The Guastallines are members of the College of Guastalla, a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

congregation for women, founded in Milan.

History

The widowed

Ludovica Torelli Ludovica Torelli (26 September 1500 – 28 October 1569) was ruling Countess of Guastalla in 1522–1539. A philanthropist, she was instrumental in the founding of two religious institutes for woman: the Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul and the "Col ...

, Countess of

Guastalla Guastalla ( Guastallese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Geography Guastalla is situated in the Po Valley, and lies on the banks of the Po River. Guastalla is located at around from the citie ...

, resolved to devote her life to works of charity. The

County of Guastalla The County of Guastalla was a feudal state in northern Italy, centered on Guastalla. The title of count was created in 1406 for Guido Torelli. The Torelli family ruled Guastalla until 1539 when it was purchased by Ferrante Gonzaga. Another bran ...

, which she had inherited from her father, was laid claim to by another branch of the family, and the affair carried before

Pope Clement VIII Pope Clement VIII ( la, Clemens VIII; it, Clemente VIII; 24 February 1536 – 3 March 1605), born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 2 February 1592 to his death in March 1605. Born ...

and

Emperor Charles V Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain ( Castile and Aragon) fr ...

, whereupon she settled the matter by selling her estates to

Ferrante Gonzaga Ferrante I Gonzaga (also Ferdinando I Gonzaga; 28 January 1507 – 15 November 1557) was an Italian condottiero, a member of the House of Gonzaga and the founder of the branch of the Gonzaga of Guastalla. Biography He was born in Mantua, th ...

, thereby also increasing her resources for the religious foundations she had in mind.Rudge, F.M. "Guastallines." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 23 September 2022

''Collegio della Guastalla''

The ''Collegio della Guastalla'' is one of the oldest European educational institutions, founded in Milan in 1557 by Paola Ludovica Torelli, Countess of Guastalla. In 1536, Torelli established the Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul, a congregation of women to assist the Barnabite fathers in the missions. With other Angelicals she accompanied the

Barnabites , 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 ...

, working among women, and the sick. When

Pope Paul IV Pope Paul IV, born Gian Pietro Carafa, C.R. ( la, Paulus IV; it, Paolo IV; 28 June 1476 – 18 August 1559) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 23 May 1555 to his death in August 1559. While serving as pap ...

imposed the rule of cloister on the Angelicals, whom their foundress had destined for works of active charity, particularly the care of the sick and orphans, in 1557 she instituted another community, also at Milan, for whom she built a house between the Roman and the Tosa gate, known as the Collegio della Guastalla. Like the Angelicals, they were under the direction of the Barnabites. The members, known as Daughters of Mary, dedicated themselves to the care of orphans of noble families, eighteen being provided for in the endowment. The orphans, appointed by prominent Milanese, who eventually became administrators of the institute, could remain for twelve years, after which they were free either to return to the world, or remain as religious, receiving in the former instance a dowry of 2000 lire. After the death of the foundress,

Pope Urban VIII Pope Urban VIII ( la, Urbanus VIII; it, Urbano VIII; baptised 5 April 1568 – 29 July 1644), born Maffeo Vincenzo Barberini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 August 1623 to his death in July 1644. As po ...

, at the instance of St. Charles Borromeo, enclosed the community. The sisters lived as religious, observing definite hours for prayer, silence, and work, but took no

solemn vows A solemn vow is a certain vow ("a deliberate and free promise made to God about a possible and better good") taken by an individual during or after novitiate in a Catholic religious institute. It is solemn insofar as the Church recognizes it a ...

. From 1938 the College moved to San Fruttuoso di Monza, placing its headquarters in Villa Barbò Pallavicini, a prestigious neoclassical building with a large park, a patrician residence built in 1815. Then used as a farmhouse, it underwent extensive renovations. Furnishings, paintings, and historical archives were transferred from Milan. The foundress' remains were brought from the Church of San Fedele to the new chapel.Valli, Elena. "La Contessa di Guastalla - Scopriamo la Storia di Ludovica Torell", Castelli del Ducato
/ref> The institution has adapted over time to changing educational needs. Today, after nearly five centuries, the College of Guastalla welcomes student of all grades, from the two-year nursery program to high school."La Storia", Collegio Guastalla
/ref> The original palace, built near the Naviglio canal, which at the time flowed in Via Francesco Sforza, was equipped with a large park: this is today the "Giardino della Guastalla", the oldest park in Milan.

References

External links

Collegio Fuastalla website
{{portal bar, Catholicism, History, Italy Catholic female orders and societies Charles Borromeo