WADDING, LUKAS. – Franciscan historian and theologian, b. at Waterford in Ireland on 16 October 1588, d. in Rome on 18 November 1657.
He completed his studies at the Irish College in Lisbon and at the University of Coimbra; in 1604 he entered the Order at Matozinhos (Oporto); ordained a priest in 1613, he taught theology at Salamanca. In 1618 he was in Rome as theologian to the ambassador of Philip III, who sought the definition of the Immaculate Conception; for this purpose he composed Legatio Philippi III et IV pro definienda controversia Immaculatae Conceptionis B. M. V. (Louvain 1624). In Rome he engaged in intense activity on behalf of his persecuted compatriots. Procurator of the Order (1634), commissary (1648), and member of various Roman Congregations, he declined the cardinalate; he founded the Ludovician College and another at Capranica for Irish ecclesiastical and Franciscan vocations; but his principal achievement was the foundation of the College of S. Isidore as a center of study (1625).
Among his historical works, the Annales Minorum (8 vols., Lyons and Rome 1625–54) stand out; they cover the period 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 through the year 1622 [Rome, Ancona, Naples, Quaracchi 1740–1886]; 3rd ed., 17 vols. [Quaracchi 1931–33], plus 13 volumes of continuation through 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). Among his theological and philosophical writings, the following should be mentioned: 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 works of Giovanni Duns Scoto (Lyons 1639) and the opuscula of s. Francesco (Antwerp 1623). W. is regarded as the foremost of the Franciscan annalists.