Anselmo Costadoni

He was born on 6 October 1714, at Venice and christened Giovanni Domenico. The son of a rich merchant, he sacrificed at an early date his prospects of success in the world and took the religious habit of the Camaldolese monks at the Monastery of St. Michael, situated on the island of Murano in the Venetian lagoon. Here he studied philosophy and theology with more than usual success.

At the age of twenty-three he revealed his literary ability in a letter (Lettera critica) written in defense of certain Camaldolese writers, who had been attacked by Giusto Fontanini in his "Library of Italian Eloquence".

Costadoni subsequently collaborated for eighteen years with the learned Dom Gian Benedetto Mittarelli of his monastery in the publication of the "Annales Camaldulenses ordinis S. Benedicti, ab anno 907 ad annum 1770" (The Annals of the Camaldolese of the Order of St. Benedict, 907-1770), printed in 9 volumes folio (Venice, 1755–73). It follows the plan of Mabillon's "Annales ordinis S. Benedicti". (Venice, 1755–73).

He died on 23 January 1785, in Venice.

Some archæological papers due to his pen, such as "Dissertazione sopra il pesce come simbolo degli antichi cristiani", were published in the voluminous collection of historical essays edited by Calogerà, a monk of the same Order.

His works also include: "Avvisi ed istruzioni pratiche intorno ai principali doveri de' regolari" (Faenza, 1770; Venice, 1771); "Lettere consolatorie" (Venice, 1775); "Lettere sopra questione teologiche" (Venice, 1773).

Costadoni's unpublished manuscripts were transferred, after his death, to St. Gregory's monastery at Rome, by order of the Camaldolese abbot, Mauro Cappellari (later Pope Gregory XVI).

• Catholic Encyclopedia article

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Giovanni Domenico Costadoni". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.