Jerome Leocata
Encyclopedia
Jerome Leocata was a major Maltese mediaeval philosopher who specialised mainly in metaphysics. His long academic career in philosophy
and theology
was very hampered by his many administrative commitments. His writings, however, bear witness to his thinking skills and his philosophical prowess. He possessed a clear and systematic mind, consistently endeavouring to give a sound philosophical basis to his speculations. Unfortunately, no portrait of him is yet known to exist.
, Malta
, for it was there that he joined the Dominican Order
around 1680. He must have been sixteen years of age or perhaps a year or two older. He was still a student ten years later, in 1690, at the studium of the Dominicans at Valletta
. In 1694, he was already teaching theology at the same studium
We might somewhat gauge the intellectual capabilities of Leocata from the great esteem in which Ramon Perellos y Roccaful
, the Grand Master of the Order of Knights Hospitallers, had for him. Documentary evidence exists which shows that the Grand Master recommended him to foreign diplomats for his wisdom and general abilities.
Leocata became a Bachelor of Theology by sitting to a special exam in Rome
, Italy
, in 1700. Immediately, he was sent to Tripani, Sicily
as Master of the Dominican students there, and also as Regent of Studies at the Dominican studium. He was instituted in these offices in 1701. After two years (1703) in Sicily
, Leocata returned to Malta
to teach philosophy
and theology
at the Bishop’s Seminary. He stayed here barely two years, for in 1705 he was sent once more to Tripani at Regent of Studies there.
Put forward by Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful
, in 1707 Leocata was recommended to the Master of the Dominican Order
for the office of Vicar-General of the Dominicans in Malta on behalf of the Sicilian Prior Provincial, a proposal which was accepted the following year (1708). In the meantime, the Dominican community at the Priory of Portus Salutis of Valletta elected Leocata as its superior. Thus, Leocata lived there and lectured at the Studium Generale of Valletta
. Though juridically his office was subordinate to a higher one in Sicily
, he was given wide decision-making powers to be almost independent. When, in 1710, his office as Vicar-General expired, Leocata was appointed for a second term. In 1712, Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful
recommended for a third period (which was quite exceptional), however Rome declined the suggestion. He was appointed to the same office in 1717 and again in 1719.
Between 1729, Leocata was elected Priory to the community at Vittoriosa, Malta
, and a year later, in 1730, to that at Valletta
. At each place, Leocata lectured at their respective Studium Generale. In 1730, he was chosen to be the Prior Provincial in Sicily
. However, Rome objected, and instead appointed him, for the fifth time, Vicar-General in Malta
. In 1738, he was also Prior of the community at Valletta
.
Leocata died at Valletta
in 1745.
. However, we do possess one manuscript composed by him, called Propositiones Damnate, which was finished in 1700. For sure, this work was part of Gatt’s learning experience while frequenting Leocata. In fact, it is add to the bound volume containing Leocata’s lectures as transcribed by Gatt himself. All of these (Leocata’s and Gatt’s manuscripts) are held at the archives of the Dominican priory of Portus Salutis at Valletta
. Gatt’s manuscript is a collection of seven propositions (statements or sentences) containing beliefs condemned by the Catholic Church.
Sacraments, it might be taken for granted that they are of solely theological interest. However, this is not the case. Leocata deals with each subject in a purely philosophical manner, consistently venturing to provide philosophical arguments and foundations to the religious or spiritual themes he deals with.
Unfortunately, no manuscript of Leocata has been transliterated, much less translated into any modern language, or even freshly read and studied. He might well be one of the rich mediaeval philosophical treasures of Malta who are still to be fittingly noticed and suitably appreciated.
Leocata’s extant works are all of an Aristotelian-Thomist approach. Both in content and in methodology they are very much in the style of Scholasticism
. As might be expected, than, he holds Aristotle
and Thomas Aquinas
as his major authorities and mentors.
, Malta
. They are the following:
A further manuscript attributed to Leocata is:
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
was very hampered by his many administrative commitments. His writings, however, bear witness to his thinking skills and his philosophical prowess. He possessed a clear and systematic mind, consistently endeavouring to give a sound philosophical basis to his speculations. Unfortunately, no portrait of him is yet known to exist.
Life
Leocata must have been born in 1664 or whereabouts. He most probably hailed from VallettaValletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, for it was there that he joined the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
around 1680. He must have been sixteen years of age or perhaps a year or two older. He was still a student ten years later, in 1690, at the studium of the Dominicans at Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
. In 1694, he was already teaching theology at the same studium
We might somewhat gauge the intellectual capabilities of Leocata from the great esteem in which Ramon Perellos y Roccaful
Ramon Perellos y Roccaful
Fra' Ramon Perellos de Rocaful was the 64th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta between 1697 and 1720. He lived in Malta in 1653, as soon as he entered the order. In 1658 he joined the board of the Master and in 1697 was elected Grand Master...
, the Grand Master of the Order of Knights Hospitallers, had for him. Documentary evidence exists which shows that the Grand Master recommended him to foreign diplomats for his wisdom and general abilities.
