The Oblates of Saints Ambrose and Charles (Latin: ''Congregatio Oblatorum Sanctorum Ambrosii et Caroli'') is an Ambrosian association of lay people and

secular clergy In Christianity, the term secular clergy refers to deacons and priests who are not monastics or otherwise members of religious life. A secular priest (sometimes known as a diocesan priest) is a priest who commits themselves to a certain geogra ...

in the

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan The Archdiocese of Milan ( it, Arcidiocesi di Milano; la, Archidioecesis Mediolanensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Italy which covers the areas of Milan, Monza, Lecco and Varese. It has lo ...

. Its members use the suffix 'O.SS.C.A'. It was originally based in San Sepolcro, Milan, but in 1928 moved to its present base on via Settala. P. Calliari, ''Oblati dei Santi Ambrogio e Carlo'', in ''Dizionario degli istituti di perfezione'', vol. VI,

Milano Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city has ...

, Edizioni paoline, 1980, coll. 647-652. Their spirituality does not belong to any particular school, but has strong elements of the

Ignatian Ignatius of Loyola, S.J. (born Íñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola; eu, Ignazio Loiolakoa; es, Ignacio de Loyola; la, Ignatius de Loyola; – 31 July 1556), venerated as Saint Ignatius of Loyola, was a Spanish Catholic priest and theologian, ...

- part of their charism is to maintain a spirituality whose marks are belonging to the diocesan clergy, obedience to the bishop and safeguarding elements of the

Ambrosian Rite The Ambrosian Rite is a Catholic Western liturgical rite, named after Saint Ambrose, a bishop of Milan in the fourth century, which differs from the Roman Rite. It is used by some five million Catholics in the greater part of the Archdiocese o ...

History

It was founded as the Oblates of St Ambrose in

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

in 1578 by archbishop

Carlo Borromeo Charles Borromeo ( it, Carlo Borromeo; la, Carolus Borromeus; 2 October 1538 – 3 November 1584) was the Archbishop of Milan from 1564 to 1584 and a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was a leading figure of the Counter-Reformation combat ...

, inspired by the

Oratorians An Oratorian is a member of one of the following religious orders: * Oratory of Saint Philip Neri (Roman Catholic), who use the postnominal letters C.O. * Oratory of Jesus (Roman Catholic) * Oratory of the Good Shepherd (Anglican) * Teologisk Orator ...

, although he had begun preparing for the establishment of the association as early as 1570. Its initial members were diocesan priests who made a vow of particular obedience to their bishop and of stability (ie to stay in the institution), but no vow of poverty and no vow to live in community. This formed a body of well-trained and willing volunteer

oblate In Christianity (especially in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Methodist traditions), an oblate is a person who is specifically dedicated to God or to God's service. Oblates are individuals, either laypersons or clergy, normally livi ...

s who the bishop could use for emergencies and other difficult tasks, principally heading seminaries and carrying out popular missionary preaching. Its constitutions were elaborations on those of

Agostino Valier Agostino Valier (7 April 1531 – 24 May 1606), also Augustinus Valerius or Valerio, was an Italian cardinal and bishop of Verona. He was a reforming bishop, putting into effect the decisions of the Council of Trent by means of administrative and ...

and the

Barnabite , image = Barnabites.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = One version of the Barnabite logo. "P.A." refers to Paul the Apostle and the three hills symbolize the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. , a ...

Carlo Bascapè Carlo is a given name. It is an Italian form of Charles. It can refer to: *Carlo (name) *Monte Carlo *Carlingford, New South Wales, a suburb in north-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia *A satirical song written by Dafydd Iwan about Prince Char ...

, then

bishop of Novara The Diocese of Novara ( la, Dioecesis Novariensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vercelli.Filippo Neri Philip Romolo Neri ( ; it, italics=no, Filippo Romolo Neri, ; 22 July 151526 May 1595), known as the "Second Apostle of Rome", after Saint Peter, was an Italian priest noted for founding a society of secular clergy called the Congregation of t ...

and

Felice da Cantalice Felix of Cantalice, O.F.M. Cap. ( it, Felice da Cantalice; 18 May 1515 – 18 May 1587) was an Italian Capuchin friar of the 16th century. Canonized by Pope Clement XI in 1712, he was the first Capuchin friar to be named a saint. Life Felix wa ...

