English College, Rome

The Venerable English College, also Papal English and Welsh College, (Latin: Pontifical Collegium Anglicanum, it:. Venerabile Collegio Inglese, s: . Venerable English College ) is a Pontifical College and Seminary in Rome. It is used for training and continuing education for priests from England and Wales. It was founded in 1579 by the English Cardinal William Allen and is the oldest English institution outside England.

Precursor

1565 had the English priest and canon of York William Allen left his native England and fled to Douai in France, where he founded in 1568 the " Collège des Anglais Douai ". 1578 the seminary was moved to Reims and could remain until 1593 there. In addition to the training of priests and the lay training was continued. The real aim of the seminary was in the recatholicization England, which by Pope Gregory XIII as well. was supported. In the follow-up time more English College in Rome, Valladolid, Seville and Lisbon were founded. Public Characters of the Collège des Anglais Douai were: Edmund Campion, Antoine Legrand, Gregory Martin, Cuthbert Mayne, Robert Southwell and John Southworth.

Foundation

1576 William Allen came to Rome, with the support of Pope Gregory XIII. he succeeded the old English guest house which since the beginning of the 14th century English pilgrims in Rome offering accommodation to rebuild in a seminary. The first seminarians came from Douai, with them, the teaching was recorded. With a Papal Bull of 1579, the official year of establishment, licensed Gregory XIII. the "Collegium Anglecanum ," the Pope stood surety for the college, he gave him the property and gave him the abbey church of San Savino in Piacenza. The first director was Maurice Clenock from Wales, and was succeeded by the Jesuit Alfonso Agazzari (see also John Ballard ), who conducted the affairs of the Institute until 1773.

Reverend College

In the years 1581-1679 about 130 Catholic priests were spent in prison or exile in England and Wales. Forty-four priests and laity suffered martyrdom, of which forty-one people have been spoken to saints and blessed. They are known under the name " Forty Martyrs of England and Wales ." In memory and in whose honor these people, some of seminarians of the " Collège des Anglais Douai ," were carrying the English College in Rome since 1818 the title of " Venerable "(Latin: venerabilis ).

Construction and decline

In 1681, a new period began for the College. It received its own chapel, the famous Jesuit and painter Andrea Pozzo this, designed the fresco of the " Assumption ". Between 1682 and 1694 parts of the College have been renovated and converted into a " Palazzo ". These construction projects were (known as Cardinal of Norfolk ) under the patronage of Cardinal Philip Howard OP). He was the son of Henry Howard, Earl of Arundel 22, his great-grandfather was Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel, one of the forty martyrs of England and Wales. During the 18th century, the College joined the Jacobites, this connection extended to the year 1807, the college management was in the hands of the Jesuits. Pope Clement XIV had dissolved the Jesuit order in 1773 and put in charge of Italian secular priests. The conquest of Rome and the expulsion of Pope Pius VI. by Napoleon I. (1797 /98) led to the temporary dissolution of the English College.

New beginning

Surprisingly, the building of the college, during the Napoleonic rule, be obtained. In the rooms of gatherings and meetings were held, the cardinal protector of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies Cardinal Braschi - Onesti Romoaldo ( a nephew of Pope Paul IV ) held its protecting hand over the English College. 1818 was the Englishman Robert Gradwell, who later became Titular Bishop of Lydda and Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of London District, New Principal and took a few lessons the students back on. One of the first candidates for the priesthood belonged to Nicholas Patrick Stephen Wiseman, who was Rector of the College in 1828 and later was Archbishop of Westminster. 1866 Pope Pius IX laid. the foundations for a new building, which was designed by renowned architect Virginio Vespignani. The new seminar house was completed in 1888.

Presence

With the two directors Arthur Hinsley (1917-1929) and William Godfrey (1929-1939) took over the management of the two outstanding personalities College. Hinsley succeeded by his intervention to preserve the College prior to demolition. During the Second World War had 1940 students leave the college and moved to England. They sat at the former Jesuit school Stonyhurst continue their studies. The buildings of the College in Rome between 1941-1944 were used as a hospital. The first seminarians returned in the fall of 1946 to Rome. The College served the English and Welsh bishops in the times of the two Vatican Councils 1869/70 and 1962 to 1965 as an accommodation. On the occasion of the four hundred years of existence, celebrated by Pope John Paul II in 1979, the Holy Mass in the College Church.

Mission and organization

The main task of the English College is to prepare young aspiring priest from England and Wales on their activities. To this end, they provide the seminarians a wide range of spiritual life, property and priestly seminars. The College is managed by a committee of English diocesan priests, it is composed of the rector, his deputy, the teacher of philosophy, theology teacher and spiritual director. The work is supported by a program manager and two secretaries. The students are enrolled in the Pontifical Universities in Rome and complete their studies after seven years with a certificate. The teaching premises, accommodation and the College Church of San Tommaso di Canterbury located on the Via di Monserrato in Rome. The seat of the Rector, the villa is Palazzola in Via dei Laghi in Rocca di Papa ( Rome province ).

Some personalities

Cardinal (Catholicism) William Allen (cardinal) Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough Robert Southwell (Jesuit) Dominican Order Henry Howard, 22nd Earl of Arundel Lydda (titular see) Apostolic vicariate Nicholas Wiseman Patrick Kelly (Archbishop of Liverpool) David Lewis (Jesuit)
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