BELLELLI, FULGENZIO. — Augustinian theologian, b. at Buccino, in Campania, in 1675, d. at Rome on 22 Jan. 1742. He was professor of philosophy and theology in the principal houses of study which his Order had in Italy (Rome, Siena, Florence, Naples, Venice). In 1727 he was appointed to the office of superior general, which he held for six years. Before and after his generalship he occupied the position of prefect of the Angelica Library in Rome. Thoroughly versed in the study of the works of St. Augustine, he illuminated and vigorously defended against Pelagians, Baianists, and Jansenists the doctrine of the holy Doctor. His language, which not infrequently betrayed harshness and intolerance, provoked his adversaries to oppose him with vehemence, and because of some daring or insufficiently explained phrases, he was by rivals grouped with the heretics whom he himself was combating.
Principal works: *Mens Augustini de statu creaturae rationalis ante peccatum, contra pelagianos, bajanos et jansenistas* (Lucerne 1711); *Mens Augustini de modo reparationis humanae naturae post lapsum, adversus bajanam et jansenistam haeresim* (2 vols., Rome 1737; ibid. 1738; ibid. 1740); *De Incarnatione Verbi Divini dissertatio* (Perugia 1716, manuscript in the Angelica Library, cod. 1350 [T. 4: 24]).