VERRATI, GIOVANNI MARIA. - Carmelite theologian and controversialist, born at Ferrara about 1490, died there on 20 July 1563.
For many years he taught Sacred Scripture and theology at Bologna and Ferrara; he was definitor general of his Congregation and several times prior at Ferrara. A resolute opponent of Lutheranism, he combated it in the Disputationes adversus lutheranos (Bologna 1538), in which, in 15 treatises, he dealt with the most controversial issues (faith and works, free will and predestination, the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, Purgatory, and indulgences). Also consistently anti-Lutheran in background were: Super sermone Domini in monte (Venice 1547); De incarnatione Verbi Domini (there 1551); Homiliae, or com-
mentaries on the Sunday Gospels for the whole year (there 1556). Among his pamphlets mention should be made of: De iustificatione (there 1547); De divina et aeterna praedestinatione (there 1556); De Gratia et libero arbitrio (there 1558); De suffragiis annuisque legalis defunctorum (there 1558); and the last, in support of the Council of Trent: Contra responsiones et protestationes eorum, qui ad generale concilium venire contemnunt (Ferrara 1561).