WADDING, LUKAS. — Franciscan historian and theologian, born in Waterford, Ireland, on 16 Oct. 1588, died in Rome on 18 Nov. 1657.
He pursued his studies at the Irish College in Lisbon and at the University of Coimbra; in 1604 he entered the Order of the Friars Minor (Oporto); ordained priest in 1613, he taught theology at Salamanca. In 1618 he was in Rome as theologian to 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 definenda controversia Immaculatae Conceptionis B. M. V. (Louvain 1624). In Rome he carried out intense activity on behalf of his persecuted compatriots. Procurator General of the Order (1634), commissioner (1648) and member of various Roman Congregations, he declined the cardinal’s hat; he founded the Collegio Ludovisiano and another at Capranica for Irish ecclesiastical and Franciscan vocations; but his principal work was the founding of the Collegio di S. Isidoro as a centre of studies (1625).
Among his historical works stand out the Annales Minorum (8 vols., Lyons and Rome 1625-54), which extend 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 down to the year 1622 (Rome, Ancona, Naples, Quaracchi 1740-1886); 3rd ed., 17 vols. (Quaracchi 1931-33) plus 13 of continuation 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). Among his theological and philosophical writings are to be noted: Apologeticus de praetenso monachatu Augustiniano s. Francisci (Madrid 1625); Vita Io. Duns Scoti (Rome 1644); De morte B. M. Virginis (ibid. 1655); De redemptione Deiparae semper Virginis and De Baptismo B. M. V. (ibid. 1656). W. also supervised the edition of the works of John Duns Scotus (Lyons 1639) and of the opuscula of St Francis (Antwerp 1623). W. is regarded as the prince of Franciscan annalists.