TITELMANS, FRANCISCUS. - Franciscan theologian, born at Hasselt (Belgium) in 1502 or shortly before, died in 1537. He studied philosophy at the University of Louvain, where in 1521 he obtained the degree of “magister artium”; after theological studies he was ordained priest for the diocese of Liège.
But in 1523 he entered the Order of S. Francis, where he was entrusted with teaching his fellow friars. He acquired a great reputation for learning even outside the Order. Desirous of silence and perfection, he entered (1536), with the permission of his superiors, among the Capuchins; elected provincial, he died prematurely.
All his works are written in Latin, except for a spiritual booklet. De Schot des Kretengelofs (Antwerp 1531; Latin version: Summa mysteriorum christianae fidei), a simple and clear exposition of Catholic doctrine through reflections and prayers; this is, together with De expositione mysteriorum Missae (1544), his most noteworthy treatise. His other works may be divided into four groups: philosophical, exegetical, theological-ascetical, and historical. His exegesis brought him into conflict with Erasmus.
BIBLI: Chrysostome de Calmphout, F. T. de Hasselt. Equus biographique, Roulets-Bruxelles 1903; A. Paquay, F. T. van Hasselt. Opzoekingen over zijn leven, zijn werken en zijn familie. Hasselt 1906; W. Schmitz, Het aandeel der Minderbroeders in onze middeleeuwse literatuur. Njmeg-a-Utrecht 1936, pp. 80-89; Biographie nationale de Belgique, XXV, Bruxelles 1930-1932, pp. 341-52. Pietro Grootens