Contarini

Contarini , ancient Venetian family, including eight doges, a cardinal, and several artists. The most celebrated member was Andrea Contarini, 1300?-1382. He was doge (1368-82) at the time of the War of Chioggia between Venice and Genoa; he proved his patriotism by melting his gold and silver plate and mortgaging his lands to raise money for the state.

Contarini, Gasparo (1483–1542), cardinal. An adherent of the New Learning, he became famous as a theologian. Though only a layman, he was made a cardinal in 1535. In 1536 he was put on a commission which was to prepare the way for the Council (of Trent) and at the Conference of Ratisbon (1541) he took an active part in this last attempt to secure union with the Lutherans. His mystical experience of 1511 antedated M. Luther's famous Turmerlebnis by several years.

Contarini, Gasparo (1483–1542). Christian cardinal, who led those proposing reform of the Church to Pope Paul III. By 1511, he had already come to the conclusion that humans are justified by faith, not works, and this conclusion enabled him to view Protestant claims with sympathy. He was papal legate to the Regensburg Colloquy (1541), where Protestants and Roman Catholics sought terms on which to reunify the Church. Both sides rejected his proposal of double justification. He died a year later as papal governor of Bologna.