, the oblates' rule was promulgated on 13 September 1581. It was renamed in 1611 by cardinal

Federigo Borromeo Federico Borromeo (18 August 1564 – 21 September 1631) was an Italian cardinal and Archbishop of Milan, a prominent figure of Counter-Reformation Italy. Early life Federico Borromeo was born in Milan as the second son of Giulio Cesare Borro ...

, who added Carlo Borromeo's name to its title.

Napoleon I Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

suppressed it in 1810 and after his fall cardinal

Carlo Gaetano Gaisruck Karl Kajetan von Gaisruck (Italian: Carlo Gaetano (di) Gaisruck) (1769 – 1846) was an Austrian Cardinal and the archbishop of Milan from 1816 to 1846. He also held the title of ''Graf'' or Count. Early life Gaisruck was born on 7 August 1769 ...

opposed reviving it. It took until 1854 for the oblates to be restored by archbishop Carlo Bartolomeo Romilli.

Structure

The Congregation is now organised into four groups or 'families' *missionary oblates of Rho (17 members in 1980) - set up in 1714 by

Giorgio Maria Martinelli Giorgio may refer to: * Castel Giorgio, ''comune'' in Umbria, Italy * Giorgio (name), an Italian given name and surname * Giorgio Moroder, or Giorgio, Italian record producer ** ''Giorgio'' (album), an album by Giorgio Moroder * "Giorgio" (son ...

; specifically dedicated to preaching spiritual exercises, retreats and popular missions; has included cardinals

Angelo Ramazzotti Angelo Francesco Ramazzotti (3 August 1800 – 24 September 1861) was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Patriarch of Venice. He established the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions in 1850. Ramazzotti had served as the Bis ...

and

Eugenio Tosi Eugenio Tosi (6 May 1864 – 7 January 1929) was an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Milan from 1922 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1922. Biography Early life Tosi was born in Busto ...

and archbishop

Ernesto Maria Piovella Ernesto Maria Piovella O.SS.C.A. (29 October 1867, Milan - 18 February 1949, Cagliari) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and bishop. Life He entered the oblate missionaries of Rho and served as vicar general at Ravenna. Pope Pius X made him ...

*vicar oblates (24 members in 1980) - founded in 1875 to fill vacant parishes; approved on 24 January 1908 by

Andrea Carlo Ferrari Andrea Ferrari (13 August 1850 – 2 February 1921) – later adopting the middle name "Carlo" – was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate who served as a cardinal and as the Archbishop of Milan from 1894 until his death. Ferrari was a well-re ...

, who added the secondary purpose of managing shrines in the diocese *diocesan oblates (largest group; around 160 members in 1980) - office priests, mostly stable posts in the diocese such as parish priests and teachers; put in charge of diocesan seminaries and colleges by cardinal

Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster OSB (, ; 18 January 1880 – 30 August 1954), born Alfredo Ludovico Schuster, was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate and professed member from the Benedictines who served as the Archbishop of Milan from 1929 until his ...

in 1931; reformed by archbishop Giovan Battista Montini in 1956 *lay oblates or 'oblatini' (around 60 members in 1980) - founded in 1932 by archbishop Schuster; take temporary vows of chastity and obedience; originally intended for administration, nursing and technical roles in seminaries and diocesan institutes; joined the diocese's missionary work after the

Second Vatican Council The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the , or , was the 21st Catholic ecumenical councils, ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church. The council met in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome for four periods (or sessions) ...

; based in

Seveso Seveso (; lmo, label= Lombard, Séves ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Province of Monza and Brianza, in the Region of Lombardy. The economy of the town has traditionally been based on the furniture industry. Its name comes from the river of ...

References

{{Authority control Catholic orders and societies 1578 establishments Christianity in Milan Charles Borromeo