BANÉZ, DOMINGO. - Dominican theologian, renowned cultivator and interpreter of St. Thomas Aquinas, born on 29 February 1528 in Valladolid and died on 21 October 1604 in Medina del Campo. His original name was Beñes, later Hispanicized as *Báñez*. After his initial studies in Medina del Campo, he continued them around the age of 15 in Salamanca, where, three years later, he entered the Dominican Order, making his profession in the convent of S. Stefano (1547). There he completed his studies under distinguished masters such as Melchior Cano and Domingo Soto. In 1552, he began his long teaching career: for three years he taught the arts in the convent of S. Stefano, then for five years he lectured on the *Summa* of St. Thomas. Subsequently (1559-60), he taught Sacred Scripture in the same convent. In 1560 he was sent to Avila as professor of theology in the restored general study of the Order; in the years 1567-69 he was in Alcalá, again as professor of theology in the convent of S. Tommaso. He returned in 1570 to Salamanca, where he continued theological teaching until 1573; he then went to Valladolid, where he taught until 1577 in the college of S. Gregorio. In 1577, when the theological chair at the University of Salamanca known as the "Durand chair" became vacant, B. competed for it and won brilliantly. Three years later (1581), upon the death of Bartolomeo di Medina, the "primam" chair of the same university became vacant, and B. succeeded him, again through competition, holding it for 20 years, that is, until 1600, when, four years before his death, burdened by old age, he requested to retire.
B. holds an important place in the history of theology, particularly in the history of Thomism. A serious interpreter of St. Thomas, whom he sincerely loved and claimed to follow in all things, through many years of study and teaching he had ample opportunity to master his doctrine thoroughly, though clothing it in a certain rigidity, to which his temperament inclined him. This became particularly evident when in 1588 Luis de Molina published his *Concordia liberi arbitrii cum gratiae donis*, on the difficult problem of grace and predestination. Officially asked for his judgment on Molina's book, B. believed he found in it the reproduction of some propositions condemned a few years earlier by the Spanish Inquisition, following the discussions aroused at the University of Salamanca by the thesis on the freedom of Christ, defended by Prudencio de Monte Mayor and supported by Luis de León. The controversy with Molina took on well-known proportions, with the intervention first of the Inquisition, then the referral of the entire matter to the tribunal of the Supreme Pontiff, and the consequent establishment of the *Congregatio de auxiliis* (q.v.). It was during this controversy that B., in collaboration with other Dominicans, published the *Apologia Fratrum Praedicatorum in provincia Hispaniae s. Theologiae professorum acervus quasdam assertiones cuiusdam doctores Ludovici Molinae nuncupati* (Madrid 1595). The doctrine on divine concurrence, grace, and predestination that in this work, as in his commentaries on the *Summa*, B. defended, and for which he is chiefly renowned in the history of theology, tends to emphasize the sovereignty and absolute dominion of God over the actions of the free creature. While acknowledging B.'s sincere intentions, which aimed at a faithful development of Thomist principles, many scholars have judged that on this particular subject he strained the thought of St. Thomas (q.V. BANNESIANISM).
B., a brilliant professor, eloquent orator, sincere controversialist, and writer with a somewhat harsh style but firm in dialectical vigor and depth of thought, was also a religious of exemplary life and a sure guide in the ways of holiness. For six years he was confessor to St. Teresa, whom he met in Avila in 1562, and throughout his life he was her valued advisor. He was also on intimate terms with King Philip II, from whom he received several confidential assignments, and in the end he served as qualificator of the Inquisition.
Works of B., besides the already cited *Apologia*: *Scholastica Commentaria in Ima* part of the Angelic Doctor (2 vols., first published in Salamanca, 1584 and 1588); *Scholastica Commentaria in 2a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 1a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 2a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 3a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 4a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 5a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 6a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 7a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 8a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 9a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 10a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 11a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 12a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 13a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and(2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 50a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 51a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 52a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 53a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 54a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 55a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 56a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 57a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 58a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 59a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 60a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 61a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 62a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 63a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 64a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 65a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 66a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 67a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 68a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 69a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 70a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 71a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 72a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 73a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 74a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 75a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 76a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 77a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 78a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 79a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 80a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 81a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 82a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 83a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 84a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 85a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 86a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 87a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 88a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 89a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 90a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 91a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 92a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 93a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 94a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 95a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 96a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 97a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 98a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 99a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 100a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 101a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 102a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 103a*In 104a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 105a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 106a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 107a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 108a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 109a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 110a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 111a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 112a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 113a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 114a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 115a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 116a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 117a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 118a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 119a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 120a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 121a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 122a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 123a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 124a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 125a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 126a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 127a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 128a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 129a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 130a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 131a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 132a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 133a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 134a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 135a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 136a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 137a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 138a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 139a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 140a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 141a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 142a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 143a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 144a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 145a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 146a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 147a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 148a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 149a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 150a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 151a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 152a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 153a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 154a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 155a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 156a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 157a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 158a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 159a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 160a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 161a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 162a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 163a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 164a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 165a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 166a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594);
*In 167a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and*In 209a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 210a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 211a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 212a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 213a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 214a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 215a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 216a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 217a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 218a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 219a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 220a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 221a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 222a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 223a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 224a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 225a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 226a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 227a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 228a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 229a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 230a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 231a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 232a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 233a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 234a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 235a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 236a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 237a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 238a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 239a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 240a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 241a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 242a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 243a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 244a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 245a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 246a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 247a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 248a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 249a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 250a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 251a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 252a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 253a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 254a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 255a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 256a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 257a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 258a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 259a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 260a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 261a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 262a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 263a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 264a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 265a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 266a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 267a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 268a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 269a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 270a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 271a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 272a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 273a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 274a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 275a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 276a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 277a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 278a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 279a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 280a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 281a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 282a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 283a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 284a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 285a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 286a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 287a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 288a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 289a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 290a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 291a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 292a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 293a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 294a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 295a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 296a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 297a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 298a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 299a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 300a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 301a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 302a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 303a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 304a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 305a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 306a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 307a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 308a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 309a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 310a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 311a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 312a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 313a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 314a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 315a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 316a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 317a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 318a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 319a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 320a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 321a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 322a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 323a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 324a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 325a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 326a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 327a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 328a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 329a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594); *In 330a* (2 vols., ibid. 1584 and 1594)
With a population of approximately 9,150,000 inhabitants, the vast majority of whom are Buddhist. Catholic missionary work there is slow due to the scarcity of personnel, the difficulties inherent in the environment, and competition from American Protestants, especially in the field of education. To all this was added, at the end of 1940, a fierce persecution, which resulted in the closure of all Catholic schools and the sentencing of some indigenous priests to various years in prison. The situation has now improved. In 1948, the Catholics of the vicariate numbered 28,783, served by 23 missionaries and 34 indigenous priests. The Brothers of St. Gabriel were 27, and the sisters, belonging to four different congregations, numbered 250. There is also a minor seminary with four students, and the monthly magazine *Sarata* has resumed publication.
GIOVANNI B. TRAGELLA