Villa Borghese, Roma

Our speaker will be Professor Mark Weil, Ph.D. Chairman of the Department of Art History and Archaeology at Washington University. His subject will be La Roma di Bernini - La Nuova Roma Papale, a timely topic given the current celebration of the 400th anniversary of Bernini's birth in December 1598 as well as a good preparation for the Pope's coming visit since Bernini was not only a sculptor but also papal architect from the 1620s until his death in 1680.

Next Meeting: Sep 16, 1998 -- Cocktails 6:30, Dinner 7:00
DaBaldo's Restaurant -- RSVP 644-1645 (Marie Wehrle)

Italian persona. Father Viviano, whose family roots are in St. Louis and who holds a Ph.D. from Duke University, began his talk by asking what people perceive as typically Italian "characteristics? In effect, what is the Italian stereotype and how do people think Italians should be or act?

He then described the lives of three "Italians", Francis, Catherine, and Thomas, who, although they lived long before the nation of Italy existed other than as a geographical entity, shared a common Italian heritage and yet lived lives that were extremely diverse in character. In his presentation, Father Viviano challenged the notion that saints, especially these three Italian ones, live stereotypical lives thereby questioning as well the notion of stereotypical Italian behavior in general.

These three saints, by their energy, their radicalism, their daring, and their depth, shatter stereotypes and broaden our image of what it means "to be an Italian". They show us an Italy of ethnic diversity, spiritual and intellectual depth, of reform and renewal which contradicts notions of habitual inertia, corruption, quarreling, divisiveness, and intellectual laziness and timidity. Francis, Catherine, and Thomas reveal an Italy which both reaches for and achieves the heights. They were all poets, artists, scholars, and peace makers. Yet their overall greatness consists especially in their combination of union with God and action in the world.

Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

Yet there was a serious, even a radical, side as well to this man, who stressed the recovery of some of the central values of the gospel of Jesus; poverty, simplicity, joy, passionate love of the cross, humility, minority, and fraternity. He inaugurated a renewal movement that produced many saints and scholars such as St. Bonaventure, Roger Bacon, Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham.

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Thomas' life certainly broke the Italian "stereotype" as well as presenting a picture much different than that of Francis. He was more sober and science-oriented and much less rhetorical, poetic, and "mystical". When Thomas began to teach, theology was dominated by a neo-Platonic Augustinian philosophy, individualistic and other-worldly, and not in contact with the world of nature.

A man of great intellectual courage, Thomas' greatest achievement was to recreate philosophy and theology on the basis of Aristotle rather than on Plato and to break with the currently prevalent Avicennist interpretation of Augustine based on inadequate Latin translations of Aristotle from Sicily and Spain which Thomas believed were incompatible with the Christian faith.

Thomas commissioned new and more accurate translations and wrote lengthy commentaries on them, freeing them from Averroistic bias but also making concessions as applicable. He distinguished carefully between faith and reason. Faith and reason are not identical but not contradictory with faith going beyond but not against reason. They are both part of a single truth.

The work of Thomas earned him the hatred of the older generation of theologians and laid him open to a charge of heresy. After his death, he was twice condemned by the Archbishops of Paris and Canterbury, but the charges were annulled by his canonization and elevation to Doctor of the Church. When the news of his death at Fassanova reached Paris, the old theologians rejoiced but the lay intellectuals, including artists, arts students, philosophers, lawyers, and scientists wept. They knew that Thomas had spent his life for them and his work would keep them in the Church until at least the time of the Protestant Reformation.

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)

In her short life of 33 years , this very young woman accomplished a number of amazing achievements. For example, from the diplomatic perspective, she was instrumental in bringing about the end of the 69 years of the "Babylonian captivity", where the Papacy was under the control of the French crown at Avignon and succeeded in bringing the Pope back to Rome as well as being instrumental in the reformation of the papacy. She was also successful in establishing a peace treaty between Florence and Rome. She was the creator and leader of the Florentine Dominicans which such people as St. Antoninus, Savanarola, Fra Angelico, and Fra Bartolomeo.

Catherine was a healer of the sick, nursed Tour of Ne victims of the plague, went to the hospitals to care for people with leprosy and cancer, and visited the prisons and accompanied many to their execution. She was a mystic and received the Stigmata (as had St. Francis) and named a Doctor of the Church. Perhaps the best example of the stature in which this 33 year old woman was held in her time was that she was named the spiritual director of seven Carthusian monasteries around Siena. This was unheard of because canon law forbid women to enter Carthusian houses - however, in Catherine's case, it was permitted because it was held that "Prophets are above canon law".

In addition to serving as Secretary, she was the computer wiz who produced La Rondine each month, a volunteer for every club activity, and a terrific la befana at the Christmas Party.

We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to her Mary Jo for all of her hard work, wonderful ideas, warm smile, and gentle good humor. Mille grazie, buona fortuna e tanti auguri

Professor Franco Fido will speak on Goldoni and eighteenth-century Venetian culture. The lecture will be in English and all members of the Italian Club are enthusiastically invited. If you would like additional information or Campus directions call Gene Mariani

Angelo has worked hard for the Italian Community for many years and this honor is richly deserved

• 1. Boil the potatoes with their skins on, peel them when done, and slice thin.
• 2. Snap both ends from the green beans, wash them in cold water, and cook in salted water until tender - not overcooked but not too hard either. Drain and set aside.
• 3. Cook spaghetti or fettuccine for six. When draining the pasta, hold back some of its cooking water and add 2 table spoons of it to the pesto.
• 4. Toss the cooked, drained pasta with the potatoes, green beans, and pesto and serve immediately.