Luigi Michele de Palma

The birth of the journal «Chiesa e Storia» (2011) represents a new chapter in the life and
activity of the Italian Association of Professors of Church History. The new journal overlooks the historiographical panorama, enriching the Italian side of the publicity dedicated to scientific research on the History of the Church and Christianity. The journal reflects the contribution of the Association, characterized by methodological discipline combined with freedom of investigation on themes, topics and time periods, without preclusions, respecting the plurality of interpretations and the loyalty of the debate and dialogue between scholars. The journal also offers a critical and informative service on study initiatives and bibliographical innovations.

SCHOLASTIC EDUCATIONAL HERITAGE: THE HISTORIAL
ARCHIVE OF THE PONTIFICAL LATERAN UNIVERSITY. The recent organisation and inventorying of the Archives of the Pontifical Lateran University has enabled the exploration of a vast documentary heritage concerning the life and activities of one of the best known and oldest ecclesiastical universities in Rome. The collection of documents preserved attests to the steadfast dynamism and reforms that have successively taken place in the various faculties as a result of changes to theological studies ordered by Popes and introduced within academic organisations and study programmes. It has also allowed a review to be made of the international student population together with the composition of teaching staff, as well as a reconstruction of the educational characteristics of numerous teaching methods.

The presence of women in the structures of the Hospitaller and Military Orders led to the consecration of women dedicated to the exercise of charity and to a constant commitment to the life of cloistered prayer. However, the male Orders did not adopt a pre-established policy regulating the consecration of women, but each time prepared a
regulation ordering entry into female communities and life within them. The sorores remained, however, excluded from military activity. This practice emerges from the examination of the constitutions of three monasteries of Giovannite: Florence, Penne and Seville. Of the Florentine community we know the constitutions drawn up between
1395 and 1404, as well as those of 1588, the constitutions of the monastery of Penne date back to 1525 and those of Seville to 1526, with additions in 1561. Their comparison with other contemporary constitutions of female communities allows us to deepen our knowledge of the norms dictated for the life of consecrated women from the late Middle Ages to the years following the Council of Trent.

The documentation relating to the apostolic visitation ordered by Pius X to Italian dioceses and seminaries (1903-1914) is a significant source for understanding the conditions of the local Churches and their components in the society of the early twentieth century. The pope wanted to be aware of them in the perspective of an initiative of ecclesial reform and re-christianization of the country. The records of the visits, moreover, provide useful information on the local Churches, formulated by external observers, and at the same time represent diagnoses and propose therapies. The essay continues the investigation previously undertaken on the Churches of Apulia and dwells in particular on the bishops of Taranto, Oria and Castellaneta, as well as on the consequences of the visits made with their effects on the episcopate.

The history of the Italian churches, chapels and clergy was closed in early 1986 by a decree of the President of the Republic, which, among other things, entrusted the Military Ordinariate with the spiritual assistance of the Head of State. Their history had seen in pre-unification Italy, especially during the modern age, an efflorescence of varied events and experiences, which poured into the context of the unified Kingdom and followed the political fortunes of the Crown. The apostolic visit ordered by Pius X to the Italian dioceses and seminaries (1903-1914) also included the churches, the Chapters and the Palatine clergy and, in particular, the Chapters of St. Barbara in Mantua, St. Nicholas in Bari, St. Michael in Monte Sant'Angelo and the archpriests of Acquaviva delle Fonti and Altamura. The report of the apostolic visit (1907) to the palatine territories of Puglia offers a mirror of their condition before the Concordat of 1929 and the Convention of 1939, which led to significant changes in the structure of the churches and the canonical chapters connected to them.

Jean-Baptist le Marinier de Cany (1645-1689), friar knight of the Order of Malta, is the author of a “summa” on Johannite’s spirituality. From this “summa” had come a series of similar works – written almost entirely within the Order – which had permeated the centuries of the Modern Age. Le Reflexions di le Marinier are still unpublished, both in the original French version and in the coeval Italian translation. The transcription of the indexes – in the two languages – shows how the work was articulated, as well as its contents and covered topics.

Up to the 6th century, the life of the Ancient Church witnessed the evolution of an cclesial discipline, the fruit of several controversies, regarding those who, converted to Christianity, asked to receive Baptism. At the same time, persecutions brought about the emergence of various cases of apostasy and drew the attention of Community leaders to the problem of the reconciliation of those who had denied the faith. This resulted in the obsession of a penitential discipline, not always consistent or shared, which highlighted contrasts and divisions as it was judged either too rigid or overly indulgent. However, even after the Constantinian peace and the passage into the Medieval Age, it involved  further development with regard to ecclesial practice, because, while being coherent, it in fact proved not to be so feasible in dispensing mercy and forgiveness to encourage reconciliation of the penitents.

Il titolo dialettale dello studio significa "custodire come la testa di San Corrado". La reliquia del cranio di San Corrado (1105-1126), Patrono di Molfetta (Bari) è considerata il tesoro più prezioso posseduto dalla Cattedrale della città pugliese. Il saggio ricostruisce la biografia del Santo monaco cistercense, rampollo della nobile famiglia tedesca dei Welfen e contemporaneo di San Bernardo di Clairvaux, partito pellegrino per la Terra Santa, morto in Puglia e venerato a Molfetta. Segue la storia del culto delle sue reliquie, e in particolare del cranio, prendendo anche in esame le numerose ricognizioni effettuate nel corso dei secoli.

La spiritualità giovannita sta godendo, di recente, un crescente interesse soprattutto fra i membri dell’Ordine e, nello stesso tempo, incomincia ad attirare l’attenzione anche degli studiosi. D’altra parte, trascurare la dimensione propriamente spirituale della storia antica e recente dell’Ospedale di San Giovanni significa giungere ad una comprensione parziale del suo essere una “Religione”, cioè un ordine religioso. Il saggio puntualizza i tratti essenziali e attuali della spiritualità giovannita e ne spiega le origini storiche, gli sviluppi e le trasformazioni, per giungere, poi, ad individuare i caratteri odierni di una evoluzione secolare – rimasta unica nel suo genere ospedaliero e militare –  tuttora vissuta e proposta come itinerario di santificazione personale.