Giovanni Colombini managed a successful career as a merchant in 14th-century Siena before abandoning his status and assets to initiate a new religious congregation. Born in 1304 into a patrician family, his professional life initially focused on commerce before his later transition into the formation of a widespread, albeit eventually suppressed, institutional organization within the Catholic Church.
Transition from Commerce to Asceticism
Before dedicating his life to religious activities, Colombini operated as an Italian merchant and served multiple terms as a gonfalonier in Siena. His shift away from business began following a period of personal reflection triggered by reading a biography of Mary of Egypt. Upon undergoing a conversion, he began tending to the sick and distributing his wealth to the needy. He eventually liquidated his entire fortune, allocating portions to endow a hospital and two separate cloisters, while providing his wife with a life-annuity.
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Colombini moved into a life of poverty, accompanied by his friend Francisco Mini and several members of local patrician families who also renounced their goods. This group faced initial hostility from the Sienese public, leading to his temporary banishment from the city, during which he traveled to Arezzo, Pisa, and Città di Castello. By 1367, he successfully petitioned Pope Urban V for official recognition. A commission led by Cardinal William Sudre, Bishop of Marseilles, reviewed the group and cleared them of any affiliation with the Fraticelli, allowing the official foundation of the Congregation of Jesuati.
Institutional Structure and Suppression
The congregation derived its popular name from the frequent use of the phrase Praise be to Jesus Christ. They adopted a distinctive dress code, consisting of a white soutan, a white four-cornered hood, and a dun-colored mantle, all secured by a leathern girdle. Their daily life involved prayer, mortification, caring for the sick, and burying the dead. Colombini appointed Mini as his successor before dying in 1367 at Abbadia San Salvatore. While the order initially flourished, it was suppressed in 1668 by Pope Clement IX.
Fast facts
- Born: 1304, Siena
- Died: 31 July 1367, Abbadia San Salvatore
- Occupation: Merchant
- Religious Affiliation: Catholic Church
- Founder: Congregation of Jesuati
- Successor: Francisco Mini
- Feast Day: 31 July
Questions readers ask
Was Giovanni Colombini associated with the Jesuit order?
No, he founded the Congregation of Jesuati, which is distinct from the Society of Jesus established by Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century.
Why was the order suppressed?
Pope Clement IX suppressed the congregation in 1668, citing that it provided little advantage to the Church, though some scholars attribute the move to conflicts regarding Galilean theories.
