Godoy, Pedro de

GODOY, PEDRO de. - Dominican theologian and bishop, b. at Aldeanueva (Spanish Extremadura) at the beginning of the 17th century, d. at Sigüenza in 1677. A religious at Salamanca, he completed his studies at Valladolid. For 25 years he held the chair of theology at Salamanca with honor and renown. Appointed bishop of Osuna (31 March 1664), in 1672 he was transferred to the see of Sigüenza.

Of profound, ready and subtle intelligence, he became one of the best theologians and preachers of his time. He published his commentary on St. Thomas in various volumes: I Disputationes theologicae in tertiam partem d. Thomae (3 vols., Osuna 1666-68); II Disputationes theologicae in primam partem d. Thomae (3 vols., ibid. 1669-71); Disputationes theologicae in primam secundae d. Thomae (ibid. 1672; this last part is incomplete because it contains only the commentary on De beatitudine, De peccatis and on De Gratia). Gonet was an enthusiastic admirer of G. and introduced into his Clipeus theologiae thomisticae (1659-69) various passages from the Disputationes, even before these were published, having come to know them through the many manuscripts of the work, which because of the master's fame soon multiplied in Spain, Italy and France.

Alfonso D'Amato