Giovanni Colombini

Giovanni Colombini was an Italian merchant, and founder of the Congregation of Jesuati. He was born at Siena into an old and influential patrician family, and devoted himself to commerce. He was successful, both in commerce and in politics, and was elected for several times to the high office of gonfalonier.

In 1355 Colombini had a religious experience that led him to divide his wealth with his wife, give his own share to charity, and dedicate his life to doing penance and serving the sick and the poor. His actions aroused the hostility of some members of the Sienese nobility, who forced him into exile in 1360. Colombini and his followers wandered through Italy visiting Arezzo, Citta di Castello, Pisa, Lucca, and Florence until they returned to Siena in 1364 to tend the victims of the plague. Pope Urban V (1362 – 1370) gave his consent to the foundation of their congregation named Congregation of Jesuati. The congregation flourished during the 15th and 16th centuries but was suppressed by Clement IX (1667 – 1669) in 1668 as being of little advantage to the interests of the Church.