Giannotti, Pietro

GIANNOTTI, PIETRO. - Mystical theologian, b. in 1695 at Città di Castello, d. on 28 Jan. 1773. He studied in Rome at the Collegio Fuccioli. Ordained a priest, he returned to his homeland where, after the resignation of his brother Virgilio (later bishop of Città della Pieve), he was appointed provost of the Cathedral (2 Dec. 1734).

He published interesting works of mystical theology, a distinguished monument of his piety, his zeal and his vast learning: Teologia mistica (3 vols., Lucca 1751); Vita della buona serva di Dio suor Angela Moscani cappuccina (Perugia 1757); Ristretto di mistica dottrinale ed esperimentale come pure dell'ascetica che dispone o accompagna alla mistica con sufficienti regole da discernere i spiriti (ibid. 1758), a compendium of the Teologia mistica. The author's doctrine is solidly founded on the teaching of the greatest doctors of the Church and of the best theologians of the various schools, as well as on the life of many saints and servants of God, not a few of them contemporaries, such as St. Veronica Giuliani, Sister Paola Novelli della Volontà di Dio, Sister Caterina Brondi, Sister Chiara Todi. Frequent are the reproofs of the pseudo-mysticism of Molinos, characterized as «an enemy of all mortification» (Ristretto, p. 243).

Felice Da Mareto