GHELLINCK d'ELSEGHEM, JOSEPH de. — Historian of theology and patrologist, b. at Ghent on 30 Oct. 1873, d. at Louvain on 4 Jan. 1950. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1889 at Tronchiennes, pursued his philosophical studies at Stonyhurst (England) and his theological studies at Louvain (1901–1905). After a brief stay in Linz (Austria), he returned to his homeland and, in contact with the Bollandists (De Smet, Delehaye, Peeters, Poncelet, Van Ortroy), formed himself in that rigorous method which he would later apply so successfully in his teaching and writings. In 1906 he began teaching patrology at the Jesuit scholasticate in Louvain, to which he added the history of dogma in 1915. From 1925 to 1932 he spent several months each year in Rome directing the practical exercises (seminar) in positive theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. After the First World War, he founded, together with Lebon and Martin, the *Spicilegium Sacrum Lovaniense*, universally renowned. In 1942 he retired from teaching to devote himself to the publication of his works.
His writings include: *L'Eucharistie au XIIe siècle en Occident* (in *DThC*, V, cols. 1233–1302), a dense historical-doctrinal article that revealed the author’s scientific abilities; *Le mouvement théologique du XIIe siècle* (Paris 1914; 2nd ed., revised and expanded, Brussels-Paris 1948), his magnum opus, in which the results of fifty years of medieval studies are fused into a harmonious synthesis, from which the theological face of the 12th century shines forth luminously; *Pour l'histoire du mot sacramentum. I. Les antécédents* (Louvain 1924), in collaboration; *Les exercices pratiques du séminaire en théologie* (Paris 1934; 4th ed., ibid. 1948), a methodological pamphlet in which the author condensed the experience of many years and his vast knowledge in positive theology; *Pierre Lombard* (in *DThC*, XII, cols. 1941–2019), a magisterial article; *Littérature latine au moyen âge* (2 vols., Paris 1930); *L'essor de la littérature latine au XIIe siècle* (2 vols., ibid. 1946), in which the specialist of the 12th century displays the full measure of his resources; *Patristique et moyen âge* (3 vols., Gembloux-Paris 1946–49; the 4th vol. in preparation), a collection of studies and essays tracing the various phases of his passionate investigations into important topics (e.g., the 1st vol. is devoted to studies on the Apostles’ Creed). His numerous articles are scattered across the leading journals of history and theology.
Tempered as a scholar whose strong intellect was served by a rigorous, strictly applied method and by indefatigable industry, he constantly aimed to elevate Catholic studies so as to match and surpass those of Protestants. His many and esteemed publications show with what generosity he devoted himself to this ideal and how he frequently attained II.
GHELLINI, GELIO, Venerable — Portrait — Vicenza, Istituto della Misericordia.