An introduction to Antonio Rosmini - Biography - Philosophy

156 Pages·2007·2.24 MB·English

SPECIAL EDITION
Witness
Number 22 November 2007
A journal for the
members and friends
of the Institute of
Charity
Blessed Antonio Rosmini
1797-1855
A Brief Life of Blessed Antonio Rosmini
Contents
A Brief Life of Blessed Antonio Rosmini
Introduction 4
Chapter 1 - Early Life & Studies 8
Chapter 2 - Vocation to the Priesthood 12
Chapter 3 - The Principle of “Passivity” 19
Chapter 4 - The founding of the Institute of Charity 22
Chapter 5 - At Rome: the blessing of Pope Pius VIII 29
Chapter 6 - Expansion and Formal Approval of the Institute of Charity 32
Chapter 7 - First Controversy 1840-1843 39
Chapter 8 - The Roman Mission 1848-1849 45
Chapter 9 - Further Persecutions and the Dimittantur 1850-1854 52
Chapter 10 - Rosmini’s holy death at Stresa, 1st July 1855 57
Rosmini Philosophy
Chapter 1 - The “Rosminian Question” 63
Chapter 2 - What are the main issues of philosophy today? 67
Chapter 3 - Is there an objective, universal Truth? 72
Chapter 4 - The Human Person 83
Chapter 5 - Person and Morality 94
Chapter 6 - Education 99
The Spirituality of Blessed Rosmini
Chapter 1 - Holiness (1st Maxim) 108
Chapter 2 - Love for the Church (2nd Maxim) 117
Chapter 3 - The Call to Serve the Church (3rd Maxim) 126
Chapter 4 - Divine Providence (4th Maxim) 140
Chapter 5 - Acknowledge our Nothingness (5th Maxim) 144
Chapter 6 - The Will of God in Daily Life (6th Maxim) 149
All editorial correspondence to:
Fr. A. Belsito, Rosmini Centre, 433 Fosse Way, Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake, Leicester,
LE7 4SJ – Tel. [phone]; e-mail: [email protected]
2
A Brief Life
of Blessed
Antonio
Rosmini
“It is holiness that makes
us dear to God”
Rosmini by Zuccoli, 1850
A Brief Life of Blessed Antonio Rosmini
Introduction
Blessed Antonio Rosmini died on (for the offering must not consist
1st July 1855, on the feast day of the in external words only) from the
Precious Blood of JESUS. Found on thought that the Father may accept
his bedside cabinet was a worn-out the offering of a sacrifice that he
booklet of personal prayers entitled, himself cannot consummate. If so,
“Jesu Christi Passio”, containing he should commend and abandon
some devotions to the Precious himself wholly into the hands of this
Blood of Jesus given to him by St. most loving Father…” (Const.762)
Magdalene of Canossa in the distant
1821. He had written on it, as a Few doubt that God accepted the
reminder to himself: sincere offering that Fr. Rosmini
made of himself to Him daily, for
“The Commemorations in honour of love of the Church and of humanity.
the most precious Blood of our Lord His “martyrdom” started in earnest,
Jesus Christ are to be recited daily, so continued for all his life, and was
that our own blood may be offered carried forward by his sons and
to the heavenly Father in union with daughters until very recently. Pope
that of Jesus”. John Paul II acknowledged the
“extraordinary trials” that afflicted
In the Constitutions, the foundation Fr. Rosmini, adding, “It was
book of the Institute of Charity through such trials that his holiness
and of the Sisters of Providence, Fr. was made perfect and he became a
Rosmini established this devotion as witness of how to love the Church,
proper to his sons and daughters: work for the Church, and suffer
for the good of the Church” (10
“The offering of our blood in November 1988).
