Jesuates

Jesuates a monastic order, so called because its members frequently pronounced the name of Jesus. The founders were John of Colombini, gonfaloniere, and Francis Mino Vincentini of Sienna. This institution was confirmed by Urban V in the year 1368, and continued till the seventeenth century, when it was suppressed by Clement IX. The persons belonging to it professed poverty, and adhered to the institute of Augustine. They were not, however, admitted to holy orders, but professed to assist the poor with their prayers and other offices, and prepared medicine for them, which they distributed gratuitously: we find them, for that reason, called sometimes Apostolic Clerks. They were also known as the Congregation of Saint Hieronymus, their patron. Having become largely interested in the distillery of brandies, etc., they were by the people called Padri dell aqua vitoe. A female order of the same name, and a branch of the male order, was founded by Catharina Colombina. They still continue to exist in Italy as a branch organization of the Augustinian order. See Herzog, Real-Encyklop. s.v.; Farrar, Ecclesiast. Dict. p. 340; Helyot, Geschichte d. Koster und Ritterorden, 3, 484 sq.

⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.