Giovanni Maria Gabrielli
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Maria Gabrielli (January 10, 1654 - September 17, 1711) was an Italian Catholic Church's cardinal
.
He was born at Città di Castello
, in the Papal States
, to an impoverished branch of an old and influential family
from nearby Gubbio
.
He moved at a young age to Rome
, where he entered the Cistercian Order in the monastery of Santa Pudenziana
and became a monk
.
He started an academic career, and taught philosophy
and theology
in a number of Cistercian houses of study for twenty years, in Italy
, France
and Spain
. He was widely considered an eminent theologian and received by Pope Innocent XI (1676–1689) several offers of promotion to the episcopate, which he all declined. He rather chose to pursue Holy Inquisition offices and was assigned the leadership of many cases. In 1690 he was appointed Abbot
of the monastery
of San Bernardo alle Terme
in Rome by Alexander VIII (1689–1691), and in 1699 Abbot general of the Cistercians by Innocent XII.
During the reign of Innocent XII (1691–1700) Giovanni Maria Gabrielli's Curial career further progressed, and he served as Qualificator of the Holy Office and Prefect of Studies of the Urbanian College of Propaganda Fide in Rome. To this period dates his most famous Inquisition case, the one against François Fénelon
, whose work Explication des Maximes des Saints had been accused of being sympathetic to Quietism. Amidst the turmoil of what was regarded as a political intrigue rather than a theological case, cardinal Gabrielli staunchly defended Fénelon's viewpoints and established with him an epistular friendship that lasted until his death. Recalling his ancestor Cante de' Gabrielli
's infamous actions, it was said of him that "while one Gabrielli has condemned Dante
and Petrarch
, another one has defended Fénelon".
The Pope, who also privately supported Fénelon's opinion, hold Gabrielli in great esteem and created him cardinal priest in the consistory of November 14, 1699; in a letter to the Abbé de Chanterac, Fénelon's agent in Rome, Gabrielli acknowledged that this appointment was in fact largely due to his role in the affaire des Maximes. A few months later, on February 3, 1700, he received the red hat and the title of S. Pudenziana, the church annexed to the monastery where he had studied in his youth. A few months later the Pope died and the newly-elected cardinal participated in the conclave which elected Pope Clement XI. From 1709 to 1710 he held the largely honorific title of Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
.
As Abbot general of the Cistercians, he chose the monastery of San Sebastiano fuori le mura
, near Rome, as his residence. He restored the complex and built there a new library. A passionate rose
-grower and breeder, he designed and laid out a celebrated formal Italianate garden of which today only fragments survive.
He died on September 17, 1711, at the Villa Farnese
at Caprarola
, near Viterbo
. According to his will, his corpse was buried in the church of San Bernardo alle Terme, his internal organs in that of Santa Pudenziana and his heart in the beloved basilica of San Sebastiano fuori le mura. Three tombstones were erected in each of the churches and a marble bust was placed in San Sebastiano, to whose monks he had bequeathed his estate.
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
.
He was born at Città di Castello
Città di Castello
Città di Castello is a city and comune in the province of Perugia, in the northern part of the Umbria region of Italy. It is situated on a slope of the Apennines, on the flood plain of the river Tiber. The city is north of Perugia and south of Cesena on the S3bis. It is connected to the A1...
, in the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
, to an impoverished branch of an old and influential family
Gabrielli
220px|right|The Gabrielli Madonna, by Mello da Gubbio. Gubbio, Pinacoteca Civica.Giovanni Gabrielli, lord of Gubbio, is introduced to the Blessed Virgin Mary by a group of Saints...
from nearby Gubbio
Gubbio
Gubbio is a town and comune in the far northeastern part of the Italian province of Perugia . It is located on the lowest slope of Mt. Ingino, a small mountain of the Apennines. See also Mount Ingino Christmas Tree.-History:...
.
He moved at a young age to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he entered the Cistercian Order in the monastery of Santa Pudenziana
Santa Pudenziana
The basilica of Santa Pudenziana is a 4th century church in Rome, dedicated to Saint Pudentiana, sister of Saint Praxedis and daughter of Saint Pudens. It is the national church of the Philippines....
and became a monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
.
