Theatines

The Theatines (lat. Ordo Clericorum Regularium, religious symbol: CRth, dt also: OTheat, also Kajetaner ) are a Catholic male order, which takes its name from the Episcopal City their co-founder Gian Pietro Carafa, Bishop of Theatinum (now Chieti), later to become Pope Paul IV, is derived.

Establishment and spread

The Order was founded in 1524 on the initiative of Gian Pietro Carafa, later Pope Paul IV, and Cajetan of Thiene. Both were previously members of the Brotherhood Compagnia del Divino Amore, belonging to the church of Santa Dorotea. After a few weeks, the community has been recognized as a religious order by Pope Clement VII. The Congregation of the Clerics Regular ( as the first of this type) quickly spread throughout Italy and was next to the Jesuits the most important force of the Counter-Reformation. Mother Church of the Theatines is still Sant'Andrea della Valle.

In addition to 250 bishops and cardinals 6 went out of the Theatines a Pope out: Gian Pietro Carafa was elected on May 23, 1555 in the conclave and served as Paul IV

1662 brought the Bavarian Elector Ferdinand Maria and Henriette Adelaide pair of Savoy the Order to Bavaria and founded a convent in Munich, together with a magnificent church. The Order still had to the time of Max Emanuel into it at the electoral court big impact. The Theatinerpater Don Antonio Spinelli took not only Henriette Adelheid confession, but also her eldest daughter Maria Anna Christina before they became Dauphine of France, and Max Emanuel. The Blue Elector accompanied the enterprising Spinelli on all his campaigns Hungary. The Theatinerkirche St. Cajetan - built according to plans by Agostino Barelli and Enrico Zuccalli ( along the lines of Sant'Andrea della Valle) directly opposite the elector's residence at the Odeon Square - acted in the following years as court church and grave laying of the Wittelsbach family. Even in their building for the diverse interests Spinelli played a significant role. Its façade was designed the Younger in the 18th century by François de Cuvilliés. Today, the church is one of the most famous sights of Munich.

Also in Prague, Salzburg (see Kajetanerkirche ) and Vienna offices of Theatines were founded in the 17th century.

The Generalate of the Clerics Regular Community is located in Rome today. In 2007 it had 203 members, including 139 priests in 33 branches. The current Superior General Valentín Sánchez Arteaga y - Guijaldo followed in 2003 by Gabriele Darida.

Known Theatines

  • Giovanni Marinoni (1490-1562), theologian and preacher
  • Lorenzo Scupoli (1530-1610), priest and writer
  • Guarino Guarini (1624-1683), mathematician, philosopher and architect
  • Antonio Spinelli († 1706), privy councilor and confessor of the Electress of Bavaria
  • Giuseppe Maria Tomasi (1649-1713), theologian and cardinal
  • Ferdinand Sterzinger (1721-1786), theologian, canonist and critics of the belief in witchcraft
  • Giuseppe Piazzi (1746-1826), astronomer and mathematician
History of the term "Catholic" Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria
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