AMBROSIUS CATHARINUS (LANCELOT POLITI)

Dominican theologian and bishop; b. Siena, c. 1484; d. Naples, Nov. 8, 1553. A doctor of civil and canon law and consistorial lawyer under Leo X, he became a Dominican in 1517 because of Savanarola's preaching. Recognizing the dangers of nascent Lutheranism, he was one of the first (1520, 1521) to write against it. While prior of Siena, he waged a controversy with his superiors in favor of the feast of the Immaculate Conception. This resulted in his removal from office.

In 1532 he went to France where, prior to the Council of Trent, he published several works on problems raised by Protestantism—predestination, justification, purgatory, veneration of the saints, and episcopal residency. Pallavincino declared that Catharinus "was second to none among his contemporaries in contest with heretics." He attended the council from 1545 to 1547 as papal theologian, manifesting his intellectual independence, especially in controversies with his confreres Carranza, D. soto and B. Spina. At the petition of the conciliar fathers, Catharinus was appointed bishop of Minori in 1546; he was made archbishop of Conza in 1552.

During the Tridentine period he produced many works concerning the problems that arose during the sessions. His original and extensive writings (50 edited and unedited works), often concerned uncharted areas of theology. Concerning the intention of the minister in conferring the sacraments, he defended the thesis of external intention; on the value of the words Hoc est corpus meum, he held that the consecration is effected by the preceding epiclesis, "Quam oblationem …" of the Roman Mass. His juridico-moral theory concerning the transmission of original sin found adherents among such theologians as banez, billuart, suarez, and the salmanticenses. His works are characterized by an emphasis upon the teaching authority of the Church and a thematic return to the Scriptures and the Fathers.

Bibliography: j. schweizer, Ambrosius Catharinus Politus (Münster 1909).

[j. r. cooney]