Pietas Romana et Parisiensis, or, A faithful relation of the several sorts of charitable and pious works eminent in the cities of Rome and Paris the one taken out of the book written by Theodorus Amydenus ; the other out of that by Mr. Carr.

CHAP. III. Of the many Monasteries in Rome of Re∣ligious men and women, reciting the ca∣nonical hours, and offering up other Hymns and Lauds to God night and day: and the Priests at due times celebrating the Holy Mass.

OF Monks in Italy there be twelve Congre∣gations, which commonly are called Gaudentes, because their Institute permits them to enjoy a yearly Revenue. These are distin∣guished by some title, taken either from their Founder, or from the place where they first founded. And each sort of them have their several, and very fair, Monasteries in Rome.

[Of these enjoying Lands and Rents the Author numbers twenty eight Convents in the City of Rome.

Of Mendicants, whose institute permits them to enjoy no yearly Revenue, the Author num∣bers to be in Rome Convents in all fifty one.]

The Institution of those Societies are various; Some taking the three Vows of 1. Poverty [i. e. none having any Propriety, but all their means in common] and 2. Obedience to the commands of a Superior [i. e. in all things lawful] and 3. of Chastity or Celibacy.

Others living together without taking

such vows, and at liberty to relinquish the Society when they please, only obliged during their stay to obey and conform to the orders thereof. Some keeping a solemn Quire for celebrating the divine Service; others, hin∣dred by several charitable offices to their neigh∣bour, omitting it, and performing their De∣votions apart.

The chief ends also and designs of their In∣stitution are different. Some more dedica∣ted to retirement, continual Mortifications as to the pleasures and contents of this life [i. e. so far as health permits it] in sleep, diet, clothes, bed, lodging, company, discourse &c. (the way to be weaned from all affection to any thing in this world) accustoming themselves to night-watching, solitude, abstinence from pleasant meat, or drink, frequent fasting, si∣lence, clausure, not receiving visits from kin∣dred or freinds, hair-cloth, hard lodging, nar∣row cells, and spending most of their time ei∣ther in the publick praises of God by night and day in the Quire, or in private Prayer or contemplation in their cells. Others more designing an active life, and the abounding in various works of Charity toward their neigh∣bour, whose purposes and employments are such as these. For studying Divinity in or∣der to the confutation and conversion of He∣reticks. For hearing Confessions, Preach∣ing, and administring the Sacraments, being assistant herein to the Secular Clergy and Parish Priests, where these wanting their help. Or,

For assisting the Bishop also in his govern∣ment, and being sent and employed where the necessities of his Diocess or Province seem to require it: taking onely a single vow of Obedi∣ence [i. e. in licitis] to him, as the Oblates of St. Ambrose founded by St. Carolo Borromeo. Again; For directing men in making their Spiritual Exercises, and in all cases that con∣cern their Conscience, as to good or evil. For giving Spiritual Exercises to such as de∣sire Ordination into the Priesthood, and in∣structing them in the duties and ceremonies of their office. For the Education of youth in sound Doctrine and Christian Piety, and in humane Learning, and the Sciences in order thereto. For reading Divinity to those young Students that are designed for the Clergy. For expounding the Catechisme or Chri∣stian Doctrine to the more ignorant, to Chil∣dren, to the poor. For Missions to forlorn Villages, and places full of ignorance and de∣stitute of Spiritual Instructors, but this with the Bishops Licence: Or Missions also into re∣moter Countries for converting Infidels and Heathens to the Catholick Faith. For the Education of Forreign youths, who after being well instructed in the Catholick Religion, may return into their own Countries Heathen, or Heretical, for the same Service. For the Redemption of Captives. For the govern∣ing of Hospitals; or tending on the sick there; or also tending on those labouring under in∣fectious diseases. For assisting, when called

for, the Agonizants, such as are dying; and preparing them for a happy end. For com∣pounding and preparing several sorts of Medi∣cines for the sick. Lastly, For being the Superintendents and Overseers of the Chari∣ties and Benefactions of others of what kind soever they be, Colleges, Seminaries, Hospi∣tals, Schools, &c. persons so qualified as they are [i. e. single and under a Vow of Poverty and Obedience or of enjoying in this world only necessaries, and for unity in all their busi∣ness, steered by the commands of a prudent Superior] being the fittest for any such trusts.

These among others are the Designs and Work of so many Religious Societies. And thus are they diligently labouring, some more chiefly in one of these employments, some in another, as their Founders and Constitutions variously direct and distinguish them: which employments are here promiscuously put to∣gether and set down, because it would be too tedious to distribute and apply them to the particular Institutions.

And in all these Convents and Religious Houses, the Canonical hours and other Hymns and Lauds are dayly sung both night and day, unless it be among those who pro∣fessedly and according to their Institute are so imployed in some other work, that they cannot attend both; solemn Mass also cele∣brated, and on Festivals added the Musick of the Organ, unless it be in the reformed Con∣vents; for they neither use Organ nor sing∣ing,

but recite Lauds and Hymns to God in their Churches, according to the canonical hours, in somewhat an higher but unison tone. And by these we see that the City of Rome hath so many Centinels and Watchmen, that whensoever our Lord shall come, he may not find her sleeping.

Besides these of Men, there are also other Religious Houses of Women: some with, and some also without, clausure, that the more may be attracted to such an holy and retired life. These also are accurate observers of di∣scipline, and most conspicuous for holiness of life, some eating no flesh at all, and observing a perpetual Fast; and after they have taken the habit, being never seen again by any per∣son living out of the Monastery, no not by the nearest of their kindred; using no beds, but instead thereof sacks of Straw or bare Boards; not wearing any linnen. Never quitting their Habit, tho very course, day nor night, but in it watching and sleeping [yet nothing more in these mortifications is permitted to be done than what is ordinarily found to consist with health; and a relaxation thereof made in case of sickness]. Some of these Religious are of Virgins; some onely of Non-Virgins. Of the first of these there are in Rome houses thirty one, and three of the other.

One of honest Widows, who, destitute of any of their kindred with whom they may live, have here a kind of Asylum, and safe place of refuge.

Another of such as have been loose wo∣men, and now are become Penitents, and do deliberate on a better course.

The third is that famous Nunnery of St. Mary Magdalen, in Viâ latâ, for Harlots that have left off that miserable course of life, and now are known by the usual name of Convertitae.

In all these Nunneries, besides the particular Prayers that are made to God for all Christian people, they sing likewise their continual hours, as they are prescribed by the Church, night and day, with no less devotion and de∣cency then is used in the Convents of the men. The rest of their time, vacant from Prayers, is spent in band-labour, spinning, or other womans work; the gain thereof is to be be∣stowed on the necessities of the house, or in Charity to the Poor abroad.