Dominic Gravina
Encyclopedia
Dominic Gravina was an Italian Dominican
theologian.
), in the Minerva, and in other schools of his order, he became the most celebrated theologian of his time in Italy.
He was made master of sacred theology by a general chapter of the order held at Rome in 1608, and then became dean of the faculty of the theological college of Naples. In the pulpit also he gained great renown, and was frequently called upon to conduct Lenten courses and to preach before Pope Paul V
. He displayed, moreover, a tireless activity in the administrative offices of prior and provincial in his own province, and of procurator general and vicar-general of the entire order.
While discharging the duties of these two offices, to the latter of which he was raised by Pope Urban VII
, who had caused the general to be removed, he was also Master of the Sacred Palace
.
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...
theologian.
Life
He entered the Dominican Order at Naples, and made his classical and sacred studies in the order's schools. As professor of theology in the Dominican college of St. Dominic (NaplesNaples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
), in the Minerva, and in other schools of his order, he became the most celebrated theologian of his time in Italy.
He was made master of sacred theology by a general chapter of the order held at Rome in 1608, and then became dean of the faculty of the theological college of Naples. In the pulpit also he gained great renown, and was frequently called upon to conduct Lenten courses and to preach before Pope Paul V
Pope Paul V
-Theology:Paul met with Galileo Galilei in 1616 after Cardinal Bellarmine had, on his orders, warned Galileo not to hold or defend the heliocentric ideas of Copernicus. Whether there was also an order not to teach those ideas in any way has been a matter for controversy...
. He displayed, moreover, a tireless activity in the administrative offices of prior and provincial in his own province, and of procurator general and vicar-general of the entire order.
While discharging the duties of these two offices, to the latter of which he was raised by Pope Urban VII
Pope Urban VII
Pope Urban VII , born Giovanni Battista Castagna, was Pope for thirteen days in September 1590. He was of Genoese origin, although born in Rome. He was created Cardinal-Priest of S. Marcello in 1584...
, who had caused the general to be removed, he was also Master of the Sacred Palace
Master of the Sacred Palace
In the Roman Catholic Church, Theologian of the Pontifical Household is a Roman Curial office which has always been entrusted to a Friar Preacher of the Dominican Order and may be described as the pope's theologian...
.
Works
Of his many writings on theological subjects, chiefly of an apologetic character, a large number have never been published. Of the published works the most important are:- "Catholicae praescriptiones adversus omnes haereticos" (7 vols., Naples, 1619-39)
- "Pro sacro ordinis sacramento vindiciae orthodoxae" (Naples, 1634; Cologne, 1638)
- "Apologeticus adversus novatorum calumnias" (Naples, 1629; Cologne, 1638)
- "Lapis Lydius ad discernendas veras a falsis revelationibus" (2 vols., Naples, 1638), a mystical writing.