The Archives of the Pontifical Irish College Rome
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I AND ITS THE IRISH COLLEGE,ROME 1628–1678: EDMUND RICE (1762-1844) AND THE RISH an early manuscript account of the foundation FIRST CHRISTIAN BROTHERS T HE and development of the Ludovisian College of 13-17 Rome.qxd 4/20/08 12:00 PM Page 267 Dáire Keogh the Irish in Rome Edited Albert McDonnell, published by the In 1944, W.T. Cosgrave described the Pontifical Irish College, Rome Christian Brothers as ‘Ireland’s gift to civilization’. More recently, a former C ‘This particularly handsome volume, published government minister called them ‘a shower The archives of the Pontifical Irish College, to celebrate the 375th anniversary of the OLLEGE of savage bastards’. This history aims to get THE W Rome: history and holdings foundation of the Ludovisian Irish College in beyond these stereotypical representations Rome, features an account of the college’s first IRISH COLLEGE, ROME fifty years. In this book an edited transcript of of Edmund Rice and the first generation Vera Orschel Christian Brothers, to see them as they AND ITS WORLD ORLD the original Latin text, prepared by Monsignor saw themselves and were understood by John J. Hanly, is presented alongside the first- their contemporaries. It goes beyond ever English translation by the classics scholar An Irish College was established in Rome in 1628 in order to ‘The lost cannot be recovered; but let us save what remains: not by vaults and Declan Lawell. The first chapter details the hagiography, and interprets the Brothers prepare priests for the Irish mission. As part of an elaborate locks which fence them from the public eye and use, in consigning them to the within context, against the background of waste of time, but by such a multiplication of copies, as shall place them beyond circumstances surrounding the foundation of the network of such colleges across the continent, the Irish College the reach of accident.’ college in 1628 by Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, Catholic Emancipation, the modernization R Thomas Jefferson to Ebenezer Hazard, Philadelphia, February . nephew of Gregory XV, and traces its of Irish society and the fashioning of the was always more than a seminary; it served as an ‘embassy’ and focus of Irish Catholic interests in Rome and remained such until development in the early years while it was church according to the norms of the OME HE WIDE-RANGING ESSAYS comprised in this volume are connected in under the direction of the Franciscans. The Council of Trent. the 20th century when Ireland established formal diplomatic Tsharing a common source – papers, in their character usually letters, text is complemented by a very fine history of relations with the Holy See. This collection illustrates that dual deposited in the archives of the Roman Irish College. These are private the college during the period 1625-1690 by the role; based upon the archival holdings of the College it presents institutional archives and the ‘archival series’ or collections mostly derive from the day-to-day administration of an ecclesiastical college.Therefore, in listing the Revd Dr Thomas O’Connor. His rich synthesis an insight into the history of the Irish College and its complex more important holdings, we never lose sight of the college’s purpose of of archival and historiographical material forms , world. furnishing students with a base from which to follow their studies in Rome and to the backdrop to the narrative of the college’s eventually attain ordination. How is it that such a seemingly narrow repository,not ostensibly designed to ‘collect’ papers of import in following a certain theme, can historical evolution in an era of profound Dáire Keogh & Albert McDonnell assist in so many lines of research? An overview of the holdings will show why that religious reform and revival both on the Dáire Keogh lectures in St Patrick’s College Drumcondra and is, illustrating a rule that could be applied to any type of archives. continent and in Ireland, thereby deepening the A few words can be said about the history of the collections, their consultation reader’s appreciation of the significance of the Albert McDonnell is vice-rector of the Irish College Rome. and access, and past activities of house-keeping. For the purpose of discussing the holdings, they have been separated into institutional archives – by-products of daily college’s foundation. Equally impressive is business and students’ residencies; and non-institutional holdings – those added by Monsignor Hanly’s scholarly introduction to the various activities of its residents, in other clerical or in private roles. manuscript history and his explanatory notes on The jacket design incorporates a drawing by Patricia Hakim, of the Pontifical EDITORS the text. The volume is enhanced by the Irish College. HISTORY incorporation of several beautifully reproduced colour plates and a comprehensive index. From the inception of the college in onwards, documents bearing on its funding and administration started accruing and were added to as business files became obsoleteT andHE were deposited in the archives: this is only excepting the ‘All involved in the production of this seven-year period of the French occupation and its aftermath, –. Other publication are to be commended for making activities of the college’s staff, like the co-operation of Rector Hagan with the available this valuable archival resource which IRISH COLLEGE, offers a wealth of insights into the experiences of Jacket design: space.ie this Irish clerical community in Rome and AND illuminates the contribution of its members to ROME ITSWORLD the Irish mission during the seventeenth century.’ www.fourcourtspress.ie Mary Ann Lyons, EDITORS Dáire Keogh & Albert McDonnell Irish Historical Studies, May 2005 I AND ITS THE IRISH COLLEGE,ROME 1628–1678: EDMUND RICE (1762-1844) AND THE RISH an early manuscript account of the foundation FIRST CHRISTIAN BROTHERS T HE and development of the Ludovisian College of 13-17 Rome.qxd 4/20/08 12:00 PM Page 268 Dáire Keogh the Irish in Rome Edited Albert McDonnell, published by the In 1944, W.T. Cosgrave described the Pontifical Irish College, Rome Christian Brothers as ‘Ireland’s gift to Vera Orschel civilization’. More recently, a former C ‘This particularly handsome volume, published government minister called them ‘a shower Dublin archdiocese in searching Roman archives for Irish sources, or involve- to celebrate the 375th anniversary of the ment of staff in beatification and canonization processes, explain the additions of OLLEGE of savage bastards’. This history aims to get THE W series of transcripts, and of material for saints’ causes. Other additions were made foundation of the Ludovisian Irish College in beyond these stereotypical representations but not documented, like those of the two manuscript collections, leaving us Rome, features an account of the college’s first of Edmund Rice and the first generation IRISH COLLEGE, ROME uncertain about their provenance, and how they were acquired. fifty years. In this book an edited transcript of As a deposit for institutional records, the archives were transferred within ORLD the original Latin text, prepared by Monsignor Christian Brothers, to see them as they AND ITS WORLD Rome with each move the college made, in , , , and . But saw themselves and were understood by moreover, emergencies caused them to be removed twice from college premises: John J. Hanly, is presented alongside the first- their contemporaries. It goes beyond during the French Revolutionary invasion of the Papal States the archives were ever English translation by the classics scholar An Irish College was established in Rome in 1628 in order to in storage – presumably with Propaganda Fide. The Vatican archives in the same Declan Lawell. The first chapter details the hagiography, and interprets the Brothers prepare priests for the Irish mission. As part of an elaborate period were famously prey to Napoleon’s edict of , and the contingencies circumstances surrounding the foundation of the within context, against the background of arising from their transport back from Paris caused losses as well as long-lasting network of such colleges across the continent, the Irish College confusion. Having little by comparison to recommend themselves to the French, college in 1628 by Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, Catholic Emancipation, the modernization R was always more than a seminary; it served as an ‘embassy’ and the college’s archives are judged to have been returned more or less intact in nephew of Gregory XV, and traces its of Irish society and the fashioning of the focus of Irish Catholic interests in Rome and remained such until . The second removal took place when, in the late summer of and in development in the early years while it was church according to the norms of the OME the spirit of a sharpening crisis and likely war, Rector McDaid took up the offer under the direction of the Franciscans. The Council of Trent. the 20th century when Ireland established formal diplomatic of the Vatican to safe guard archives or other valuables for the ecclesiastical text is complemented by a very fine history of relations with the Holy See. This collection illustrates that dual colleges: under the direction of Monsignor Pietro Savio, archivist of the Vatican Archives, the college’s records were taken in storage by the Pontificia the college during the period 1625-1690 by the role; based upon the archival holdings of the College it presents Amministrazione delle Opere di Religione until the end of the war, together Revd Dr Thomas O’Connor. His rich synthesis an insight into the history of the Irish College and its complex with three paintings by Guido Reni, Seán Keating, and De Dominicis. Of the of archival and historiographical material forms , early locations for records and archives there are no descriptions; presently all world.