Michelangelo Tamburini
Encyclopedia
Michelangelo Tamburini was an Italian Jesuit, who was elected fourteenth Superior General of the Society of Jesus
from January 31, 1706 to February 28, 1730.
After having taught Scholastic
philosophy and theology for twelve years, he was successively made rector of several colleges, was chosen by Cardinal Reynold of Este as his private theologian, held the offices of secretary general and vicar to Thyrsus Gonzalez, and finally, on the latter's death, was elected general on 3 January 1706, a post which he occupied for 24 years.
The reputation for solid virtue, patience, and courage, which he had acquired in the different grades of his order, was by no means dimmed in the long years of his generalate. During Tamburini's superiorship, the apostolic activity of the Society was at its best; but, at the same time, could be seen signs of the storm which was, half a century later, to annihilate it.
The Reductions of Paraguay were beginning to bear fruit; missionaries were laying down their lives for the pest-stricken in the Levant or were pushing into the steppes of Tibet
amid untold hardships. Peter the Great admitted the Jesuits into Russia. Jansenism
, the Society's bitterest foe, received its death-blow in 1708 by a Bull of Clement XI ordering the suppression of Port-Royal
. The destruction of Port Royal was coupled with the condemnation of the errors of Pasquier Quesnel
by the papal bull
Unigenitus (1711).
Three Jesuits, Tolomei
, Cienfuegos
, and Salerno
, were, in short succession, raised to the dignity of the cardinalate.
At this period the debate over the Chinese Rites was at its height. The Jesuit missionaries in China
had been accused of not obeying the orders of the Pope. Tamburini, though naturally of a gentle disposition, could be firm when the honour of the Society was at stake. He protested energetically, and when in 1711 the procurators of all the provinces of the Society were assembled in Rome, he had them sign a protest which he dedicated to Pope Clement XI. In the name of all the assistants and procurators gathered at Rome, he protested the fidelity and obedience of the whole Society to the Vicar of Christ.
In France, the long reign of Louis XIV, so favorable to the Jesuits in many respects, saw the beginning of those hostile movements which were to lead to the suppression of the Order. This was seen at his death, 1715, when the regent banished the once influential father confessor Le Tellier
, while the gallicanizing archbishop of Paris
, Cardinal de Noailles, laid them under an interdict (1716–1729).
During his generalate the mission of Paraguay
reached its highest degree of success; in one year no fewer than 77 missionaries left for it; the missionary labors of St. Francis de Geronimo
and Blessed Anthony Baldinucci
in Italy, and Venerable Manuel Padial in Spain, enhanced the reputation of the Society.
Tamburini died at the age of 82.
Superior General of the Society of Jesus
The Superior General of the Society of Jesus is the official title of the leader of the Society of Jesus—the Roman Catholic religious order, also known as the Jesuits. He is generally addressed as Father General. The position carries the nickname of Black Pope, after his simple black priest's...
from January 31, 1706 to February 28, 1730.
Scholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
philosophy and theology for twelve years, he was successively made rector of several colleges, was chosen by Cardinal Reynold of Este as his private theologian, held the offices of secretary general and vicar to Thyrsus Gonzalez, and finally, on the latter's death, was elected general on 3 January 1706, a post which he occupied for 24 years.
The reputation for solid virtue, patience, and courage, which he had acquired in the different grades of his order, was by no means dimmed in the long years of his generalate. During Tamburini's superiorship, the apostolic activity of the Society was at its best; but, at the same time, could be seen signs of the storm which was, half a century later, to annihilate it.
The Reductions of Paraguay were beginning to bear fruit; missionaries were laying down their lives for the pest-stricken in the Levant or were pushing into the steppes of Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
amid untold hardships. Peter the Great admitted the Jesuits into Russia. Jansenism
Jansenism
Jansenism was a Christian theological movement, primarily in France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. The movement originated from the posthumously published work of the Dutch theologian Cornelius Otto Jansen, who died in 1638...
, the Society's bitterest foe, received its death-blow in 1708 by a Bull of Clement XI ordering the suppression of Port-Royal
Port-Royal
Port-Royal-des-Champs was an abbey of Cistercian nuns in Magny-les-Hameaux, in the Vallée de Chevreuse southwest of Paris that launched a number of culturally important institutions.-History:...
. The destruction of Port Royal was coupled with the condemnation of the errors of Pasquier Quesnel
Pasquier Quesnel
Pasquier Quesnel was a French Jansenist theologian.He was born in Paris, and, after graduating from the Sorbonne with distinction in 1653, he joined the French Oratory in 1657...
by the papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
Unigenitus (1711).
Three Jesuits, Tolomei
Tolomei
Tolomei may refer to:*Bernardo Tolomei , Roman Catholic cleric*Ettore Tolomei , Italian nationalist...
, Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos is a city on the southern coast of Cuba, capital of Cienfuegos Province. It is located about from Havana, and has a population of 150,000. The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur...
, and Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
, were, in short succession, raised to the dignity of the cardinalate.
At this period the debate over the Chinese Rites was at its height. The Jesuit missionaries in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
had been accused of not obeying the orders of the Pope. Tamburini, though naturally of a gentle disposition, could be firm when the honour of the Society was at stake. He protested energetically, and when in 1711 the procurators of all the provinces of the Society were assembled in Rome, he had them sign a protest which he dedicated to Pope Clement XI. In the name of all the assistants and procurators gathered at Rome, he protested the fidelity and obedience of the whole Society to the Vicar of Christ.
In France, the long reign of Louis XIV, so favorable to the Jesuits in many respects, saw the beginning of those hostile movements which were to lead to the suppression of the Order. This was seen at his death, 1715, when the regent banished the once influential father confessor Le Tellier
Le Tellier
Le Tellier or Letellier is a surname, and may refer to:* Camille le Tellier de Louvois , French cleric* Charles-Maurice Le Tellier , Archbishop of Reims* François-Michel le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois...
, while the gallicanizing archbishop of Paris
Archbishop of Paris
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris is one of twenty-three archdioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The original diocese is traditionally thought to have been created in the 3rd century by St. Denis and corresponded with the Civitas Parisiorum; it was elevated to an archdiocese on...
, Cardinal de Noailles, laid them under an interdict (1716–1729).
During his generalate the mission of Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
reached its highest degree of success; in one year no fewer than 77 missionaries left for it; the missionary labors of St. Francis de Geronimo
Francis de Geronimo
Saint Francis de Geronimo, also called Frances di Girolamo or - Hieronymo, or Francis Jerome was a Jesuit priest and missionary who was canonized by Gregory XVI in 1839. He was known for his sermons and the religious zeal that he inspired...
and Blessed Anthony Baldinucci
Anthony Baldinucci
Anthony Baldinucci was an Italian Jesuit priest and missionary, best known for his unusual methods of conducting missions.-Life:...
in Italy, and Venerable Manuel Padial in Spain, enhanced the reputation of the Society.
Tamburini died at the age of 82.