Gian Battista Carioni (c. 1460-1534), better known as Fra Battista da Crema from his birthplace, belonged to the Observant Dominican Congregation of Lombardy (North Italy). He was a gifted preacher and a prolific spiritual writer, passionately dedicated to promote renewal and reform in Church and society. He thus reacted against the pagan traits of the Italian Renaissance. To him indeed goes the credit for tapping and channeling the spiritual energies of three reformers, namely, St. Cajetan Thiene (1480-1547), the leading founder of the first Order of Clerics Regular (Theatines); Ludovica Torelli (1500-1569), the Countess of Guastalla, the historical originator of the Angelics of St. Paul; and St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539), the leading founder of the Clerics Regular of St. Paul (Barnabites), the acknowledged founder of the Angelics as well as the founder of the Marrieds of St. Paul. Arguably, Anthony Mary profited the most from Fra Battista’s spiritual expertise.

Without a doubt, Anthony Mary held Fra Battista in the highest regard. Indeed, he referred to him as his "patron saint" before God (Letters 1 and 4). He admired him, the dynamic leader who "was always displeased with those who are negligent and unwilling to help themselves" (Letter 4). Furthermore, he did not hesitate to place him alongside St. Paul, as he reminded the Angelics that "both our blessed Fathers, St. Paul and Fra Battista, have left us a great example of noble and profound love for Jesus Crucified, love for their sufferings and humiliations and for the thorough conquest of souls" (Letter 5). And again, to spur his first companions on in the work of reform, he reminded them of Fra Battista’s high expectations: "you will accomplish the wish of our holy Father, who, as you recall, wanted us to be foundation and pillars in the renewal of Christian spirit" (Letter 7). Further evidence of Anthony Mary’s appreciation for Fra Battista’s spiritual leadership is found in the Constitutions Anthony Mary authored, interestingly enough, following a Latin outline drafted by Fra Battista himself. In ch. 8, On Study, Anthony Mary, along with Church Fathers and Doctors and other well-known spiritual writers, such as Cassian, St. Bonaventure, and St. Catherine of Siena, mentions "the books of our Father Fra Battista da Crema." In addition, the extant manuscript of the time, Community Acts, clearly attests that Fra Battista’s writings were the staple spiritual nourishment of the first generation of Barnabites.

Like St. Paul, his model and master, Anthony Mary begins his letter with a thanksgiving to God. He then manifests his disappointment for not receiving any letter from his spiritual Father, but he is quick to excuse him, being aware that Fra Battista is a seventy-year-old ailing man and the subject of controversy between his Dominican Superiors as well as some church authorities and Countess Torelli. Hence the comforting exhortation of the humble young directee, "May you, dear Father, conform to God’s will, for I myself intend to conform to it." The subject of the letter is an unspecified incident between himself and a certain Gerolamo. Anthony Mary appeals to Fra Battista for a "satisfactory solution." And he concludes with a humble and yet resolute, "My affairs move slowly and my negligence delays them even more. Yet I will keep attending to them."

The original autograph of this letter was discovered by Fr. Enrico Barelli (1724-1817) in the Archives of Guastalla College in Milan in 1780. He made a copy of it and sent it to Fr. Angelo Cortenovis (1727-1801), the well-known collector of Barnabite historical documents. Unsure of its accuracy, Fr. Cortenovis personally made an exact copy of the autograph including its external characteristics as, for instance, the seal in green wax, which reproduced the lily of the Zaccaria family. This copy is kept in the St. Barnabas Archives (Appendix, Q.IV.1). As attested by Fr. Luigi Ungarelli (1779-1845) as early as 1836, and notwithstanding recent researches, the original autograph is no longer available. A second copy of the autograph, made by Fr. Francesco Caccia (1806-1875) and available in the General Archives in Rome, was utilized by Fr. Francesco Luigi Fontana (1750-1822) in his Dossier for the beatification of the venerable Anthony Mary addressed to Barnabite Cardinal Giacinto Sigismondo Gerdil (November 1796). Both copies are identical.

Cremona, 31 May, 1530

To the Reverend Father, Fra Battista da Crema,
of the Order of Preachers of St. Dominic,
my venerable father in Christ.

In Milan

Reverend Father in Christ,

I give thanks to God, for in His mercy He does not treat me as I deserve, and He subjects me only to such small trials that I tend to be unaware of them because of some reproachable insensitivity of mine, as our Donna Francesca of Vicenza used to remark while we were riding on horseback.

I say this because it would have been a great consolation to me to receive a letter from you. But I understand that either your poor health or, no doubt, other good reasons have prevented you from writing at all. May you, dear Father, conform to God’s will, for I myself intend to conform to it, in spite of everything, and come what may.

From my incident with Mr. Gerolamo something resulted about which the carrier Mr. Benedetto Romani will tell you. I won’t mention it, for it is quite complicated to express and requires many explanations. Mr. Romani will explain it to you by word of mouth. In all truth, dear Father, my wish is that you yourself would give it a satisfactory solution. It is up to you, of course, to keep me informed about this or any other matter, which you may think useful for me to know.

I think our illustrious Countess and Donna Francesca are fully excused for not writing to me since they must be busy; and they will in turn excuse me, for I, too, am hindered from doing so. Recommend me to their prayers.

The present carrier has expressed to me some of his ideas and says that he is somewhat acquainted with you. I heartily recommend him to you as, in my judgment, he seems to be good and simple, an upright man who fears God; he will do everything for you, and you will not be disappointed because I found him to be obedient and one of those who are said [to be trustworthy] both in actions and words. You will get to know him better than I can describe him. For God’s sake, may he be dear to you, as I am sure he will.

My affairs move slowly, and my negligence delays them even more. Yet I will keep attending to them.

My mother recommends herself to the prayers of the Countess and of Donna Francesca, and, first of all, to your prayers; Fra Bono and Mr. Francesco’s son asks for the same favor.

Please, dear Father, don’t forsake me, and be my patron saint before God. May He set me free from my imperfections, faint-heartedness, and pride.

From Cremona, the last day of May, 1530.

The Victory Over Oneself should be written by me with deeds, not with ink.

Your son in Christ,

Anthony M. Zaccaria, Priest