Roman Libraries

Experience teaches us that environments matter! Beautiful and serene surroundings enhance our well-being and increase productivity. Silent retreats in pastoral settings focus our minds and elevate our senses. Memories become crystal clear, emotions stabilize and we enter into a happy place. Modern firms spend enormous amounts of money creating work environments that will inspire their employees. Each time I visit the gorgeous campuses of Oxford, Cambridge, Trinity, Princeton and Stanford, I reflect on whether my life would have changed if I attended one of these institutions. We will never know for certain, but I am quite confident I would have pursued my studies with more vigour if I was surrounded by the overwhelming beauty and compelling history of these universities. Think of the pressure – no way you could let the place down by making only an average effort. I am convinced we think longer, harder and smarter when surrounded by an atmosphere that soothes the soul.

Now I have a mission! Amalia and I are blessed to be in Rome this fall. She is pursuing fluency in Italian with language immersion classes. I am refining my guest lectures for the John Felice Loyola University Rome Center, preparing for a Human Rights Symposium in Poland and committing to regular blog postings. Where is the ideal spot to write and think in the Eternal City? Our apartment is comfortable, but does it meet my “serenity” standards. My thoughts originally focused museums and then my attention turned to libraries. Bingo! Rome boasts many of the most spectacular and storied libraries in the world. The good news is that many are open to the public. I visited several of the libraries identified my research, was greeted warmly by the staff and eventually was authorized access to the reading rooms at three of these premier institutions.

My primary option is Biblioteca Casatense. This library is on Via de San Ignacio 52, adjacent to Saint Ignatius Church and only two blocks from our apartment. A photo is attached to this narrative. This library has a long and distinguished history. It was the brainchild of Cardinal Giorlano Casanate –a senior Catholic prelate who built an impressive private library from 1620 to 1700. He was a heavy hitter and a close friend and advisor to Pope Innocent and Pope Clement. When he died, his will directed that his 20,000 volume collection was to be the foundation for a public library in central Rome. He appointed a senior Dominican priest, Antonin Cloche as its first Director. It was mandated that clerics from six different European orders serve on the Board. The library officially opened in 1701. It opened to the public six days a week. The original collection had over 2000 books published before 1500, literally hot off the original Gutenberg printing presses. There were 230 Hebrew texts and 64 Greek codices. It was one of the only libraries in Europe that accepted volumes from authors who been classified as “heretics” by the Pope l. A early bastion of freethinkers, Renaissance style! With the creation of the Italian Republic in 1870 and the collapse of the Papal States, the church lost ownership of this library. The government appointed the Dominicans to run the operation for another 15 years, but it then reverted to the national government. It is now managed by the Italian Ministry of Culture. The collection has grown to 400,000 volumes. Similar to many historical Roman landmarks, major repairs are proceeding on the library structure. However the primary reading room is open, has a capacity of 24 and provides a wonderful home for my research and writing. I make my reservations online thru a very professional and user friendly system.

All good, but this is an intimidating milieu for for a 69 year-old retired American lawyer who originally developed his love for books by visiting the Chicago Public Library “Mobile“ outposts e.g. trucks or vans that visited our neighbourhood once a week. Now, I must measure up to the standards of a Renaissance library with a founding charter stating it's purpose is to defend Catholic doctrine in the face of Protestant Reformation. Wow - an additional clause emphasises the importance of perpetuating the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas and his seminal work “Summa Theologica.” I accept the challenge!

I hope this magnificent setting will inspire a more intellectual and spiritual tone to my writings. I also plan to visit Biblioteca Angelica and Biblioteca Vallicelliana - two other august institutions that have granted me access rights during our stay.