Colombini, San Giovanni

Colombini, San Giovanni a noted Italian ecclesiastic, was a member of a distinguished family in Sienna, and a magistrate there. It is said that one day, being obliged to wait for his repast, his wife gave him as a means of diversion the Lives of the Saints to read. This so impressed him that he resigned his civil office, proceeded to distribute a great part of his goods to the poor, turned his house into a hospital, and collected a number of disciples, who received from the people the name Jesuates, because they often spoke the name of Jesus in a loud voice. Urban V approved this novel institution, under the order of St. Augustine. These Jesuates were originally laymen, and applied themselves to the preparation of medicaments, but in 1606 they received permission to take sacred orders. They were suppressed in 1669 by Clement IX. Colombini died July 31, 1367. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog.. Generale, s.v.