Persecuted by his spiritual sons, Saint Joseph Calasanz and his work were the target of mistrust, slander, and attacks by malicious authorities.
Newsroom(08/29/10:50) Gaudium Press Joseph Calasanz was born on September 11, 1556, in Aragon. He founded the Pious Schools—or the Piarists—a work that bore rapid and abundant fruit, for which it was approved on November 18, 1621, by Pope Gregory XV. Its main mission was to provide a dignified education for children.
The Piarists had nothing to fear, however…
Nevertheless, in 1625 Pope Urban VIII decreed an Apostolic Visitation of all Religious Orders. The Piarists had nothing to fear, however… the report of a disciple who disagreed with the founder changed the picture. Father Ottonelli had grudges against his spiritual father and, like a new Judas, presented distorted and out-of-context accusations to the Vatican, such as: “they use silk and gold ornaments in churches, which is against the constitutions; [the founder] does everything himself, like an absolute prince, as if his subjects and even his companions or assistants were his slaves…”
Of the 335 places visited on that occasion, only the Pious Schools suffered intervention. The problems found—or that were said to have been found—although quite generic, they were enough.
Thus began the mass persecution
The worst blow suffered by Saint Joseph Calasanz came from his own sons: a certain priest wrote a memorial against his founder, saying that urgent measures were needed for the Piarists: “The most effective remedy: that the Pope appoint an Apostolic Commissioner to apply these remedies with full authority, governing the Order for a time until it is consolidated.” St. Joseph responded to this memorial, but it seems that he was writing to the wind, because a year later, from the same small group, another series of even more violent and slanderous memorials emerged.
Who made the accusations? What were the charges?
Another Piarist, Fr. Mario Sozzi, in the manner of organized crime, bribed false witnesses to defame St. Joseph Calasanz in the worst possible way.
From then on, a series of Apostolic Visitations and interventions by the Vatican began for the Piarists. What was the charge that initiated this procedure? Everything indicates that it is a common practice, for which they give no reason, clue, or special problems. In the case of the Piarists, they said: “May the observance of regular discipline be preserved and what has fallen be restored.” The Apostolic Visit, of course, dismissed St. Joseph Calasanz.
However, God has his just reward for everyone. Father Mario Sozzi, in that same year, at the age of only 35, died of a terrible illness, a result of his dubious moral life…
Malicious authorities
The Vatican’s interventions ended with drastic measures: on March 17, 1646, the decree signed by Pope Innocent X was read in front of the Piarists and St. Joseph Calasanz, the founder. After reading the papal text, amid the frozen silence that reigned, the Saint, at the age of ninety, repeated the words of Job: “The Lord gave it to us, the Lord took it away. Blessed be His name.”
Saint Joseph Calasanz and the Piarists had no experience and suffered at the hands of malicious people who, unfortunately, held authority. May the men of today learn from the mistakes of the past and not be discouraged by the evil intentions of those who clothe themselves with authority without having received it from above.
By Alison Batista
Compiled by Teresa Joseph
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