Bibliothecae.it (Jun 2019)
The Gaetano Cicognani Library in Faenza. An ongoing research between history, books and papers
Abstract
The Gaetano Cicognani Library in Faenza is linked to the life of its Seminary which, in 1953, after the hard years of the Second World War, was definitively moved to its present location by Bishop Giuseppe Battaglia. Also in the case of Faenza, the study of the historical and cultural events that characterize the institution and the life of the seminary brings new pieces to the wider picture not only of the religious and cultural history, but also of the political and social history of the territory in which it arose. In the project of the new seminar pursued by Battaglia the construction of the annexed library occupied a prominent place and from the very beginning could count on the support and commitment of Cardinal Gaetano Cicognani (1881-1962) who, at the time, had been together to his brother Amleto Giovanni, a student from the Faenza seminary to whom, despite diplomatic and curial commitments, they maintained constant attention and concern. Gaetano Cicognani took charge of the library in all aspects, with particular attention to enriching constantly the book heritage in which flowed also the texts belonging to the cardinal’s personal library and part of his eloquent and not yet studied testimonials, of his activity of apostolic nuncio in crucial years and nations such as Austria of the years 1936-38 or Spain of the period 1938-53, and of his involvement in the preparatory works of the Vatican Council II. After the cardinal’s death in 1962, “his” library continued to expand, recording a considerable increase in its assets. It has gradually become a gathering point for religious and monastic funds belonging to convents and religious settlements closed or transferred to other offices and libraries of diocesan priests.
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