CASANATE, GIROLAMO

Cardinal, founder of Casanatense Library; b. Naples, Feb. 13, 1620; d. Rome, March 3, 1700. After law studies at the University of Naples, he began, under Innocent X, a long career in various ecclesiastical offices. From 1648 to 1658, he governed Sabina, Fabriano, Ancona, and Camerino; then he was inquisitor at Malta and after 1666 a consultor to several of the Congregations, including the Propagation of the Faith. He was assigned to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature and later was assessor of the Holy Office as well as secretary to the Congregation of Bishops and Religious, as it was then known.

In 1673 Casanate received the title of cardinal deacon and after his ordination in 1686, cardinal priest. Innocent XII bestowed on him the title Librarian of the Holy Church in 1693. Casanate is an example of the profound learning of his century. In dealing through his official capacities with the controversial issues of his day (including quietism, Gallican liberties, and foreign missions), he displayed remarkable knowledge. His library was renowned. By augmenting the private library inherited from his father with purchases, in some cases whole library collections from major European countries, and with his own scholarly papers, he left at his death a collection estimated at more than 25,000 volumes. The library was endowed and placed under the direction of the Dominicans at Santa Maria sopra Minerva. At that time it ranked second to the Vatican Library in size and value of manuscripts and volumes. It was one of the first libraries opened for general public use (1701). Its collection contained examples of both contemporary scholarship and early Latin and Greek works on the Church. A special papal dispensation allowed heretical works to be kept there for consultation by a theological faculty of six Dominicans chosen from England, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain, who were commissioned by the Casanate endowment to teach and to defend the faith with the writings of Thomas Aquinas. The library holdings were increased and catalogued in the 18th century. In the 19th century it was taken over by the state and today remains as state property.

Bibliography: m. d'angelo, Il Cardinale Girolamo Casante, 1620–1700 (Rome 1923).

[p. d. smith]