Early Modern Italian Confraternities: Inclusion and Exclusion

Abstract

no abstract

The Public Face of Post‐Tridentine Italian Confraternities

“…These activities were doubtless driven by a personal consideration of possible salvation through good works; while during the closing period of Trent and after, Jesuits and Oratorians among others advising some confraternities, strongly advocated work in hospitals, prisons, and refuges for the salvation of the soul of both giver and recipient. 15 But this pursuit of good works and the salvation of souls could lead confraternities to be quite intrusive into the public sphere, as when institutions like the Bolognese Archconfraternity and hospital of Santa Maria Della Vita checked on the needs and qualities of females seeking dowries, or refuge, and others seeking alms; or decided on which prisoners they might save from execution. Confraternities wore a public face (well masked) when escorting condemned prisoners to their execution (after previously seeking their confession and contrition, and comforting them), or when accompanying a priest taking the Sacrament to the sick and dying, a practice also spread through rural areas in the post-tridentine period.…”