MAMACHI, TOMMASO MARIA. - Dominican theologian and historian, born on the island of Chios on 3 Dec. 1713, died at Corneto Tarquinia (now Tarquinia, Viterbo) on 5 June 1792. A student and professor at the convent of S. Marco (Florence), he received (1740) from Benedetto XIV the chair of philosophy at the Urban College of Propaganda Fide in Rome. In 1746 he was elected librarian and then, after three years (28 Apr. 1749), Casanatan theologian for Italy. Pio VI appointed him secretary of the S. Congregation of the Index (1779) and, in 1781, master of the S. Palaces. He was examiner of bishops and theologian to several cardinals.
Through his works, especially archaeological and historical ones, partly polemical, M. reveals not only great learning but also a profound knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages. An initial survey of all his writings, published and unpublished, was prepared by A. Papillon (v. BIBLICA). Highly learned is the work Originum et antiquitatum christianarum libri XX, of which only the
first 4 were published (Rome 1749–55). Particularly worthy of mention, especially for Dominican diplomatic history, is the edition which he prepared, in collaboration with the Dominicans F. Pollidori, V. Badetti, and E. D. Cristianopulo (members of the first Dominican historical society, over which M. had been placed), of vol. I of the Annales Ordinis Praedicatorum (Rome 1756), begun by A. Bremond, with notes and an Appendix of documents; it deals only with the period comprising the life of St. Domenico (1170–1221).
Other works: De animabus iustorum in sinu Abrahae ante Christi mortem, expertibus beatae visionis Dei libri duo (Rome 1766) and Del diritto libero della Chiesa di acquistare e di possedere beni temporali, si mobili che stabili, libri tre (Venice 1766, Rome 1769–70).