Vincenzo Filliucci

Jesuit moralist; b. at Sienna, Italy, 1566; d. at Rome 5 April, 1622. Having entered the Society of Jesus at the age of eighteen and made the usual course in classics, science, philosophy, and theology, he professed philosophy and mathematics for some years, and later became rector of the Jesuit college in his native city. Being summoned to Rome to fill the chair in moral theology in the Roman College, he taught there for ten years with great distinction. Paul V appointed him penitentiary of St. Peter’s, a post he filled until his death in the following pontificate. Fillucci’s greatest work, “Moralium Quæstionem de Christianis Officiis et Causibus Conscientiæ Tomi Duo”, appeared in 1622, together with a posthumous “Appendix, de Statu Clericorum”, forming a third volume, has frequently been reprinted in several counties of Europe. A “Synopsis Theologiæ Moralis”, which likewise appeared posthumously in 1626, went through numerous editions. Fillucci is also known for his excellent “Brevis Instructio pro Confessionibus Excipiendis” (Ravensburg, 1626); this work is generally published as an appendix in all subsequent editions of his “Synopsis.” Besides these published works, there is a manuscript, “Tractisde Censuris”, preserved in the archives of the Roman College. As an authority in moral theology, Fr. Fillucci has ever been accorded high rank, though this did not save him from the attacks of the Jansenists. The “Provincial Letters” of Pascal, and Les Extraits des Assertions” makes much capital out of their garbled quotations from his writings; while, in the anti-Jesuit tumult of 1762, the “parlement” of Bordeaux forbade his works, and the “parlement” of Rouen burnt them, together with twenty-eight other works by Jesuit authors.