St. Cajetan, Priest

St. Cajetan, son of Count Gaspare da Theine, was born in Vicenza, northern Italy, in October 1480. He pursued law studies at the University of Padua, and after graduation went (1506) to Rome, where Pope Julius II had given him an appointment as prothonotary apostolic in the Roman Curia. In Rome he joined the Oratory of Divine Love, a group devoted to piety and charity, and helped at the San Giacomo hospital for incurables. He was ordained in 1516 and was back in Vicenza in 1518, engaged in charitable works. In 1520 he went to Venice and there founded (1522) a hospital for incurables. He returned (1523) to Rome and in 1524 he and three companions formed the Congregation of Clerks Regular, priests dedicated to work for the reform of society according to Christian principles. Their congregation is more commonly known today as the Theatines, a name derived from Theate, the Latin name for Chieti, the episcopal see of their first superior, Gianpietro Caraffa (later Pope Paul IV). They were active in Rome until the sack of the city in 1527, when they moved their headquarters to Venice. Later, in 1533, Cajetan became superior of a new foundation in Naples; he labored there until his death, except for the period (1540–43) when he was superior in Venice. While in Naples, he preached against the teachings of Juan de Valdés (c. 1490–1541) and Bernardino Ochino (1487–1564), both of whom had Protestant leanings and were then active in the city. Cajetan died in Naples on August 7, 1547, and he was canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671. When today’s prayer affirms that St. Cajetan imitated the apostolic way of life, this is in reference to his founding of a religious congregation intent on seeking the salvation of the neighbor.