TOMMASO di STRASBURGO. – Theologian of the Order of the Hermits of St. Augustine, born at Hagenau in Alsace, died at Vienna in 1357.
He himself states (In IV Sent., dist. 37–38, q. 1, a. 4) that he was present at Padua during the trial for heresy (1316) brought against Pietro d’Abano, who had died shortly before. In 1332 he was definitor for the Rhenish-
(photo Alinari)
TOMMASO da MODENA – Popes Innocent V and Benedict XI and Cardinal Leo of Provence. Detail of the frescoes (1352) in the Chapter House of the Dominicans of S. Niccolò – Treviso, Seminary.
Swabian province at the General Chapter of Venice. In 1335 he began lecturing on the Sentences at Paris, where in 1337 or shortly thereafter he obtained his doctorate in theology. In 1343 he was provincial prior of his province; from 1345 to 1357, prior general of the Order. During his tenure he worked extensively to reorganize studies, both at the convent of Paris and by establishing new provincial Studia.
As a philosopher and theologian, he remained on the whole faithful Egidio Romano (v.), endeavouring to reconcile Aristotle with St. Augustine and frequently drawing close to St. Thomas. He took a position against the via moderna of Pietro d’Auriole and Occam, something that cannot be said of his confrère and successor to the chair at Paris, Gregorio da Rimini. With regard to predestination «post praevisa merita», he seems to have followed the path later taken in the sixteenth century by Molina (v.).