SEGNERI, PAOLO, IUNIORE. – Jesuit, popular missionary, nephew of the great preacher, born in Rome on 18 October 1673, died in Senigallia on 15 June 1713.
Having entered the Order, after completing his studies at the Collegio Romano on 25 May 1689, he devoted himself, like the 210, to preaching and especially to popular missions, travelling through most of central Italy and part of northern Italy. He was always accompanied by great success on account of his effective and captivating eloquence, as Muratori observes (v. BIBLICA), and his gentle, penetrating speech, pleasing to everyone.
He composed: Dell'amore di Dio e dei mezzi per conquistarlo (Lucca 1707, reprinted several times; it is a version, with the addition of pious reflections, of the little work by Fr. F. Nepveu); Esercizii spirituali esposti secondo il metodo del p. P. S. iuniore da L. A. Muratori (Modena 1720); this work gave rise to the bitter questions and discussions between Muratori and the doctors of the University of Salzburg and many other theologians, among them several Jesuits, who accused Muratori of maintaining that devotion to Mary was not necessary for salvation. He also composed various other spiritual pamphlets, generally examinations (on the love of God, the proper use of confession, charity, poverty, etc.), published by Muratori and especially by F. Carrara: Opere postume del p. P. S. (3 vols., Bassano 1795).