LORENZO COZZA. — Cardinal, noted for his theological learning and administrative abilities, was born on 31 March 1654 at S. Lorenzo Vecchio (Viterbo) and died in Rome on 18 January 1729. He entered the Friars Minor in the ancient Roman province in 1669, studied at Aracocli (Rome), taught philosophy at Naples, then theology at Viterbo and Rome (Aracocli), while also devoting himself to preaching.
He served as guardian at Viterbo (1691–93) and at Aracocli (1698–1701), as general visitor in Dalmatia (1696), provincial of the Roman province (1704–1707), counsellor to the nunciature in Lucerne (1707–08), custos of the Holy Land (1709–15) and concurrently apostolic commissioner for the Maronites, who had deposed their patriarch; he restored the latter to his see. Becoming minister general (1723–1726), he governed the Order with zeal and prudence until Benedict XIII created him cardinal with the title of S. Lorenzo in Panisperna and later of Aracocli. He was buried in S. Bartolomeo all’Isola (where his funerary monument still exists), to which he bequeathed his manuscripts, now in the Vatican Library (Vat. lat. 8786–8809, described by L. Oliger, Vita, pp. 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 Quodvultdeum (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 dogmaticorum de ieiunio ecclesiastico (Rome 1724). Other works, including his theological lectures, remain unpublished.
HISTORIA POLÉMICA DE GRACORUM SCHISMATE
Ex Ecclesiasticis Monumentis concinnata
LA BOREA EST STUDIO
P. LAURENTII COZZA A S. LAURENTIO
Ordinis Minorum Regularis Observantiae, Provinciae Romanae
Lectoris Jubilati, ex Guardiani Sac. Moetis Sion, actuarius
Terrae Sanctae Custos, Sacrae Congregationis Indicis
Conflator, Supremi Romani ac Universalis Inquisitoris
Qualificator, & in Romana Observantia
Familiae Vice-Commissarii Generalis,
TOMUS II.
In quo praeter Historiam exstat dignitatem, amant et frugaliter controuersias
Plurimas ad initium Concilii Legumque Gregorii XII Pontificatus,
unicum inter Ecclesiam Orientalem et Romanam Occidentalem exortum,
fama cum diligentia disputantur.
OBLATUS
Eminentissime, & Reverendissime Domine
D. LAURENTIO
CASONI
S. R. E. Cardinali Amplissimae, actuarius Seraphici
S. P. N. Francisci Ordinis Protectori Vigilantissimo
PARS III ET IV.
ECCLESIASTICI Cap. 5. vol. 9.
Nec officiis certatissimae Protectorum firmitatem, & in Romana
Observantia exortis. At officiis etiam officiis firmitatis, & in Romana
Observantia