Leocata became a Bachelor of Theology by sitting to a special exam in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in 1700. Immediately, he was sent to Tripani, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
as Master of the Dominican students there, and also as Regent of Studies at the Dominican studium. He was instituted in these offices in 1701. After two years (1703) in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, Leocata returned to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
to teach philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the Bishop’s Seminary. He stayed here barely two years, for in 1705 he was sent once more to Tripani at Regent of Studies there.
Put forward by Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful
Ramon Perellos y Roccaful
Fra' Ramon Perellos de Rocaful was the 64th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta between 1697 and 1720. He lived in Malta in 1653, as soon as he entered the order. In 1658 he joined the board of the Master and in 1697 was elected Grand Master...
, in 1707 Leocata was recommended to the Master of the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
for the office of Vicar-General of the Dominicans in Malta on behalf of the Sicilian Prior Provincial, a proposal which was accepted the following year (1708). In the meantime, the Dominican community at the Priory of Portus Salutis of Valletta elected Leocata as its superior. Thus, Leocata lived there and lectured at the Studium Generale of Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
. Though juridically his office was subordinate to a higher one in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, he was given wide decision-making powers to be almost independent. When, in 1710, his office as Vicar-General expired, Leocata was appointed for a second term. In 1712, Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful
Ramon Perellos y Roccaful
Fra' Ramon Perellos de Rocaful was the 64th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta between 1697 and 1720. He lived in Malta in 1653, as soon as he entered the order. In 1658 he joined the board of the Master and in 1697 was elected Grand Master...
recommended for a third period (which was quite exceptional), however Rome declined the suggestion. He was appointed to the same office in 1717 and again in 1719.
Between 1729, Leocata was elected Priory to the community at Vittoriosa, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, and a year later, in 1730, to that at Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
. At each place, Leocata lectured at their respective Studium Generale. In 1730, he was chosen to be the Prior Provincial in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. However, Rome objected, and instead appointed him, for the fifth time, Vicar-General in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. In 1738, he was also Prior of the community at Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
.
Leocata died at Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
in 1745.
Known works
The extant works of Leocata are not penned down by his own hand. They are manuscripts inscribed word for word by a student of his, John Mary Gatt. It seems that Leocata himself endorsed the manuscripts produced by Gatt, since they remained in his possession, and probably used them for his lectures. All of them are in Latin.The transcriber
Very little is known about Gatt except that he hailed from Zebbug, MaltaZebbug, Malta
Ħaż-Żebbuġ or Città Rohan is one of the oldest towns in Malta. Its population is 12,892 as of 2010 making it the 12th largest town in Malta.-History and origins:...
. However, we do possess one manuscript composed by him, called Propositiones Damnate, which was finished in 1700. For sure, this work was part of Gatt’s learning experience while frequenting Leocata. In fact, it is add to the bound volume containing Leocata’s lectures as transcribed by Gatt himself. All of these (Leocata’s and Gatt’s manuscripts) are held at the archives of the Dominican priory of Portus Salutis at Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
. Gatt’s manuscript is a collection of seven propositions (statements or sentences) containing beliefs condemned by the Catholic Church.
Nature and study
Since all of Leocata’s extant manuscripts deal the CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Sacraments, it might be taken for granted that they are of solely theological interest. However, this is not the case. Leocata deals with each subject in a purely philosophical manner, consistently venturing to provide philosophical arguments and foundations to the religious or spiritual themes he deals with.
Unfortunately, no manuscript of Leocata has been transliterated, much less translated into any modern language, or even freshly read and studied. He might well be one of the rich mediaeval philosophical treasures of Malta who are still to be fittingly noticed and suitably appreciated.
Leocata’s extant works are all of an Aristotelian-Thomist approach. Both in content and in methodology they are very much in the style of Scholasticism
Scholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
. As might be expected, than, he holds Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
and Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
as his major authorities and mentors.
List
As indicated above, all the lectures contained in Leocata’s extant manuscripts were delivered by him at the Studium Generale of Portus Salutis at VallettaValletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. They are the following:
- 1697 – Brevis Tractatus De Sacramentis in Genere (A Brief Study of Sacraments in General); 85 folios.
- 1698 – Tractatus De Sacrosancto Eucharistiæ (A Study on the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist); 22 folios.
- 1699 – Tractatus Scholasticus de Sacramento Pœnitentia (A Scholastic Study on the Sacrament of Penance); 29 folios.
- 1699 – Brevis Tractatus De Sacramento Ordinis simul et Matrimonii (A Brief Study on the Sacrament of Holy Orders and the same on Matrimony); 11 folios.
- 1699 – Brevis Tractatus De Confessariis Sollicitantibus (A Brief Study on Confessors who Sollicit [Sexual Favours]); 31 folios.
- c.1700 – Brevis Tractatus De Sacramento Baptismi (A Brief Study on the Sacrament of Baptism); 19 folios.
- c.1700 – Brevis Tractatus De Confirmationis Sacramento (A Brief Study on the Sacrament of Confirmation); 31 folios.
A further manuscript attributed to Leocata is:
- 1692 – De Virtutibus Theologicis (On the Theological Virtues); 145 folios.
Sources
- Mark Montebello, Il-Ktieb tal-Filosofija f’Malta (A Source Book of Philosophy in Malta), PIN Publications, Malta, 2001.