Saving Children: The Ruota

Gabriel Marcella

During the medieval period plagues, ignorance, and poor sanitary conditions made the average expectancy 30 years. It is estimated that 25 to 90% of babies did not survive a year, and infanticide was not uncommon. Babies were abandoned in the street, hoping that someone would take them home. From this arose the establishment of the foundling hospitals-orphanages. The first, Spedale degli Innocenti (Hospital of the Innocent, known also as the figli di nessuno—the children of no-one) was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and built in Florence in 1444.  Others rose up in other cities.

Another institution was the ruota (wheel in Italian) in Renaissance Italy. The ruota was a horizontal wheel, much like a lazy susan, built into the wall of a convent or monastery. You can still see a ruota attached to the outside wall of a convent in Florence, though it’s not active and covered with a grate.

Foundlings or babies of parents who wanted to remain anonymous were placed in the ruota.  The person rang a bell, and inside a nun on a 24 hour watch would turn the wheel and take care of the child. Often the child carried some identifying piece of clothing in case the parent wanted to reclaim the child in the future. Thus the child was saved and the donating parent or founder took care of his or her moral obligation. Later the child was placed with a foster family and boys were given a trade. It is reported that “sadly most of the abandoned babies were female,” who often stayed in the convent until a dowry was found, which was necessary for marriage.  Many joined the convent.

One of the enduring effects of these two institutions is to be found in Italian surnames that describe foundlings, such as: Innocenti, Esposito (exposed or abandoned), Ignoti (unknown), and others. (The above information was abstracted from: Bringing Italy Home: EyeItalia; http://www.eyeitalia.com/foundlings-renaissance-florence-spedale-degli-innocenti/)

Much has changed since the Renaissance but according to the United Nations there are 150 million street children in the world today. Homeless and often without family, they are chased by violence, drug abuse, natural disaster, and relentless poverty. They eke out a wretched and often short existence by scavenging in dumps, begging, hawking, or stealing. They dress poorly, have insufficient diets, become victims of violence, drug traffickers, human traffickers, and are sexually exploited. Some join gangs because they search for a sense of identity and belonging. We have not progressed very much since the Renaissance.

For thoughtful commentary and suggestions for action regarding modern societal ills, visit our Catholic Social Concerns page:

http://www.stgabrielcarlisle.org/catholic-social-concerns/