6 may 2018
Research links
Corpus Iuris
Canonci, here.
Ius Decretalium,
here.
Canonical & Roman
Legal History, here.
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To work for the proper implementation of canon law is to play an extraordinarily constructive role in continuing the redemptive mission of Christ. Pope John Paul II |
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6 may 2018 |
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Research links
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Corpus Iuris Canonci, here.
Ius Decretalium, here.
Canonical & Roman Legal History, here. |
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Overview
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Resources on Fagnanus, Jus Canonicum sive Commentaria
This page is a guide to those parts of the Quinque Libri Decretalium that were the subject of commentary by Prosper Fagnanus, one of the greatest Ius Novissimum canonists.
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Text and biographical information
See also brief biographies of Fagnanus in English, Italian, Spanish, linked below, and those of Willke in NCE V: 790; Bertola DDC V: 807-809; and Ortolan, DTC V/2: 2067-2069.
More below (in Italian and Spanish). |
Prospero Fagnani, canonist, b. in Italy, place and date of birth uncertain; d. in 1678. Some writers place his birth in 1598, others in 1587 or in 1588. It is certain that he studied at Perugia. At the age of twenty he was a doctor of civil and canon law; at twenty-two, secretary of the Congregation of the Council. He held this office for fifteen years. He fulfilled the same functions in several other Roman Congregations. It is not certain that he ever lectured on canon law at the Roman University (Sapienza). He became blind at the age of forty-four. This affliction did not prevent him from devoting himself to canonical studies and from writing a commentary of the Decretals of Gregory IX, which gained for him the title of "Doctor Caecus Oculatissimus", i.e. the blind yet most far-sighted doctor. This commentary includes interpretations of the texts of the most difficult of the Decretals of Gregory IX. It is distinguished by the clearness with which the most complex and disputed questions of canon law are explained. The work is also of great value for the purpose of ascertaining the practice of the Roman Congregations, especially that of the Congregation of the Council, of which the author quotes numerous decisions. Benedict XIV gave this work the highest praise, and its authority is still continually appealed to in the Roman Congregations. It is divided, like the Decretals of Gregory IX, into five books. The first edition was published at Rome, in 1661, under the title of "Jus canonicum seu commentaria absolutissima in quinque libros Decretalium". It has been reprinted several times. Fagnanus is reproached with excessive rigour in his commentary on the chapter of the Decretals "Ne innitaris" (Book I, De constitutionibus), in which he combats the doctrine of probabilism. St. Alphonsus calls him "magnus rigoristarum princeps", the great prince of the rigorists (Homo apostolicus, Tract. I, no. 63; Theologia Moralis, IV, no. 669). Article by A. Van Hove, from New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia.
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Fagnanus did not comment on every chapter, or even every title, in the Quinque Libri Decretalium, but when he did address a specific caput, it was frequently an exhaustive treatment. Below I used Fagnanus' spelling but corrected obvious typographical errors in the citations. While pagination varies according to to edition, I listed page numbers to give one a sense of how large or small specific entries are. Fagnanus provided a Repertorium of more than 300 pages for his Commentaries. It appears after volume V.
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Always use both the title or chapter number and the incipit clause when citing decretal works; the redundancy helps one avoid errors that tend to occur when only one reference is used. |
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* There seem to be some pages missing at this point.
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Copies of Fagnanus in the Robbins Collections at Boalt Hall:
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Italian & Spanish brief biographies of Faganus |
Prospero Boni aggiunse il cognome Fagnani dietro l'adozione dello zio materno Giovan Francesco; studiò a Perugia dove si laureò in "utroque iure"; in quella città pubblicò nel 1611 il trattato "Problemata cum methodo". Si trasferì a Roma insegnando Diritto all'Università; nel 1610 fu chiamato alla Sacra Congregazione del Concilio come sottosegretario, poi come segretario sostituendo lo zio; nel 1632 divenne cieco; si adoperò moltissimo per l'innalzamento di Sant'Angelo in Vado a città con sede vescovile; ricoprì diverse cariche nell'ambiente curiale romano. La sua opera più famosa è il "Commentarium ad libros Decretalium"; stese su richiesta di Gregorio XV la bolla Aeterni patris Filius pubblicata nel 1621, riguardante l'ordinamento giuridico alle elezioni pontificie e rimasta in vigore fino al 1904. Molto legato al paese natale, aveva un altare nella Basilica Cattedrale che dotò di dipinti e arredi. Information taken from here.
Próspero
Fagnani.
Canonista nacido en Italia en fecha y
lugar desconocidos; murió en 1678. Algunos escritores piensan que nació en
1598, pero otros piensan que fue en 1587 ó 1588. Se sabe con certeza que
estudió en Perugia. A los veinte años de edad ya era doctor en derecho civil y
canónico; a los veintidós llegó a ser secretario de la Congregación del
Concilio, oficio que conservó durante quince años. Sirvió esa misma función en
varias otras congregaciones romanas. No se sabe con certeza si dio clases de
derecho canónico en la Universidad Romana de Sapienza. Cayó ciego a los cuarenta
y cuatro años de edad, pero esa aflicción no le impidió proseguir sus estudios
canónicos ni de escribir un comentario sobre los Decretos de Gregorio IX, lo que
le ganó el título de Doctor Caecus Oculatissimus: el maestro
ciego-clarividente. Su comentario incluye interpretaciones de los textos más
difíciles de los Decretos de Gregorio IX y se distingue por la claridad que
proyecta sobre cuestiones complejas y disputadas en materias de derecho
canónico. La obra se divide en cinco libros, al igual que los Decretos. Su
primera edición fue publicada en Roma en 1661, bajo el título Jus canonicum
seu comentaria absolutisima in quinque libros Decretalium. La obra ha sido
reproducida numerosas veces. A Fagnani se le reprocha el rigor excesivo de su
comentario del capítulo “Ne innitaris” de los Decretos (Libro I, De
constitutionibus), en el que combate la doctrina del probabilismo. San
Alfonso lo llama “magnus rigoristarum princeps,” el gran príncipe de los
rigoristas (Homo apostolicus, Tract.
I, no. 63; Theologia Moralis, IV,
no. 669. A. VAN HOVE
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User notes |
There might be editions of works that pre-date or post-date those cited herein. Reviews and Notes are grey-highlighted, on-line biographical information is underlined blue-linked, and matters in green highlights are of special interest. Yellow highlights are cautions for users while the markers "=", "≠", and "≈" are placeholders for use by webmaster. |
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Materials on this website represent the opinions of Dr. Edward Peters and are offered in accord with Canon 212 § 3. This website undergoes continual refinement and development. No warranty of completeness or correctness is made. Dr. Peters' views are not necessarily shared by others in the field nor are they intended as canonical or civil advice.
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Prospero Fagnanus (Italian cleric,
1588-1678), 