He started an academic career, and taught philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in a number of Cistercian houses of study for twenty years, in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He was widely considered an eminent theologian and received by Pope Innocent XI (1676–1689) several offers of promotion to the episcopate, which he all declined. He rather chose to pursue Holy Inquisition offices and was assigned the leadership of many cases. In 1690 he was appointed Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of San Bernardo alle Terme
San Bernardo alle Terme
San Bernardo alle Terme is a basilica church in Rome, Italy.The church was built in 1598 and was initially given to a French Cistercian group, the Feuillants, through the intercession of Caterina Sforza di Santafiora. Later, after Feuillants disgregation during the French Revolution, the edifice...
in Rome by Alexander VIII (1689–1691), and in 1699 Abbot general of the Cistercians by Innocent XII.
During the reign of Innocent XII (1691–1700) Giovanni Maria Gabrielli's Curial career further progressed, and he served as Qualificator of the Holy Office and Prefect of Studies of the Urbanian College of Propaganda Fide in Rome. To this period dates his most famous Inquisition case, the one against François Fénelon
François Fénelon
François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, more commonly known as François Fénelon , was a French Roman Catholic archbishop, theologian, poet and writer...
, whose work Explication des Maximes des Saints had been accused of being sympathetic to Quietism. Amidst the turmoil of what was regarded as a political intrigue rather than a theological case, cardinal Gabrielli staunchly defended Fénelon's viewpoints and established with him an epistular friendship that lasted until his death. Recalling his ancestor Cante de' Gabrielli
Cante de' Gabrielli
Cante de' Gabrielli da Gubbio was an Italian nobleman and condottiero.-Biography:Cante was born in Gubbio to a powerful Guelph feudal family. He held several high offices as Podestà in a number of cities in Tuscany and Umbria and was lord of Gubbio, Cantiano and other castles...
's infamous actions, it was said of him that "while one Gabrielli has condemned Dante
DANTE
Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe is a not-for-profit organisation that plans, builds and operates the international networks that interconnect the various national research and education networks in Europe and surrounding regions...
and Petrarch
Petrarch
Francesco Petrarca , known in English as Petrarch, was an Italian scholar, poet and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch is often called the "Father of Humanism"...
, another one has defended Fénelon".
The Pope, who also privately supported Fénelon's opinion, hold Gabrielli in great esteem and created him cardinal priest in the consistory of November 14, 1699; in a letter to the Abbé de Chanterac, Fénelon's agent in Rome, Gabrielli acknowledged that this appointment was in fact largely due to his role in the affaire des Maximes. A few months later, on February 3, 1700, he received the red hat and the title of S. Pudenziana, the church annexed to the monastery where he had studied in his youth. A few months later the Pope died and the newly-elected cardinal participated in the conclave which elected Pope Clement XI. From 1709 to 1710 he held the largely honorific title of Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
The Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals was the treasurer of that body.He administered all property, fees, funds and revenue belonging to the College of Cardinals, celebrated the requiem Mass for a deceased cardinal and was charged with the registry of the Acta Consistoralia.It is...
.
As Abbot general of the Cistercians, he chose the monastery of San Sebastiano fuori le mura
San Sebastiano fuori le mura
San Sebastiano fuori le mura , or San Sebastiano ad Catacumbas , is a basilica in Rome, central Italy...
, near Rome, as his residence. He restored the complex and built there a new library. A passionate rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
-grower and breeder, he designed and laid out a celebrated formal Italianate garden of which today only fragments survive.
He died on September 17, 1711, at the Villa Farnese
Villa Farnese
The Villa Farnese, also known as Villa Caprarola, is a mansion in the town of Caprarola in the province of Viterbo, Northern Lazio, Italy, approximately 50 kilometres north-west of Rome...
at Caprarola
Caprarola
Caprarola is a town and comune in the province of Viterbo, in the Lazio region of central Italy. The village is situated in a range of volcanic hills known as the Cimini Mounts....
, near Viterbo
Viterbo
See also Viterbo, Texas and Viterbo UniversityViterbo is an ancient city and comune in the Lazio region of central Italy, the capital of the province of Viterbo. It is approximately 80 driving / 80 walking kilometers north of GRA on the Via Cassia, and it is surrounded by the Monti Cimini and...
. According to his will, his corpse was buried in the church of San Bernardo alle Terme, his internal organs in that of Santa Pudenziana and his heart in the beloved basilica of San Sebastiano fuori le mura. Three tombstones were erected in each of the churches and a marble bust was placed in San Sebastiano, to whose monks he had bequeathed his estate.