Réginald Antonin

RÉGINALD ANTONIN. - Dominican theologian and polemicist, b. at Albi in 1606, d. at Toulouse on 12 April 1676; in the world Antoine Ravaille. A religious at Avignon (1624), he taught philosophy and theology in the convents of Avignon and Toulouse, and from 1671 held the chair of theology at the University of Toulouse. He took part in Rome in the De Auxiliis dispute (1652-53). He was superior of the reformed province of Toulouse (1653-57).

Of acute intelligence, learned and eloquent, he was highly esteemed by his contemporaries and polemicized at length with the Jesuits (particularly with Fr. Annat) over the problem of Grace. Of fiery character, he sometimes overstepped the limits of propriety. He published his first work anonymously: Quaestio theologica historica... quae fuerit mens Concilii Tridentini circa Gratiam efficacem et scientiam mediam (dating it Venice 1607, instead of Toulouse 1644, perhaps to evade the decree of Paul V). To the Jesuits' reply he responded with the Theses apologeticae (Paris 1644). He also wrote: Dissertatio de cathechismi romani auctoritate (Toulouse 1748); Doctrinae D. Thomae A. tria principia cum suis conseguentiis (3 vols., ibid. 1670); De mente S. Concilii Tridentini circa Gratiam seipsa efficacem (Antwerp 1706).

Alfonso D'Amato