Massimo, Massimiliano

MASSIMO, MASSIMILIANO. - Jesuit, educator, b. in Rome on 3 Jan. 1849 to Prince Camillo Vittorio, d. there on 6 May 1911.

After completing his studies at the Collegio Romano, he entered the Jesuits in Rome in 1868, whence, owing to the political events of September 1870, he went abroad. He studied philosophy at Eppen and at Maria Laach, theology at Laval, and in 1876 returned to Rome, where he was ordained a priest. Meanwhile, with the closure of the Collegio Romano, the education of young people had passed into other hands; and he, advised by Monsignors C. Boccanera and P. Crostarosa, thought to remedy this by designating as a school the Palazzo Massimo-Peretti alle Terme, which had come to him as an inheritance. Thus in 1879 the first 80 young men were able to attend the new school. Since for building reasons the ancient edifice had to fall under the pickaxe, M. had the present-day Palazzo built in the garden behind it. The new school, while conforming to the programs in force, remained permeated with the spirit of the old Collegio Romano, and the more than 14,000 young men who came out of it over a period of 70 years and who work for the most part in every branch of activity show the effectiveness of the education they received. Fr. M. was also its rector until 1898; and he found also found time to occupy himself in ministries, especially in the service of the humblest classes.

His grateful pupils erected a bust in his honor in the Institute, and the Municipality of Rome gave the name of M. M. to the street square at the entrance of the College.

Giuseppe Massaruti