OJETTI, BENEDETTO. — Canon lawyer, b. in Roma on 5 Apr. 1862, d. there on 30 Sept. 1932. Having entered the Society of Jesus in 1878 and devoted himself to juridical studies, he was appointed professor of canon law at the Gregorian University in 1896; in 1898 he was transferred to the chair of dogmatic theology; in 1913 he was recalled to the Faculty of Law, which he held almost until his death.
His learned teaching, which won him the admiration of the juridical world, was embodied in valuable writings: besides numerous articles in various periodicals, he wrote: In jus antepianum et pianum ex decreto «Ne Temere», de forma celebrationis sponsalium et matrimonii commentarii (Roma 1908); Synopsis rerum moralium et iuris pontificii (ibid. 1899), a work so immediately widespread as to require three editions within a short time (the 3rd in 4 vols., ibid. 1909–14), and of ever-current scientific value: De Romana Curia. Commentarius in Const. apost. «Sapienti consilio» (ibid. 1910); Commentarium in CIC (4 vols., ibid. 1927–31), a work left unfinished at can. 214 owing to the author's death.
Fr. O. was also consultor to the Sacred Congregations of the Consistory, of the Sacraments, of the Council, of Propaganda, of Rites, and of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, and to the Commission for the authentic interpretation of canon law, in the preparation of which he was among the first to work with Card. P. Gasparri.