WADDING, LUKAS. - Franciscan historian and theologian, b. at Waterford in Ireland on 16 Oct. 1588, d. at Rome on 18 Nov. 1657.

He completed his studies at the Irish College of Lisbon and at the University of Coimbra; in 1604 he entered the Order at Matozinhos (Oporto); a priest in 1613, he taught theology at Salamanca. In 1618 he was in Rome, as theologian of the ambassador of Philip III, to obtain the definition of the Immaculate Conception; for this purpose he wrote the Legatio Philippi III et IV pro definienda controversia Immaculatae Conceptionis B. M. V. (Louvain 1624). In Rome he carried on an intense activity on behalf of his persecuted compatriots. Procurator of the Order (1634), commissioner (1648) and member of various Roman Congregations, he renounced the cardinal's purple; he founded the Ludovician College and another at Capranica for Irish ecclesiastical and Franciscan vocations; but his principal work is the foundation of the College of St. Isidore, as a center of studies (1625).

Among his historical works the Annales Minorum stand out (8 vols., Lyon and Rome 1625-54), which run from the beginning of the Order to 1540; 2nd ed., 16 vols. [Rome 1731-36] edited by Fr. Fonseca, plus the continuation, by various authors, carried down to the year 1622 [Rome, Ancona, Naples, Quaracchi 1740-1886]; 3rd ed., 17 vols. [Quaracchi 1931-33] plus 13 of continuation down to 1660 [ibid. 1933-51]. Of great bibliographical value is the collection Scriptores Ordinis Minorum (Rome 1650; 2nd ed. ibid. 1906) completed by G. Sbaralea with the Supplementum et castigatio (Rome 1906; 2nd ed., 3 vols., ibid. 1908-36). Of the theological and philosophical writings mention should be made of: Apologeticus de praetens monachatu Augustiniano s. Francisci (Madrid 1625); Vita Io. Duns Scoti (Rome 1644); De morte B. M. Virginis (ibid. 1655); De redemption Deiparae semper Virginis and De Baptismo B. M. V. (ibid. 1656). W. also edited the edition of the works of John Duns Scotus (Lyon 1639) and that of the opuscules of St. Francis (Antwerp 1623). W. is considered the prince of Franciscan annalists.

Bibliography4 works

BIBL.: the principal bibliographical source is the Vita (Rome 1662), written five years after W.'s death by his nephew F. Harold; the best later studies are: G. Cleary, s. v. in Cath. Enc., XV, pp. 521-24; id., Father L. W. and St. Isidore's College Rome, Rome 1925; F. Casolini, L. W. l'annalista dei Francescani, Milan 1936 (with bibl.).

Gaudenzio Melani

WADDING, LUKAS - Frontispiece of the <em>Annales Minorum</em>, published in Lyon, by the press of Claude Landry 1625 - Copy from the Vatican Library. — WADDING, LUKAS - Frontispiece of the *Annales Minorum*, published in Lyon, by the press of Claude Landry 1625 - Copy from the Vatican Library.(phot. Enc. Catt.)

@incollection{ec12_wadding_lukas, author = {Melani, Gaudenzio}, title = {Wadding, lukas}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {XII}, pages = {1639--1641}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1954}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/wadding-lukas} }

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Wadding, Lukas

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