Sylvester Mazzolini
Encyclopedia
Sylvester Mazzolini, in Italian
Silvestro Mazzolini da Prierio, in Latin
Sylvester Prierias. (1456/1457 – 1523) was a theologian
born at Priero
, Piedmont
; he died at Rome
.
At the age of fifteen, he entered the Dominican Order
. Passing brilliantly through a course of studies, he taught theology at Bologna
, Pavia
(by invitation of the senate of Venice
), and in Rome, whither he was called by Julius II in 1511. In 1515, he was appointed Master of the Sacred Palace, filling that office until his death.
His writings cover a vast range, including treatises on the planets, the power of the demons, history
, homiletics
, the works of St. Thomas Aquinas
and the primacy of the popes. He is credited with being the first theologian who by his writings attacked publicly the doctrines of Martin Luther
. Johann Tetzel
's productions against the arch-reformer are called by Jacques Echard
scattered pages (folia volitantia), and Mazzolini stands forth as the first champion of Roman Pontiff
s against Luther. Luther replied to Mazzolini's arguments and the latter published rejoinders, and there was a regular controversy
between them.
According to D.J. Kennedy’s article in the Catholic Encyclopedia, ‘the necessity of promptness in attack and defence will account for defects of style in some of his writings’. Morgan Cowie is blunter on his performance in the controversy with Luther: ‘he succeeded so ill that the Pope forbade him to write any more on the matters in discussion’. He further notes that the eighteenth-century Jesuit literary critic Girolamo Tiraboschi
‘is rather annoyed that Erasmus speaks ill of our author as a controversialist, but is compelled to allow it to be true.’
His principal works are: De juridica et irrefragabili veritate Romanæ Ecclesiæ Romanique Pontificis (Rome, 1520); Epitoma responsionis ad Lutherum (Perugia
, 1519); Errata et argumenta M. Lutheri (Rome, 1520); Summa Summarum, quæ Sylvestrina dicitur (Rome, 1516), reprinted forty times; an alphabetical encyclopedia
of theological questions; Rosa aurea (Bologna, 1510) an exposition of the Gospels of the year; In theoricas planetarum (Venice, 1513).
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
Silvestro Mazzolini da Prierio, in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
Sylvester Prierias. (1456/1457 – 1523) was a theologian
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...
born at Priero
Priero
Priero is a small town and comune of the Langhe, located six kilometres east of Ceva in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy. Presently it has a population of 441.-History:...
, Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
; he died at 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...
.
At the age of fifteen, he entered 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...
. Passing brilliantly through a course of studies, he taught theology at Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
(by invitation of the senate of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
), and in Rome, whither he was called by Julius II in 1511. In 1515, he was appointed Master of the Sacred Palace, filling that office until his death.
His writings cover a vast range, including treatises on the planets, the power of the demons, history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, homiletics
Homiletics
Homiletics , in theology the application of the general principles of rhetoric to the specific department of public preaching. The one who practices or studies homiletics is called a homilist....
, the works of St. 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...
and the primacy of the popes. He is credited with being the first theologian who by his writings attacked publicly the doctrines of Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
. Johann Tetzel
Johann Tetzel
Johann Tetzel was a German Dominican preacher known for selling indulgences.-Life:Tetzel was born in Pirna, Saxony, and studied theology and philosophy at the university of his native city...
's productions against the arch-reformer are called by Jacques Echard
Jacques Échard
Jacques Échard was a French Dominican and historian of the order.As the son of a wealthy official of the king he received a thorough classical and secular education. He entered the Dominican Order at Paris and distinguished himself for his assiduity in study...
scattered pages (folia volitantia), and Mazzolini stands forth as the first champion of Roman Pontiff
Pontiff
A pontiff was, in Roman antiquity, a member of the principal college of priests . The term "pontiff" was later applied to any high or chief priest and, in ecclesiastical usage, to a bishop and more particularly to the Bishop of Rome, the Pope or "Roman Pontiff".-Etymology:The English term derives...
s against Luther. Luther replied to Mazzolini's arguments and the latter published rejoinders, and there was a regular controversy
Controversy
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction," from contra – "against" – and vertere – to turn, or versus , hence, "to turn...
between them.
According to D.J. Kennedy’s article in the Catholic Encyclopedia, ‘the necessity of promptness in attack and defence will account for defects of style in some of his writings’. Morgan Cowie is blunter on his performance in the controversy with Luther: ‘he succeeded so ill that the Pope forbade him to write any more on the matters in discussion’. He further notes that the eighteenth-century Jesuit literary critic Girolamo Tiraboschi
Girolamo Tiraboschi
Girolamo Tiraboschi was an Italian literary critic, the first historian of Italian literature.-Biography:Born in Bergamo, he studied at the Jesuit college in Monza, entered the order, and was appointed in 1755 professor of eloquence in the University of Milan...
‘is rather annoyed that Erasmus speaks ill of our author as a controversialist, but is compelled to allow it to be true.’
His principal works are: De juridica et irrefragabili veritate Romanæ Ecclesiæ Romanique Pontificis (Rome, 1520); Epitoma responsionis ad Lutherum (Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
, 1519); Errata et argumenta M. Lutheri (Rome, 1520); Summa Summarum, quæ Sylvestrina dicitur (Rome, 1516), reprinted forty times; an alphabetical encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia is a type of reference work, a compendium holding a summary of information from either all branches of knowledge or a particular branch of knowledge....
of theological questions; Rosa aurea (Bologna, 1510) an exposition of the Gospels of the year; In theoricas planetarum (Venice, 1513).
External links
- C. Matthew McMahon, A History of the Reformation in the 16th Century, Book 3
- Schaff Encyclopedia article
- S. Feci, ‘MAZZOLINI, Silvestro’, in Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana).
- Mazzolini Silvestro da Prierio (in Italian)