religious subjects. In these latter, with their nervous form resulting from an impetuous, fragmented and descriptive brushstroke, G. interprets Magnasco and Sebastiano Ricci in an original manner. Among his religious paintings are: two Crucifixions in the Brass collection in Venice; the Madonna and Child with Saints, an altarpiece in the parish church of Vigo d’Anaunia; and, as a masterpiece, the canvases depicting the Story of Tobias in the parish church of the Archangel Raphael in Venice.
Luigi Grassi
GUARDIA D’ONORE DEL SACRO CUORE. — Association of the faithful whose aim is to render a special cult of glory, love and reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the “hour of guard,” chosen at will by each member, during which they offer their ordinary occupations, ejaculatory prayers and devotions, keeping themselves, either actually or at least in spirit, united to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
This pious practice, which responds to the desire expressed by the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary, is perpetuated hour by hour throughout the world, day and night, as homage and reparation offered to the Redeemer on Calvary by the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John and St. Mary Magdalene, who become the spiritual models for this pious devotion. Following their example, the associates are distinguished into three degrees: consoling souls, reparation souls and victim souls. The first are modelled on Mary Magdalene; St. John the second; and the Blessed Virgin Mary the third.
The G. d’o. del S. C. began in the monastery of the Visitation Sisters in Bourg-en-Bresse through the work of Sister Maria del Sacro Cuore, born Constance Bernaud, on 13 March 1863, assisted by the first zealous promoter of the work, the Servant of God Maria Deluil-Martiny, later foundress of the Daughters of the Heart of Jesus, who was killed by an anarchist on 27 Feb. 1884 in Marseilles. Approved and erected as a confraternity by the diocesan bishop, the association was enriched with indulgences and privileges by Pius IX. Leo XIII elevated it to the dignity of archconfraternity (26 Nov. 1878). In Italy the first centre was established by Fr. Giovanni Bacchicetti of the Order of the Ministers of the Sick, in the church of SS. Vincenzo e Anastasio in Rome (1871). From 1879 the G. d’o. del S. C. in Italy has been governed by the Order of St. Camillus. Pius X, like his predecessors, wished to be named first guard of honour and declared himself “perpetual protector” of the Roman archconfraternity. The Association, which under the pontificate of Leo XIII had spread to 18 nations, continued to expand throughout the world, especially in the first decade of the 20th century.
GUARDIE ADORATRICI DELL’EUCARISTIA, known as SOEURS DE SAINT-AIGNAN. — Female religious institute founded in 1853 by Mons. Dupanloup, bishop of Orléans. On 15 Nov. 1892 it received the decree of praise and on 15 March 1897 that of approval.
The constitutions, approved provisionally in 1901 and definitively on 28 Aug. 1908, were adapted to the Code and approved in 1924.
The special aim of the Institute is the adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist; but the sisters are also engaged in the education of young girls.
and the ring on the right hand, above the sleeve. The use therefore appears to have been introduced in France and soon passed to Rome: in 1070 Alexander II granted it...
When His Holiness leaves his private apartments. When His Holiness takes the sedia gestatoria and proceeds in solemn procession, the escort is provided by the officers and the exempt.
The exempt of the Noble Guard on duty is responsible for the custody of the Sacred Person of the Pope and, as a sign of special and high jurisdiction, holds the baton of command. He has the rank, together with the commander and the lieutenants, of a secret chamberlain of cape and sword and is thus part of the Papal household (v.), remaining at the Sacred Person of the Pope during audiences and in ancient times rode to the right of His Holiness’s carriage. He also has command over the daily service detachments of the other armed corps of the Apostolic Palace.
From the moment the Supreme Pontiff, having fallen ill, receives the Holy Viaticum, a sentinel of the corps mounts guard at the door of His Holiness’s bedroom and is not relieved until all danger has passed. In the event of the death of the Supreme Pontiff, a detachment of the corps keeps vigil day and night without interruption in the room where the sacred body lies and does not abandon it until it has been placed in the tomb. Only on this occasion does the Noble Guard wear mourning, which consists in covering the baldric, the aiguillette, the standard and the two trumpets with a black veil.
The Noble Guard depends on the Secretary of State for organisation, on the Administration of the Goods of the Holy See for administration, and on the Majordomo and the Master of the Chamber for extraordinary and ordinary daily service.
The appointment of new members of the Noble Guard is subject to the deliberation of the admissions council, which presents its decree to the Secretary of State so that he may obtain from the Supreme Pontiff the approval and appointment of suitable candidates. Members of the Noble Guard must have nobility of at least 100 years’ standing and are chosen from among the nobility of the former Papal States. The commanding captain, in special cases, may submit to sovereign approval the faculty of allowing individuals native to other Italian provinces who possess nobility to compete for appointment to the Noble Guard.
An ordinary member of the Noble Guard is chosen by His Holiness to carry, as a cabinet courier, the notification of appointment to a newly created cardinal residing abroad. He is also employed as a cabinet courier for extraordinary missions that may be required in the presence of sovereigns.
Pius VII on 31 May 1820 blessed in the Pauline Chapel of the Quirinal Palace the standard of the Noble Guard; this standard is still of white silk and bears in the centre, embroidered in gold, the arms of the reigning pontiff.
The Standard-Bearer of the Holy Roman Church, an hereditary office in the family of the Marchese Patrizi Naro Montoro, held the rank and uniform of captain of chevau-légers and in solemn papal cavalcades always rode between the two captains of the said guard. At present he holds the rank and uniform of captain of the Noble Guard and is part of the Papal household together with the command of the Noble Guard. The Standard-Bearer of the Holy Roman Church is housed in the quarters of the Noble Guard in the Vatican Palace.
GUARDIA PALATINA D’ONORE. It is one of the corps of the papal armed forces, an expression of the tribute of loyalty from the Roman people to the Supreme Pontiff. The institution of the G. p. d’o. was established by Pius IX through a dispatch from the Secretary of State, Cardinal Antonelli, dated 14 December 1850, which came into force on 1 January 1851. With this dispatch, the first constitutive regulation of the G. p. d’o. was officially issued, resulting from the merger of the Urban Militia of the Roman people and the chosen Civic Guard, both of which were suppressed. The G. p. d’o. was reformed by the same Pius IX through another dispatch dated 7 September 1859 and with