page_title: Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Sassia
section_title: Former Rule of Santo Spirito
hierarchical_section_title: Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Sassia / History / Former Rule of Santo Spirito
caption_attribution_description: English: Saint Esprit
context_page_description: The Hospital of the Holy Spirit is an ancient and the oldest hospital in Europe, which is located in Rome, Italy, and works now as a convention center. The complex lies in rione Borgo, east of Vatican City and next to the modern Ospedale di Santo Spirito. The hospital was established on the site of the former Schola Saxonum, a part of the complex houses of the Museo Storico.
context_section_description: The Hospitaller Order is based on its Rule, consisting of 105 short chapters, many of which extensively recall the duties of former religious orders. Two examples of the Rule of Santo Spirito have been conserved: one is in the National Archive of Rome, the other in the archive of the hospital of Dijon, both dating back to the fifteenth century. This Rule is effectively appropriate to the hospital framework, pervaded with discipline and unselfishness, and thoroughly clarifies the progression of the everyday life in the hospital. It is especially noticeable that most of the chapters have the purpose to make the stay of the ill in the structure more comfortable and healthy. For instance, Chapter 1 says that all goods belong to everybody and that "Nobody shall dare saying that a thing is his own", while Chapter 15 says "The spirit of charity shall be a constant rule" and Chapter 33 contains scrupulous rules about clothing provision and orphans breeding.
caption: The "Cross of Lorraine", the coat of arms of the Santo Spirito
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