RZCCI
33
RICCI
hie fame as a theologian. As a preacher Phihp III
of Spain named him "The Marvel", a sobriquet by
which he was known in Spain and at Rome till the
end of his life. On his removal to Rome in 1621, he
acquired the confidence of Urban VIII. He was made
regent of studies and professor of theology at the Col-
lege of the Minerva. In 1629 Urban VIII appointed
him Master of the Sacred Palace to succeed Niccold
Ridolphi, recently elected Master General of the
Dominicans. Shortly after this the same pontiff ap-
pointed him pontifical preacher. These two offices
he discharged with distinction. His extant works
number twenty. Besides several volumes of sermons
for Advent, Lent, and special occasions, his writings
treat of Scripture, theology, and history. One of his
best known works is the "History of the Council of
Trent" (Rome, 1627). His commentaries treat of
all the books of Scripture, and are notable for their
originality, clearness, and profound learning. Two
other commentaries treat of the Lord's Prayer and
the Canticle of Canticles.
Qu^TiF-EcHARD, SS. Otd. Proed., II, 503, 504.
John B. O'Connor.
Ricci, Lorenzo, General of the Society of Jesus, b. at Florence, 2 Aug., 1703; d. at the Castle of Sant' Angelo, Rome, 24 Nov., 1775. He belonged to one of the most ancient and illustrious families of Tuscany. He had two brothers, one of whom subsequently be- came canon of the cathedral and the other was raised by Francis I, Grand Duke of Tuscany, to the dignity of first syndic of the Grand duchy. Sent when very young to Prato to pursue his studies under the direc- tion of the Society of Jesus in the celebrated Cico- gnini college, he entered the society when he was scarcely fifteen, 16 Dec, 1718, at the novitiate of S. Andrea at Rome. Having made the usual course of philo.sophical and theological studies and twice de- fended with rare success public theses in these sub- jects, he was successively charged with teaching belles lettres and philosophy at Siena, and philosophy and theology at the Roman College, from which he was promoted to the foremost office of his order. Mean- while he was admitted to the profession of the four vows, 15 Aug., 1736. About 1751 his edifying and regular life, his discretion, gentleness, and simplicity caused him to be appointed to the important office of spiritual father, the duties of which he discharged to the satisfaction of all. In 1755 P'ather Luigi Centuri- one, who appreciated his eminent qualities, chose him as secretary of the society. Finally in the Nine- teenth Congregation he was elected general by unan- imous vote (21 Alay, 1758). It was at the most stormy and distressed period of its existence that the senate of the society placied its government and its destinies in the hands of a man, deeply virtuous and endowed with rare merit, but who was inexperienced in the art of governing and who had always lived apart from the world and diplomatic intrigues. The historiographer Julius Cordara, who lived near Ricci and seems to have known him intimately, deplored this choice: "Eun- dem tot inter iactationes ac fluctus cum aliquid prater morem audendum et malis inusitatis inusitata remedia adhibenda videbantur, propter ipsam nature placiditatem et nulla unquam causa incalescentem animum, minus aptum arbitrabar" (On account of his placid nature and too even temper, I regarded him as little suited for a time when disturbance and storm seem to require extraordinary application of unusual remedies to unusual evils). (Denkwiirdigkeiten der Jesuiten, p. 19.) On the other hand it must be ad- mitted that the new general did not have much leeway.
In his first interview with Clement XIII, who had assumed the tiara 6 July, 1758, and always showed himself deeply attached to the Jesuits, the p)ope counselled him: "Silentium, patientiam et preces; cetera sibi curaj fore" (Cordara, op. cit., 22). "The XIII.— 3
Lorenzo Ricci
saintly superior followed this line of conduct to the
letter and incessantly inculcated it in his subordinates.
The seven encyclical letters which he addressed to
them in the fifteen years of his generalship all breathe
the sweetest and tenderest piety and zeal for their
religious perfection. "Preces vestras", he says in the
last, that of 21 Feb., 1773, "animate omni pietatis
exercitio accurate fervideque obeundo, mutua inter
vosmetipsos caritate, obedientia et observantia erga
eos qui vobis Dei loco sunt, tolerantia laborum,
serumnarum, paupertatis, contumeliarum, sec(>ssu et
solitudine, prudentia et evangelica in agendo sim-
plicitate, boni exempli operibus, piisque colloquiis"
(Let your prayers
be inspired by every practice of piety, with mutual charity among your- selves, obedience and respect for those who hold the place of God in your regard, en- durance of labour, of hardships, of poverty, of insult in retreat ami solitude, with pru- dence and evan- gelical simplicity of conduct, the example of good works, and pious conversation). (Epistola; pra>positorum generalium S.J., II, Ghent, 1847, 306). This pious and profoundly upright man was nevertheless not wanting on occasion in courage and firmness. When it was suggested to save the French provinces of his order by giving them a superior entirely independent of the general of Rome, he refused thus to transgress the constitutions com- mitted to his care and uttered to the pope the ever famous saj'ing: "Sint ut sunt aut non sint" (Leave them Jis they are or not at all). (Cordara, op. cit., 35). Unfortunately he placed all his confidence in his assistant for Italy, Father Timoni, of Greek origin, "vir quippe pra'fidens sibi, iudiciique sui plus niniio tenax" (Idem, op. cit., 20), who, like many others expected the society to be saved by a miracle of Provi- dence. When, to the mass of pamphlets aimed against the Jesuits, the Portuguese episcopate brought the reinforcement of pastoral letters, a number of bishops wrote to the pope letters vyhich were very eulogistic of the Society of Jesus and its Institute, and Clement XIII hastened to send a copy to Father Ricci. It was a brilliant apologia for the ord(;r. Cordara and many of his brethren considered it ex- pedient to publish this correspondence in full with the sole title: "Indicium Ecclesise universa; de statu praesenti Societatis lesu" (op. cit., 26). Timoni, who fancied that no one would dare any thing against the Jesuits of Portugal, was of a contrary opinion, and the general was won over to his way of thinking.
Disaster followed disaster, and Ricci experienced the. most serious material difficulties in assisting the members who were expelled from every country. At his instance, and perhaps even with his collabora- tion, Clement XIII, solicitous for the fate of the Society, published 7 January, 1765, the Bull "Apos- tolicam pascendi", which was a cogent defence of the Institute and its members (Masson, "Le cardinal de Bernis depuis son ministere", 80). But even the pontiff's intervention could not stay the devastating torrent. After the suppression of the Jesuits in Naples and the Duchy of Parma, the ambassadors of France, Spain, and Portugal went (Jan., 1769)