union with the Blood of Jesus our
Redeemer is an act of piety for The Beatification of Fr. Rosmini
which we shall have a special love. is a great event for the Church: it
We desire this offering to be made is not only a public expression of
frequently. Each one should make the heroic virtues of the Servant
the offering with humility, fearful of God that make him a model to
and trembling on his own account, imitate and that allow the faithful to
but greatly comforted through his publicly venerate him, but it is also
hope of union with the Blood of a full acceptance by the Church of
Jesus, our God and Lord. He may his spirituality and charism, and a
suffer considerable apprehension solemn declaration that the spiritual
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A Brief Life of Blessed Antonio Rosmini
path traced by him is in accordance It was the late Bishop Riva who
with the Gospel and leads to Christ. wrote, when called to be a “peritus”
during the sessions of Vatican II,
Thus, the beatification of Fr. Rosmini “Many think that Antonio Rosmini
is both the closing of an era and has his place among the ranks of
the beginning of a new one. The great men. Whether this is true or
long, dark days of the “Rosminian not, it is certain that in following
Question”1 have been swept away the comments of the various
by the light shed by the Documents commissions of the Council one
of Vatican II and the subsequent becomes aware of the fundamental
statements from the Congregation harmony between the teaching of
for the Doctrine of the Faith, Rosmini and the numerous points
especially the “Nota” issued on 1st brought to light by the Fathers of
July 2001 by the will of John Paul the Council. Sometimes one could
II and with the signatures of the see in his teachings the reply to
Cardinals Joseph Ratzinger and problems occupying the Fathers in
Tarcisio Bertone: their discussion” (Riva, in Charitas
1965-1966)
“The reasons for anxiety and
doctrinal doubts that prompted Fr. Rosmini himself had anticipated
the promulgation of the decree the happy conclusion in the midst
“Post Obitum” – [condemning 40 of the storm, when he wrote to
propositions taken from works a friend, “This is my most firm
published mainly after Fr. Rosmini’s persuasion: the Church will examine
death] – are now to be considered all my writings, and not only she will
obsolete, since it is clear that what find my doctrines pure and sound,
was thought to be motivation for but she will contribute with her
doubts and difficulties does not judgment to make them even more
belong properly to the authentic useful to the public”; and again, “I
position of Rosmini”. will wait trustingly for the day when
the Lord will calm the wind and the
It has now become obvious to every sea. What beautiful and clear day I
unbiased Catholic philosopher or can see after the terrible storm”.
theologian that Fr. Rosmini’s vast
literary production not only does The beatification is also the
not contain anything which is not beginning of a new era. Fr. Rosmini
in perfect accordance with the is an extra-ordinary man, whose life
doctrines of the Church but that was lived fully in the light of truth
it actually makes a tremendous and the fire of charity. Popes Pius
contribution for a deeper and clearer VII, Pius VIII, Leo XII, Gregory XVI
understanding based on strong and had indicated to him personally as
solid philosophical and theological the will of God the double mission
principles. of restoring Catholic philosophy
and theology by writing books in
1 see page 63 5
A Brief Life of Blessed Antonio Rosmini
order to bring people to Christ by The beatification imposes once again
means of reason, and to establish the and with greater urgency on the
Institute of Charity (and the Sisters members of the Rosminian Family
of Providence) in order to increase the responsibility to make known
temporal, intellectual, spiritual to the world the holiness of life,
charity at the service of the Church the works of charity, teachings on
and of humanity. spirituality, theology, and philosophy
of their Founder. He is a man of
He fulfilled his mission dutifully and extreme relevance today who can
with great passion and zeal, until his shed significant light on many of the
death. He wrote over 100 books on problems that confront peoples and
philosophy and theology covering all cultures.
major aspects of particular sciences,
epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, John Paul II, only a few years ago,
philosophy of right, philosophy of reminded the Rosminians of their
education, politics, anthropology, fundamental mission: “As the
psychology, theodicy, supernatural Church prepares to enter the third
anthropology, theosophy, and many Christian Millennium, she regards
others. Taking his prompt from the evangelisation of culture a
his definition of philosophy as the vital part. You Rosminians have
“science of ultimate reasons”, his the specific mission to indicate the
investigation dealt with the ultimate path of freedom, of wisdom, and of
principles that are the source and truth, which is always the path of
origin of each dependent science, charity and of the Cross. This is your
deducting logically secondary religious and cultural vocation, no
principles and applications. less than it was the vocation of your
far-seeing Founder”.
His system of truth, characterised by
“unity” and “totality”2, constitutes This booklet is meant for the general
a most formidable system of public as a means of providing some
Christian philosophy not inferior basic information about the life
to the great systems produced and work of Fr. Rosmini. Although
by St. Augustine and St. Thomas detailed written material on Fr.
Aquinas, both revered by him as Rosmini is abundant and easily
his teachers and guides, with the available, many friends of the wider
advantage that he had acquired a Rosminian Family, in our Parishes,
most profound knowledge of all Colleges, and other works of charity,
modern philosophers as well, from often ask for a simpler, brief, but
Locke and Hume to Descartes, from accurate presentation of the life and
Kant and Fichte to Hegel, drawing teaching of Fr. Rosmini.
from them every scrap of truth but
criticising ruthlessly their deviations
from the truth.
 2 see page 153
A Brief Life of Blessed Antonio Rosmini
The major events of the life of Fr.
Rosmini will be examined with a
view of presenting the holiness of
the man the Church is giving us as
a model worthy of imitation. The
second section will endeavour to
present in a simple but relevant way
some of the main teachings of Fr.
Rosmini on Philosophy, Theology,
and Spirituality, avoiding as far as
possible complicated and abstract
language.
