A Universal Language: Jesuit Catechism at San Vitale in Seventeenth-Century Rome

Abstract This article examines a significant yet overlooked example of Jesuit catechism initiated in 1607 in San Vitale, within the Roman novitiate, for the local multinational, impoverished community. Despite its importance, scholars have largely neglected both this activity and its impact on the liturgical space. Drawing on unpublished manuscripts and iconographic sources, this study reconstructs the catechism’s purpose, structure, and reception, with particular attention to the uniqueness of its sound. Conducted by novices of various nationalities, it represents the first known example of systematic Jesuit teaching of Christian doctrine in multiple languages by native speakers. The missionary vocation of this exercise is reflected in San Vitale’s iconographic program, forging strong connections between sacred space, images, and teaching. The catechism provides a unique case for understanding the material, sensory, and emotional dimensions of Jesuit instruction for the uneducated in early modern Italy.