Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 11.djvu/748

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PERIODICAL
684
PERIODICAL

when the influence of a Catholic Press was urgently needed, its freedom was continually hampered by all sorts of petty vexations. Papers that had been sup- pressed reappeared under other names. This per- secution is explained either by the sectarian spirit of those in power, or by the impression then prevailing that the Catholic party was the declared enemy of the new Government. Thus there appeared at Bologna in 1861 the "Eco delle Romagne" substituted for the "Osservatore Bolognese", which in turn was sup- pressed in 1863 and succeeded by the "Patriotto Cat- tolico", followed again by the "Conservatore” (1868), and by the "Unione" (1878). A similar fate befell the "Osservatore Lombardo" of Brescia (1862-63). The "Difensore" of Modena was similarly treated and suppressed in 1867; and the year following Mgr Ba- lan founded the "Diritto Cattolico", still published. In Florence the "Contemporaneo" succeeded to the Corriere Toscano". In Venice the "Veneto Catto- lico" appeared in 1866, and in 1867 assumed the name of "Difesa", which still survives. The "Osservatore Cattolico" was founded at Milan in 1864, and was entrusted to the editorship of Don Albertario. This journal undertook the refutation of the Rosminian doctrines, and was a faithful advocate of the papal policy. At this period religious papers were founded in other cities of Italy: the "Libertà", at Locarno (1866); the "Voce Cattolica" (1866); the "Gazzetta di Mondovì" (1868); the "Libertà Cattolica" of Naples (1867); the "Sicilia Cattolica" of Palermo (1868); the "Genio Cattolico" of Reggio Emilia (1869).

Meanwhile Pius IX felt the need at Rome of a politico-religious organ for the support of his own programme, for the refutation of pernicious doctrines, and to serve as a medium of official communication to the Catholic world. This was realized by the foun- dation of the "Correspondance de Rome", and the Acta Sanctæ Sedis" (1865). The chief principles of the "Correspondance" were the support of the Holy See and opposition to the Liberal Catholics and Opportunists. In 1870 this paper was moved to Geneva by Mgr Mermillod, where it altered its title to "Correspondance de Genève". It then became an instrument of Blome in his vigorous campaign against Bismarck, especially during the Kulturkampf. This paper supported the intransigent party favoured by the pope, though it failed to obtain the sympathy of Cardinal Antonelli. At the death of Pius IX the con- dition of Catholic journals was very favourable. They were perhaps inferior to the papers of their opponents in form, but were unrivalled as to the ability of their writers and the vigour and intelligence of their po- lemics. Among these the "Unità Cattolica" was espe- cially distinguished.

The year 1870 beheld a revival of governmental and sectarian opposition to Catholic journals, which, how- ever, increased in number despite the hostility mani- fested toward them. This was particularly the case with those papers of periodical issue. Thus in Rome in this year was founded the "Voce della Verità" (which ceased in 1904); the "Eco del Litorale" at Gorizia; the " Amico del Popolo", at Lucca (1872); the "Discussione", at Naples (1873); the "Verona Fedele", at Verona; the "Cittadino" at Genoa (1873); at Turin the "Corriere Nazionale" (1873), which in 1894 was fused with the "Italia Reale", and was founded after the transfer to Florence of the "Unità Cattolica"; at Venice the "Berico" (1876); at Udine the "Cittadino Italiano" (1878); at Perugia the "Paese" (1876); at Treviso the "Vita del Popolo", etc.

Leo XIII also realized the need of a papal journal through which he could communicate with the foreign press, and he consequently created the "Journal de Rome"; this paper did not fulfil his expectations, so it was succeeded by the "Moniteur de Rome" (1881-

95). The most prominent developments of Italian journalism of the last few years are the union of the "Osservatore Cattolico" of Milan with the "Lega Lombarda" (founded in 1884), which two papers were fused as the "Unione". Another event in Italian journalism was the foundation of the "Momento" at Turin, and the alliance formed by the "Corriere d'Italia" (1905, originally called "Giornale di Roma") the "Corriere della Sicilia" (Palermo). The "Corre- with the "Avvenire d'Italia" of Bologna and with spondance de Rome", founded in 1907 with the title the paper of the same name under Pius IX. Like its Corrispondenza Romana", has a scope similar to prototype, though not official in character, it is an echo of the Vatican.

Before we consult the actual statisties of the Cath- olic press of Italy it may be well to survey the history of that class of Catholic periodicals which comprises literature and erudition to the exclusion of politics. "Giornale arcadico" of Rome (1819-68), revived in Among these periodicals, we may mention first the 1888 with the title "Arcadia", and in 1898 reassum- (1833); the "Album" (1834), illustrated and treating ing its former title. Then came the "Tiberino" largely of the biographies of contemporaneous men; the "Rivista" (1831), devoted to the theatre; the "Giornale Ecclesiastico" (1825), a periodical devoted to canon law, in 1835 issued again as the "Annali delle scienze religiose", directed by Mgr Antonio de Luca and recognized as the organ of the Academy of the Catholic Religion. In 1865 de Rossi founded the the "Nuovo Bullettino" ete. In Modena, to the la- "Bullettino di Archeologia Cristiana", reappearing as bours of Veratti already mentioned were added the "Memorie di Religione"; the "Opuscoli religiosi, let- he founded there a collection of "Letture amene ed terari e morali"; the "Strenne filologiche"; in 1858 oneste". Under the title of "Letture Cattoliche" and similar titles, periodicals existed in various cities, Padua, Naples, Genoa, Turin (this last founded by Don Bosco), etc.

Among the periodicals of an earlier date we must cite the "Giornale scientifico letterario" and the "Rivista di scienze, lettere e arti". Strictly religious periodicals, such as "Settimane Religiose", etc. were printed in many cities, often for the benefit of some sanctuary or in behalf of some pious work. The "Donna e la Famiglia" (Genoa, 1862), which had a (Genoa, 1879); the "Missione del la Donna" (Sciacca, fashion supplement; the "Consigliere delle Famiglie" 1875), were published for circulation in families. At the present time we should name especially the "Pro Familia" (Bergamo, splendidly illustrated). In many cities (Turin, Genoa, Massa Carrara, etc.) papers especially to the peasants. For education and the were published for workmen; others were devoted Italiana Moderna" (Milan, 1893) and the "Vittorino cause of Christian schools were founded the "Scuola da Feltre" (Feltre, 1890). The "Museo delle Mis- liche" (Milan); the "Missioni francescane in Pales- sioni Cattoliche” (Turin, 1857); the "Missioni catto- tina" (Rome); the "Oriente Serafico" (Assisi, 1889); of this kind indicate their subject-matter by their "Gerusalemme" (Genoa, 1877) and other bulletins Sanseverino, the celebrated philosopher of Naples, titles. With the periodical "La Scienza e la Fede" assisted by Signoriello and by d'Amelio, carried on a propaganda for the philosophy and theology of St. Thomas.

The periodical "Scienza Italiana", founded in 1814 by the Jesuit Cornoldi and the physician Venturini, had a similar scope. After the encyclical "Æterni Patris" various other periodicals of this kind ap- peared, such as the "Eco di S. Tommaso d'Aquino" (Parma, 1879); "Divus Thomas" (Piacenza, 1880); the "Favilla" (Palermo); finally the "Rivista Neo- tomistica" was founded at Florence (1910). The