MASTRIUS, BARTHOLOMAEUS

Franciscan philosopher and theologian; b. Meldola (Forli), in the Papal States, December 1602; d. there, Jan. 3, 1673. After entering the Order of Friars Minor Conventual at an early age, he studied at Bologna and then at Naples, where he came under the influence of Joseph da Trapani, an eminent Scotist. He completed his studies at Rome and then taught at Cesena, Perugia, and Padua. He was provincial of Bologna from 1647 to 1650 and also held other high positions in the order. His earliest writing was done in collaboration with Bonaventure Bellutus and was aimed at providing a complete course in philosophy based upon Scotist principles. This work was earlier published in individual volumes but was eventually brought together in Philosophiae ad mentem Scoti cursus integer (5 v. Venice 1671). He then turned his attention to examining theology in the light of Scotist teaching and wrote Disputationes theologicae in quator libros Sententiarum ad mentem Scoti (4 v. Venice 1675) and Theologia moralis ad mentem dd. Seraphici et Subtilis concinnata (Venice 1671). His writings reveal a profound knowledge of scholastic philosophy and theology, especially that of Duns Scotus, and his argument is clear, precise, and critical. In controversies with other Scotists, including Matthew Ferchi and John Punch, he was severely sharp and direct. In the question of predestination and divine grace, he found in Scotism the basis of Trapani's theory of concomitant decrees, which he adopted.

Bibliography: b. crowley, "The Life and Works of B. Mastrius," Franciscan Studies 8 (1948) 97–152. É. longprÉ, Dictionnaire de théologie catholique 10.1:281–282. h. hurter, Nomenclator literarius theologiae catholicae 4: 20–21.

[j. c. willke]