Barnabites Founded, 1533

The sixteenth century saw a plethora of new religious communities like the Jesuits and the Oratorians, along with the reform of several others, such as the Capuchin Franciscans and St. Teresa of Avila’s Discalced Carmelites. Today marks the founding of the Barnabites in 1533 by St. Antonio Maria Zaccaria (seen here). It’s often assumed that these communities were founded to combat Protestantism, but they were actually part of a much larger reform movement that long predated Luther. This was certainly the case for St. Antonio, whose work with lay groups in Milan was the formative experience in his life.

St. Antonio envisioned a threefold community of priests, women religious, and married couples. He adopted a collegial system of government for his religious. The first group formed were the priests, the Clerics Regular of St. Paul. They became known as Barnabites for the Church of St. Barnabas in Milan, where their motherhouse was located. In 1536 the women’s community followed, known as the Angelics of St. Paul. The married group consisted of lay collaborators in the apostolate, still a relatively new idea in religious life. Today there are five hundred Barnabites working in seventeen countries around the world running parishes, missions, and schools.