SALSMANS, JOSEPH. - Jesuit, moralist, b. at Antwerp on 2 September 1873, d. at Malines on 19 January 1944.
Having entered the Order in 1891, he was appointed in 1907 to the chair of moral theology at Louvain, succeeding, after an interval of 7 years, his uncle, Fr. E. Génicot. He taught for 29 years, training a good number of Jesuits and members of other congregations for the delicate office of confessor and spiritual director. From 1936 to 1942 he was superior at Malines; afterwards he devoted himself to various ministries.
A lively, clear, methodical teacher, he knew well how to distinguish the principal from the accessory, expressed himself in easy and brief forms, and made use of practical principles rich in experience. He took charge of the successive editions of his uncle's Institutiones theologiae moralis, from the 6th to the 15th (Brussels 1908-42; he died while preparing the 16th), always revising the text, bringing it up to date and applying, even in the typographical presentation, his fine didactic qualities. He also brought up to date the 2 vols. of the Casus conscientiae from the 4th to the 7th ed. (ibid. 1932-38). He furthermore published numerous works on moral subjects in order to reach the most diverse circles: for example, Rechtelijke Pflichtenleer. Deontologia iuridica (ibid. 1914, 3rd ed. 1937); Geneeskundige Pflichtenleer. Deontologia medica (ibid. 1919, 4th ed. 1935); Pflichtenboekje voor Ziekenverpleging (deontology for nurses, ibid. 1927, 5th ed. 1944); Over Pharmaceutische Zedehleer (deontology for pharmacists, ibid. 1932); De index en de herkelijke Boekenwetten (ibid. 1921, 3rd ed. 1939); Biechthoeren (for confessors, ibid. 1933) etc., and moreover numerous articles in various cultural periodicals.
Bibliography2 works
Celestino Tostore