Born in Pennabilli, Della Penna entered the Capuchin monastery of Pietrarubbia. While he was there, a decree by the Sacra Congregazione di Propaganda Fide declared the establishment of a Catholic mission “"in the direction of the source of the Ganges River, towards the kingdom of Tibet.”[1] Della Penna was amongst those selected, and he arrived in Lhasa on June 12, 1707. He returned to Rome after the penniless and starving missionaries decided to reorganize their efforts; he returned to Lhasa in 1716. Della Penna studied the Tibetan language and culture at the monastery of Sera under a Lama.
During his stay, Della Penna began composing a Tibetan-Italian dictionary. By 1732, the dictionary composed about 33,000 words. He also translated some important Tibetan works. He translated into Tibetan Bellarmine'sChristian Doctrine and Turlot's Treasure of Christian Doctrine.[2] From Tibetan into Italian, he translated the History of the life and works of Shakiatuba, the restorer of Lamaism, Three roads leading to perfection, and On transmigration and prayer to God.[3] A Tibetan printing works was eventually built during Della Penna's stay.[4]
Della Penna returned to Rome in 1736 to seek help and support there. He received it from the Spanish prelate Cardinal Belluga and Della Penna arrived in Lhasa on January 6, 1741.
Della Penna was well liked in Tibet; he was called the “white head Lama”[5] and was respected for his learning and knowledge of Tibetan culture and language. However, he ran into problems he did not foresee when the seventh Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso, granted him and his fellow missionaries freedom of worship and proselytism. After twenty Tibetan men and women were converted to Christianity, they refused to accept the Dalai Lama's blessing and to take part in the obligatory lamaistic prayers.[6] After a long trial on the 22d of May 1742, five Christian Tibetans were flogged. Della Penna was given an audience with the Dalai Lama but the mission's fate was sealed. He set off for Nepal in 1745, but died at Patan on July 20, 1745.
francesco, della, penna, francesco, orazio, della, penna, 1680, july, 1745, born, luzio, olivieri, capuchin, missionary, tibet, became, prefect, tibetan, mission, francesco, orazio, della, pennaepitaph, latin, nepal, bhasa, tombstone, della, penna, buried, pat. Francesco Orazio della Penna 1680 July 20 1745 born Luzio Olivieri was a Capuchin missionary to Tibet who became prefect of the Tibetan Mission Francesco Orazio della PennaEpitaph in Latin and Nepal Bhasa on the tombstone of Della Penna who was buried in Patan Nepal PersonalBornLuzio Olivieri 1680 11 00 November 1680PennabilliDiedJuly 1745 1745 07 00 aged 64 Patan NepalReligionCatholicNationalityItalianInstituteOrder of Friars Minor CapuchinSenior postingPeriod in office1700 1745 Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 Notes 4 External linksBiography editBorn in Pennabilli Della Penna entered the Capuchin monastery of Pietrarubbia While he was there a decree by the Sacra Congregazione di Propaganda Fide declared the establishment of a Catholic mission in the direction of the source of the Ganges River towards the kingdom of Tibet 1 Della Penna was amongst those selected and he arrived in Lhasa on June 12 1707 He returned to Rome after the penniless and starving missionaries decided to reorganize their efforts he returned to Lhasa in 1716 Della Penna studied the Tibetan language and culture at the monastery of Sera under a Lama During his stay Della Penna began composing a Tibetan Italian dictionary By 1732 the dictionary composed about 33 000 words He also translated some important Tibetan works He translated into Tibetan Bellarmine s Christian Doctrine and Turlot s Treasure of Christian Doctrine 2 From Tibetan into Italian he translated the History of the life and works of Shakiatuba the restorer of Lamaism Three roads leading to perfection and On transmigration and prayer to God 3 A Tibetan printing works was eventually built during Della Penna s stay 4 Della Penna returned to Rome in 1736 to seek help and support there He received it from the Spanish prelate Cardinal Belluga and Della Penna arrived in Lhasa on January 6 1741 Della Penna was well liked in Tibet he was called the white head Lama 5 and was respected for his learning and knowledge of Tibetan culture and language However he ran into problems he did not foresee when the seventh Dalai Lama Kelsang Gyatso granted him and his fellow missionaries freedom of worship and proselytism After twenty Tibetan men and women were converted to Christianity they refused to accept the Dalai Lama s blessing and to take part in the obligatory lamaistic prayers 6 After a long trial on the 22d of May 1742 five Christian Tibetans were flogged Della Penna was given an audience with the Dalai Lama but the mission s fate was sealed He set off for Nepal in 1745 but died at Patan on July 20 1745 See also editCatholic Church in TibetNotes edit in Italian The visit of the Dalai Lama Pennabilli PS Italy Archived 2007 07 31 at the Wayback Machine Catholic Encyclopedia Tibet Catholic Encyclopedia Tibet in Italian The visit of the Dalai Lama Pennabilli PS Italy Archived 2007 07 31 at the Wayback Machine in Italian The visit of the Dalai Lama Pennabilli PS Italy Archived 2007 07 31 at the Wayback Machine in Italian The visit of the Dalai Lama Pennabilli PS Italy Archived 2007 07 31 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editElio Marini The story of Father Orazio della Penna 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francesco della Penna amp oldid 1176679097, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
