ANTONIO MARIA DA RIGNANO

ANTONIO MARIA da RIGNANO. - Franciscan, theologian, and writer; secular name A. Fania, born at Rignano Garganico (Foggia) on 5 February 1804, died in Rome on 23 January 1880. He entered the Franciscan Order in 1823, studied in Bologna, and became a lecturer in philosophy and theology in his province of S. Angelo delle Puglie, of which he was also provincial (1835–38). Called to Rome, he served as general secretary (1839–44) and then procurator general (1844–50) of his Order, consultor to various Roman Congregations, and finally bishop of Marsico and Potenza (1867–80). Besides being a respected theologian (cf. V. SARDI, La solenne definizione del dogma dell’Immacolato Conce-pimento di Maria Santissima, I, Rome 1904, pp. 757–777), he contributed to reforms in Franciscan studies and promoted discipline, publishing Lo specchio della disciplina (once attributed to St. Bonaventure), Rome 1851. His Italian writings on various subjects were appreciated for their linguistic purity. Politically, he inclined toward liberalism.