LA M. A. JACQUES. "Theologian, b. in 1864 at Aerschot (Belgium), d. at Liège on 23 Oct. 1924. He graduated brilliantly in philosophy and theology at the Gregorian University, taught philosophy at the Seminary of St-Trond and in 1904 at the University of Louvain, where in 1906 he obtained the chair of Dogmatic Theology. In 1914 he was appointed Vicar General of Liège and in 1919 was consecrated auxiliary bishop to Mons. Rutten.
He published two fine monographs: *La Rédemption* (Louvain 1911); *Controverse sur les futurs contingents à l’Université de Louvain au XVe siècle* (ibid. 1906). Passionate about the then-current problem of evolution, he wrote: *Que nous enseigne le premier chapitre de la Genèse?* (ibid. 1903); *L’idée d’évolution chez st Augustin* (ibid. 1908); *La philosophie de l’incomparable, la théorie de l’Evolution, étude critique des «Premiers Principes» de H. Spencer* (ibid. 1907); *Evolution et causalité* (ibid. 1931). In these works he reveals himself a convinced advocate of transformism. A theologian of vast philosophical erudition and versed in the natural sciences, he anticipated his times.
LAMMENS, Henri. "Jesuit, renowned Islamic scholar, b. at Ghent on 10 Apr. 1862, d. at Beirut on 23 Apr. 1937. Having arrived in Syria while still a youth of sixteen, he later became professor at the Université Saint-Joseph in Beirut from 1882 until his death, except for the years 1908-19, during part of which (1911-14) he taught Arabic at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Lammens became widely known for his studies on pre-Islamic Arabia, the *sīrah*, and the figure of Muḥammad.
His masterpiece, *Fátima et les filles de Mahomet* (Rome 1912), offered a new solution, generally accepted, to the historical value of traditional Islamic sources. Also fundamental is his work: *Le berceau de l’Islam, l’Arabie occidentale à la veille de l’hégire*, I. *Le climat, les Bédouins* (Rome 1914). Of a character that is highly popularizing yet closely grounded in sources are the two manuals: *La Syrie, précis historique* (Beirut 1921) and *L’Islam, croyances et institutions* (ibid. 1926). Lammens contributed assiduously to the *Mélanges de l’Université Saint-Joseph* and to the *Encyclopédie de l’Islam*. Prof. G. Levi Della Vida called Lammens “one of the most distinguished historians of the origins of Islam, a worthy companion of Wellhausen and Caetani.”
LA MORICIÈRE LOUIS-CHRISTOPHE – LAMORMAINI WILHELM
Thus ended his final exploit. When Pius IX, after the secession of the Romagna (June 1859), saw his freedom threatened, he turned for help to Catholics throughout the world; first among those summoned was precisely La Moricière. Knowing full well that he was embarking on a desperate enterprise and risking his military reputation, La Moricière was ready and magnanimous. To De Corcelles, who sounded out his intentions (Oct. 1859), he declared himself willing even to die for such a cause; to his kinsman and former comrade-in-arms Mons. De Merode, who brought him the formal invitation (3 Mar. 1860), he added that a son cannot but hasten to the call of the Father. Secretly departing from Paris, he landed at Ancona, assumed supreme command of the papal troops at Rome on 9 Apr., and in a few months, aided by the new Minister of War, Mons. De Merode, he renewed and strengthened the entire army. When his four mobile brigades and the antiquated fortresses were suddenly attacked by superior royalist forces in the Marches and Umbria (11 Sept. 1860), the new and veteran papal soldiers fought and died, upholding the honor of the flag. The resistance put up by the strongholds of Pesaro, San Leo, and Spoleto, and the field actions of the Schmidt brigade near Perugia and the De Courten brigade near Sant’Angelo, enabled La Moricière to cross the Apennines with the De Pimodan and Kropf brigades. Arriving at Loreto on the evening of 17 Sept., he found the road to Ancona blocked by some three royalist divisions; nonetheless, the next morning he succeeded in surprising them CASTELFIDARDO, BATTAGLIA DI (v.), whence, thanks to the sacrifice of nearly all his troops, he managed to reach and shut himself up in Ancona (v. ANCONA E NUMANA, ARCIDIOCESI DI, ARCIDIOCESI di). There he held out for ten days of stubborn defense (19-29 Sept.) with only four thousand men against two army corps and the entire naval squadron.