FOSCARARI, EGIDIO. - Dominican bishop and theologian, b. at Bologna on 27 Jan. 1512, d. at Rome on 23 Dec. 1564. He entered religious life at Bologna on 14 March 1526, and studied and taught for several years in his native city. Inquisitor and prior at Bologna (1546-47), master of the Sacred Palace (3 Apr. 1547), he was finally bishop of Modena (1550). An example to all of goodness and simplicity, he laboured greatly to combat poverty and immorality. Unjustly accused of heresy, he was a prisoner in Castel S. Angelo for several months (21 Jan. - 18 Aug. 1558). His complete innocence was officially recognized only in 1560. He took part in the Council of Trent (1551-52; 1562-63), where he maintained that the residence of bishops should be declared a precept of divine law; he was a member of the Commission for the compilation of the Index, together with other Dominicans (Marini and Foretro), and played a major part in the compilation of the Roman Catechism and in the revision of the Breviary and the Missal.
FOSCARARI, EGIDIO
BIBL.: Quatif-Echard, II, pp. 184-86; G. Fantuzzi, Notizie degli scrittori bolognesi, III, Bologna 1785, pp. 247-52; J. Taurisano, Hierarchia O. P., Roma 1916, pp. 32-33; P. Paschini, Il Catechismo del Concilio di Trento, ivi 1923; Pastor, VII (v. indice). Alfonso D'Amato
Cite this article
“FOSCARARI, EGIDIO.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. V (1950), p. 919. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/foscarari-egidio.