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The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

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CONVERTS FROM JUDAISM. 34<br />

any special place for <strong>the</strong> catechumens, preferring to place <strong>the</strong><br />

sons <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> converts ei<strong>the</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> houses <strong>of</strong> craftsmen or in<br />

seminaries.^<br />

Among <strong>the</strong> more notable Jewish converts mentioned above,<br />

whom <strong>the</strong> Pope baptized with his own hands, <strong>the</strong> place <strong>of</strong><br />

honour belongs to <strong>the</strong> seventy-year-old president <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> syna-<br />

gogue, Elias, and his three sons. <strong>The</strong>y received <strong>the</strong> sacrament<br />

with great solemnity, in <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cardinals, and a<br />

great crowd <strong>of</strong> people, including many Jews, in St. Peter's,<br />

on <strong>the</strong> third day <strong>of</strong> Pentecost, June 4th, 1566.'- " Moved by<br />

<strong>the</strong> great pity, goodness, and holiness which <strong>the</strong>y daily saw<br />

in <strong>the</strong> life <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pope," in August, 1566, twenty-six Jews,<br />

and twelve more in October, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same year, followed <strong>the</strong><br />

example <strong>of</strong> Elias. ^ In each case it was arranged that baptism<br />

should be conferred with great solemnity by a Cardinal.^<br />

Cod. Vatic, lat. 6792, i, 94 seq. contains an estimate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> *" In-<br />

trata tanto ordinaria quanto extraordinaria della casa di cate-<br />

comini " <strong>from</strong> January to April, 1568, Vatican Library.<br />

1 *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> May 28, 1569, Urb. 104 1, p. 84b, Vatican<br />

Library. An *Avviso <strong>of</strong> August 16, 1567 {ibid. 1040, p. 431b)<br />

speaks <strong>of</strong> 10 catechumens who wished to escape to Tiberias in<br />

order to return to Judaism. <strong>The</strong> Pope had <strong>the</strong>m arrested. *Arco,<br />

August 16, 1568, tells <strong>the</strong> same tale (State Archives, Vienna).<br />

- Laderchi, 1566, n. 108. *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> June 8, 1566,<br />

Urb. 1040, p. 135, Vatican Library. *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> June 8,<br />

1566, State Archives, Vienna. Description <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ceremonies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

baptism in Firmanus, Diarium, pubhshed in Rieger, IL, 423 seqq.<br />

^ *Avvisi di Roma <strong>of</strong> August 17 (<strong>the</strong> baptism is announced for<br />

<strong>the</strong> following day) and October 19, 1566, Urb. 1040, p. 274b,<br />

306b, Vatican Library. Baptism <strong>of</strong> a learned Jew :<br />

*ibid. 225,<br />

July 2C, 1566. " Arbitror " wrote Poggiani to Otto Truchsess on<br />

September 21, 1566, " hoc pontifice, amplius centum iudaeos<br />

homines lesu Christo nomen dedisse, et ex illis ditissimum et<br />

doctissimum quemque. Transeunt ad christianam religionem<br />

viri cum coniugibus et Uberis, neque urbani modo, sod pro-<br />

vinciates et externi." (Epist., IV., 121).<br />

4 *Avvisi di Roma <strong>of</strong> August 17 and October 19, 1566, loc. cit.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re was a case <strong>of</strong> a Jew who had himself baptized twice over,<br />

and was <strong>the</strong>refore burned (*Avviso <strong>of</strong> November 26, ^569, ibid.<br />

1041, p. T9ob, Vatican Librar>\

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