PAGIAUDI, PAOLO MARIA. — Theatine, scholar and librarian, b. Nov. 13, 1710, at Turin, d. Feb. 2, 1785, at Parma. For a decade he devoted himself to sacred oratory, until in 1750 he settled in Rome as procurator general of the Theatines.
At the same time he took up research into classical antiquities and was named corresponding member of the French Academy of Inscriptions and Fine Letters. In 1761 Duke Philip of Parma offered him the post of antiquary and librarian, intending to found a new library in place of the Farnese Library, which had been transferred to Naples at that time. Having gone to France with the benefit of the Sovereign’s support, he returned with a large quantity of rare books and manuscripts for the new Library, which thus soon became one of the finest in Italy. A friend of the minister Du Tillot, he approved the latter’s anti-Jesuit policy and the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Duchy. In 1768 he drafted a Constitution for the new Regal Studies, approved by Du Tillot and Duke Ferdinand, which laid the foundations for a university reform following the expulsion of the Jesuits. Falling into disfavour together with Du Tillot, in 1771 he was deprived of the direction of the Library and forced to retire to the Theatines at S. Cristina. He nevertheless regained the office of librarian in Feb. 1772, but definitively only in 1778.
On the instructions of Benedict XIV, he wrote Memorie de’ Gran Maestri del S. Ordine Gerosolimitano, 3 vols., Parma 1780; he also produced esteemed archaeological works, including Alcune singolari e strane medaglie (Naples 1748); Xxxxxxxxxx, sive de umbréllae gestatione (Rome 1752); De sacris christianorum balneis (Venice 1750; Rome 1758), which constitute his masterpiece.
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PAGIAUDI, Paolo Maria. — Theatine, scholar and librarian, b. Nov. 13, 1710, at Turin, d. Feb. 2, 1785, at Parma. He devoted himself for a decade to sacred oratory, until in 1750 he settled in Rome as procurator general of the Theatines.
At the same time he took up research into classical antiquities and was named corresponding member of the French Academy of Inscriptions and Fine Letters. In 1761 Duke Philip of Parma offered him the post of antiquary and librarian, intending to found a new library in place of the Farnese Library, which had been transferred to Naples at that time.
After a childhood spent amid the hardships of poverty and the stern discipline of a maternal uncle who took him in after the death of his parents, at the age of 17 he entered the Franciscan order in the convent of Forano. On June 4, 1671, he was ordained priest; initially assigned to teaching philosophy, he later turned to apostolic work. But afflicted since 1688 by severe illnesses, he spent the rest of his life in heroic resignation and severe mortifications, sometimes aggravated by the incomprehension of his brethren, endowed as he was with the gifts of prophecy and miracles. After his death, numerous miracles were attributed to him, and in 1786 he was beatified by Pius VI; on May 26, 1839 Gregory XVI canonized him. Feast day Sept. 24.