BRANCATI, LORENZO

Theologian; b. Giovanni Francesco in Lauria, Calabria, Italy, April 10, 1612; d. Rome, Nov. 30, 1693. He entered the Conventual Franciscans in 1630, taking the name Lorenzo. After his profession in 1631, he studied at Lecce, Bari, and the Roman College of St. Bonaventure; he was ordained in 1636, and awarded the doctorate in theology in 1637. He taught at Aversa, Naples, and was regent of studies for his order in Florence, Ferrara, and Bologna. Later, he was professor at the Sapienza University, Rome, where he earned his great reputation as a Scotist; and for many years he was prefect of studies at the Propaganda, Rome. From 1655 he held numerous posts in the Roman Curia as consultor to ten Congregations, and was prefect of the Vatican Library. In 1681 he was created cardinal by Innocent XI (d. 1689), and was named librarian of the Holy Roman Church. Brancati also played a considerable role in the Jansenist and quietist controversies of his day.

His chief work is the Commentaria in III et IV Librum Sententiarum J. D. Scoti (8 v. Rome 1653–82). With the 12 volumes of the Sacrae Theologiae Summa of A. vulpes, Brancati's commentary forms one of the most complete expositions of Scotus's teaching. This work treats nearly all subjects pertaining to special dogmatic theology. Part of the tract "De Fide" of the commentary is devoted to a treatise on the missions. The first part is a historical survey of the missionary activity of the Church to the 16th century. The second part is doctrinal and concerns the missionary vocation, its requisites, purpose, and the methods to be employed by the missionary. By formulating the general principles of the missionary apostolate Brancati made a distinctive contribution to mission science. Publication of the treatise by the Propaganda is indication that the mission doctrine of the author was in conformity with the mind and practice of the Congregation at that time.

His penchant for positive theology is apparent in the commentaries on the third book of Scotus's Sentences, as well as in his Opuscula Tria de Deo (Rome 1687). As a result of his teaching experience at the Propaganda College, he was the first and for a long time the only theologian to include a systematic study of the missions as an integral part of theology. His Opuscula Octo de Oratione Christiana (Rome 1685), written because of the quietist

controversy, remains a classic. Benedict XIV (d. 1758) drew much on Brancarti in the composition of his work on beatification and canonization of saints. In general, Brancati was a faithful disciple of Scotus, except on questions of grace, in which he followed St. Augustine.

Bibliography: H. Hurter, Nomenclator literarius theologiae catholicae, 5 v. in 6 (3d ed. Innsbruck 1903–13) 4:351–355. É. d'alenÇon, Dictionnaire de théologie catholique, 9.1:13–15. j. heerinckx, Dictionnaire de spiritualité ascétique et mystique, l:1921–23. r. hoffman, Pioneer Theories of Missiology (Washington 1960). c. testore, Enciclopedia cattolica, 3:23. j. h. sbaralea, Supplementum et castigatio ad scriptores trium odinum S. Francisci A Waddings, 2 v. (Rome 1806; new ed. in 4 v. 1906–36)v.3:267–268.

[p. d. fehlner]