It may be appropriate to end
this introduction by quoting the
prophetic words of Pope Paul VI in
1972:
“Rosmini was a great man, too little
known today. He was a man of great
learning and wisdom… His thinking
and spirit ought to be made known
and imitated, and perhaps he himself
should be invoked as a protector in
heaven. We look forward eagerly to
the day when that will happen”.
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A Brief Life of Blessed Antonio Rosmini
Chapter 1
Early Life
and Studies³
“God gave me the grace to be
born on the Vigil of the feast of the
Annunciation”
Ro8smini, Sketch of a self portrait
A Brief Life of Blessed Antonio Rosmini
Antonio Rosmini was born His brother Giuseppe, one
at Rovereto, a small town in year younger, displayed instead
Trentino then part of the Austrian an awkward and difficult
Empire, on 24 March 1797. personality; he married at the
The Rosmini Family enjoyed age of forty, at the insistence of
great wealth and belonged to Antonio, but left no children. The
the nobility of the Empire. The last son of Pier Modesto, born
father, Pier Modesto, was an three years after Antonio and
upright, austere, and conservative called Felice, died during the first
man, faithful to Austria and with year of his life.
a keen interest in the affairs of
his town. The mother, Giovanna Antonio had the good fortune
dei Conti Formenti, was an of living a happy childhood,
amiable woman, discrete, warm, full of innocent fun, open to
educated, and with a keen eye for warm and lasting affections.
the administration of the family’s The Rosmini household, which
wealth; she looked after her included servants and tutors
children with wisdom and had loved and kept for life, was a
a lasting influence on Antonio. very traditional Catholic family,
“You have as mother the most where faith and devotions issued
gifted woman I know”, wrote to naturally and powerfully. The
him Tommaseo, a famous Italian centre of the great mansion was
writer and a life-long friend since the chapel, used daily for prayers
their days at the University of and meditation; and yet, Pier
Padua. Modesto was keen that the family
should take part fully in Parish
Antonio had a sister, Gioseffa activities and participate in the
Margherita, three years older social and cultural life of the
than himself, a dear friend and community of Rovereto, where
companion, sharing with him they enjoyed great prestige and
not only childhood games but, authority.
more importantly, spiritual and
Christian interests and ideals; she Above the altar of the chapel at
became a Canossian sister and home, there stood a beautiful
died at Verona in 1833, at the Crucifix painted by Antonio’s
age of 36, consumed by her love uncle Ambrogio, his father’s
for God and neighbour. On that bachelor brother who lived with
occasion, Rosmini wrote, “I did the family. Uncle Ambrogio
not think it possible for one to was a very learned man, gifted
experience such a great sorrow”. as a painter and architect,
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3 see page 153
A Brief Life of Blessed Antonio Rosmini
and passionate about culture to finish every book he started,
generally. He soon realised always took abundant notes, and
the extraordinary natural gifts never wasted a moment of his
of Antonio and encouraged time.
him from a very early age to
cultivate his highly inquisitive He thus became fully acquainted
mind and hunger for knowledge, with all the works of the Fathers
introducing him to the substantial of the Church, the history of the
collection of books in the family Roman Empire, the works of
library. Plato (in Latin), and all Italian
and Latin Classics. There is
By the age of five, with the help no doubt that by the age of 16
of his tutor, he had learnt to read Antonio had laid the foundations
and write, practising on the Bible, of an immense erudition, later
The Acts of the Martyrs, and The prompting his friend Manzoni,
Lives of Saints. the greatest Italian writer of
the 19th century and himself
Although it was common for a voracious reader, to say in
aristocratic families to have their admiration, “There seems to be no
children educated at home, Pier book that Rosmini has not read!”
Modesto insisted that his son
should attend the public schools Since Rovereto had no College
in Rovereto, to show his support for Further Education, the nearest
for the educational endeavours ones being either in Trento or
of the civic authorities. Antonio Verona, Pier Modesto and other
completed successfully the ten wealthy parents decided to set
years of his formal education, up a private class in Rovereto
revealing clear signs of precocious for the further education of their
extraordinary talents. children, under the direction of
the learned priest Pietro Orsi.
During the same period,
his immense attraction for Physics, Mathematics, and
knowledge found vast scope in Philosophy were the main
the rich library at home, where subjects and Antonio fell in love
he spent most of his time, reading at once with the new disciplines,
and researching, with the help of engaging in profound research
Uncle Ambrogio. Faithful to three and lively debates with his tutor
resolutions made when he was 11 and friends. He manifested a
years old, which he kept for the most intense love for Philosophy
rest of his life, he endeavoured which he defined to a friend
10