PONTIUS, BASILIO (Legionensis, PONCE de LEÓN). - Augustinian theologian, b. at Granata on 6 Sept. 1596, d. at Salamanca on 28 Aug. 1629.
He taught theology at the Royal College of Alcalá and from 1608 successively held the most important chairs at the University of Salamanca, of which he later also became chancellor (1620). Upon the arrival of Giansenio in the city, P. had sixty professors subscribe to a decree of fidelity to the doctrines of St Augustine and St Thomas, and published the volume: De tenenda ac docenda doctrina ss. Augustini et Thomae judicium (Salamanca 1627, Roma 1657).
Among other works, he wrote Tractatus de impedimentis matrimonii (Salamanca 1613, 1624), a classic work recast in: De Sacramento Matrimonii ll. XII (Bruxelles 1627, Lione 1640, Venezia 1645); De aquae et vini conversione in Sacramento Eucharistiae disputatio (Salamanca 1622); De Sacramento Confirmationis liber unicus (Lovanio 1642); Relectio posthuma de Sacramento Confirmationis (Salamanca 1638, Lovanio 1642). P. left several manuscripts preserved at the British Museum in London, the National Library of Madrid, and the Biblioteca Angelica in Rome.