COZZA, LORENZO. - Cardinal, noted for his theological learning and his gifts for government, b. 31 March 1654 at S. Lorenzo Vecchio (Viterbo), d. in Rome on 18 Jan. 1729. A Friar Minor in the ancient Roman province (1669), he studied at the Aracoeli (Rome), taught philosophy at Naples, then theology at Viterbo and at Rome (Aracoeli), also devoting himself to preaching.
He was guardian at Viterbo (1691-93) and at the Aracoeli (1698-1701), visitator general in Dalmatia (1696), provincial of the Roman province (1704-1707), counsellor of the nunciature of Lucerne (1707-08), custos of the Holy Land (1709-15) and at the same time apostolic commissioner for the Maronites, who had deposed their patriarch, whom he restored to his see. Having become minister general (1723-1726), he governed the Order with zeal and prudence, until Benedict XIII created him cardinal of the title of S. Lorenzo in Panisperna, then of the Aracoeli. He was buried in S. Bartolomeo all'Isola (where the funeral monument still exists) and to which he bequeathed his manuscripts, today in the Vatican Library (Vat. lat. 8786-8809, described by L. Oliger [Vita, p. 165-173]).
His principal work, written in the Holy Land, is the Historia polemica de Graecorum schismate (4 vols. in-fol., Rome 1719-20). Other studies are patristic, such as Vindiciae Areopagiticae (ibid. 1702); Commentarii historico-dogmatici in librum s. Augustini de haeresibus ad Quodvultideum (2 vols. in-fol., ibid. 1707-17). Two works concern moral theology: Dubia selecta circa sollicitationem (ibid. 1709, Florence 1713, Venice 1750, Rome 1765); Tractatus dogmatico-moralis de ieiunio ecclesiastico (Rome 1724). Other works, such as his theology lectures, are unpublished.
Bibliography4 works
Livario Oliger
