FRANCESCO and BONAR SPER. — To the world, Francesco Crespin, a Carmelite theologian, so named by the convent of "Bonne Espérance" (near Valenciennes) to which he belonged. Born in Lille on 20 June 1617, died in Brussels on 5 January 1677. He taught philosophy and theology at the University of Louvain, served twice as superior of the Flemish-Belgian province, and held the offices of prior and definitor on multiple occasions.
His most important works include: *Commentarii tres in universam Aristotelis philosophiam* (Brussels 1652); *Commentarii in universam theologiae scholasticam* (6 vols., Antwerp 1662); *Nocua Belgica adversus Aquilam Germaniae* (Louvain 1651); *Lucra s. Thomas* (Brussels 1664).
BIBL.: C. de Villiers, *Bibl. Carm.*, I, 2nd ed., Rome 1927, pp. 482–85.