MASSIMO, MASSIMILIANO. - Jesuit, educator, b. in Roma on 3 Jan. 1849 to Prince Camillo Vittorio, d. there on 6 May 1911.
Having completed his studies at the Collegio Romano, he entered the Jesuits in Roma in 1868, whence, owing to the political events of Sept. 1870, he went abroad. He studied philosophy at Eppen and at Maria Laach, theology at Laval, and in 1876 returned to Roma, where he was ordained priest. Meanwhile, with the closing of the Collegio Romano, the education of young people had passed into other hands; and he, advised by Mgrs. C. Boccanera and P. Crostarosa, thought to remedy this by assigning as a school the Palazzo Massimo-Peretti alle Terme, which had come to him by inheritance. Thus, in 1879, the first 80 young people were able to attend the new school. Since, for building reasons, the old structure had to be demolished, M. had the present Palazzo erected in the garden behind II. Although conforming to the current curricula, the new school remained imbued with the spirit of the old Collegio Romano, and the more than 14,000 young people who left it over a period of 70 years and who work for the most part in every branch of activity demonstrate the effectiveness of the education received. Fr. M. was also its rector until 1898; and he also found time to engage in ministry, especially in the service of the humbler classes.
The grateful pupils erected a bust in his honour in the Institute, and the Municipality of Roma gave the name of M.M. to the street square at the entrance to the College.