Barnabites

Barnabites, a congregation of regular canons of St Paul, founded at Milan in 1530, and sanctioned by Pope Clement VII. two years later. They were so called because the church of St Barnabas in that city was granted them to preach in. Their special duties were—to attend the sick, to preach, to instruct the young, and to take the charge of souls. They soon established themselves in Italy, France, Austria, and Spain, and enjoyed the privilege of teaching theology in the schools of Milan and Pavia. Many eminent men have been sent forth by them. Besides the three usual monastic vows, they took a fourth—not to sue for church preferments. In France and Austria they were employed in the conversion of Protestants. They have now only about twenty monasteries in Italy and Austria, with their chief house at Rome. They were expelled from France in 1880.