MENOCHIO, GIOVANNI STEFANO. — Jesuit theologian and exegete, b. at Pavia in December 1575, d. at Rome on 4 February 1655. He taught biblical exegesis and moral theology at Milan; he was superior of various colleges, rector of the Collegio Romano, provincial of Milan and Rome, and admonisher to Generals Carafa and Piccolomini.
His Brevis explicatio sensus literalis totius Sacrae Scripturae ex optimis quibusque auctoribus per epitomen col-
lected (Cologne 1630), esteemed and sought after, was first reproduced on its own and then in various collections, about thirty times until 1873, when it was included in La Ste Bible by C. F. Drioux (8 vols., Paris 1872–73). As a result of the following editions, which were full of typographical errors, the Jesuit J. R. Tournemine (d. in 1739) prepared a new edition, emended and enriched with valuable dissertations on supplementary questions, drawn from other authors such as J. Bonfrère, J. Mariana, J. Acosta, etc.; he praised M. for his expertise in the biblical languages, exegetical acumen, patristic learning, theological soundness, careful research, and sober, clear exposition.
Other works: Hieropoliticum, sive Institutiones politicee e S. Scripturis depromptae (Lyons 1625); Institutiones oeconomicae ex S. Literis depromptae (Paris 1627), also printed in Italian (Venice 1656) with additions and under the title Economia cristiana; Le suore di Gio. Corona (pseudonym of Stefano), composed of varied sacred, moral, and profane erudition (Rome 1646); De republica Hebraeorum (Paris 1648); Historia sacra della vita, attioni, doctrina, miracoli, passioni, morte, risurettione e salita al Cielo del N. Redentore, Salvatore G. C. (Rome 1653); Historia sacra degli Atti degli Apostoli (ibid. 1654).