Anthelmi, Joseph
ANTHELMI, JOSEPH
Learned ecclesiastical historian, whose works are still highly regarded; b. Fréjus, France, July 27, 1648; d. there, June 21, 1697. A theology student of François de la chaize at Lyons, Anthelmi received his doctorate in theology in Paris (1688). After his ordination in Fréjus in 1673, he preferred the life of a scholar to that of church administrator. Accordingly, he devoted his life to the history of the Church, particularly of his province. Within a few years he published De initiis ecclesiae Forojuliensis (1680). His next few works were in local hagiography (St. Antiolus and St. Tropez). For the next few years he became involved in polemics with P. Quesnel over the authorship of several religious works, among which was the Athanasian Creed. In 1693 Anthelmi published a study of St. Martin of Tours. His scholarly activity was interrupted in 1694 by three years of fruitful conciliation as vicar-general of the diocese of Pamiers. In 1697, exhausted by years of work and apparently ill from tuberculosis, Anthelmi returned to Fréjus. In addition to his many works, Anthelmi left manuscripts and notes, several of which were published as late as 1872.
Bibliography: r. d'amat, Dictionnaire de biographie française 2:1467. f. bonnard, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques 3:515–516, contains list of works. h. hurter, Nomenclatur literarius theologiae catholicae 2:540.
[r. j. marion]