Apostolini, or Apostles

Apostolini, or Apostles an order of monks, who most probably took their origin in the 15th century at Genoa, where the convent of St. Roche belonged to them. It seems that there were many hermits who congregated at Genoa about that time, who, on account of the apostolical life which they professed to lead, and their having assumed St. Barnabas, the apostle, as their patron, took the designation of Apostolini, or "Fathers of St. Barnabas." At first the members of the order were laymen, and bound by no vow; but Pope Alexander VI obliged them to the vow, and to live under the rule of St. Augustine, in 1496. Their dress consisted of a gown and scapulary, over which they wore a cloak of gray cloth, with a little hood. They afterward united with the monks of St. Ambrose ad Nemus, then dissolved the connection, then were reunited by Sixtus V, and finally both were suppressed by Innocent X in 1650. — Helyot, Ord. Monast. t.. 4; Landon, Eccles. Dictionary, 1, 455.