Luke Wadding
Encyclopedia
Luke Wadding was an Irish
Franciscan
friar and historian
.
to Walter Wadding of Waterford, a wealthy merchant, and his wife, Anastasia Lombard (sister of Peter Lombard, Archbishop of Armagh
and Primate of Ireland). Educated at the school of Mrs. Jane Barden in Waterford and of Peter White in Kilkenny, in 1604 he went to study in Lisbon
and at University of Coimbra.
He died on 18 November 1657, and is buried in the church of the College of San Isidore
, in Rome.
In 1900 his portrait and part of his library were in the Franciscan convent on Merchant's Quay, Dublin. His life was written by Francis Harold, his nephew. The learned Bonaventura Baron
was another nephew.
. He was ordained priest in 1613 by John Emanuel
, bishop of Viseo, and in 1617 he was made president of the Irish College at University of Salamanca
, and Master of Students and Professor of Divinity. The next year He went to Rome (1618) as chaplain to the Spanish ambassador, Bishop Antonio Trejo de Sande.
He collected the funds for the establishment of the Irish College of St Isidore
in Rome, for the education of Irish priests, opened 24 June 1625, with four lecturers-—Anthony O'Hicidh of a famous literary family in Thomond, Martin Breathnach from Donegal, Patrick Fleming from Louth, and John Ponce from Cork. He gave the college a library of five thousand printed books and eight hundred manuscripts, and thirty resident students soon came. Wadding was rector for fifteen years. From 1630 to 1634 he was procurator of the Franciscans at Rome, and vice commissary from 1645 to 1648.
He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Irish Catholics in the war of 1641, and his college became the strongest advocate of the Irish cause in Rome. This spirit of patriotism, originated by Wadding, it has ever since retained, so that Sir George Errington, who was sent by Gladstone to explain the relation of English and Irish politics in Rome, reported that those Irish politicians thought most extreme in England were conservatives compared with the collegians of St. Isidore. Wadding sent officers and arms to Ireland, and induced Pope Innocent X
to send there Giovanni Battista Rinuccini
. The confederate Catholics petitioned Pope Urban VIII
to make Wadding a cardinal, but the rector of the Irish College found means to intercept the petition, and it remained in the archives of the college.
Through Wadding's efforts, St Patrick's Day became a feast day.
In 2000 the Waterford Institute of Technology
dedicated a new library building to his name.
In the 1950s a statue of Wadding was erected on the Mall in Waterford, adjacent to Reginald’s Tower and one of the city’s most prominent locations. The Waterford born Franciscan’s literary, academic and theological attributes were denoted by a quill pen held poised in the statue’s right hand.
More recently this statue was replaced by one of Thomas Francis Meagher
.The figure of Luke Wadding was moved to Greyfriers.
, and the first collection of the writings of St Francis of Assisi.
He published in all thirty-six volumes - fourteen at Rome, twenty-one at Lyons, and one at Antwerp.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friar and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
.
Life
Wadding was born in 16 October 1588 at WaterfordWaterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
to Walter Wadding of Waterford, a wealthy merchant, and his wife, Anastasia Lombard (sister of Peter Lombard, Archbishop of Armagh
Peter Lombard, Archbishop of Armagh
Peter Lombard was a Roman Catholic archbishop of Armagh during the Counter Reformation.-Early life:...
and Primate of Ireland). Educated at the school of Mrs. Jane Barden in Waterford and of Peter White in Kilkenny, in 1604 he went to study in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
and at University of Coimbra.
He died on 18 November 1657, and is buried in the church of the College of San Isidore
Sant’Isidoro a Capo le Case
Sant’Isidoro a Capo le Case is a Franciscan monastic complex and college in the Ludovisi district on the Pincian Hill in Rome. Its church building is the Irish national church in Rome...
, in Rome.
In 1900 his portrait and part of his library were in the Franciscan convent on Merchant's Quay, Dublin. His life was written by Francis Harold, his nephew. The learned Bonaventura Baron
Bonaventura Baron
Bonaventura Baron was a distinguished Irish Franciscan theologian, philosopher, teacher and writer of Latin prose and verse.-Biography:He was born at Clonmel in County Tipperary, and died at Rome...
was another nephew.
Cleric
Wadding became a Franciscan in 1607, and spent his novitiate at MatozinhosMatozinhos
Matozinhos is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
. He was ordained priest in 1613 by John Emanuel
John Emanuel
John Emanuel , is a former Wales international footballer. A midfielder, he began his career at Bristol City, also spending time on loan at Swindon Town and Gillingham. He joined Newport County in 1976 and made 79 Football League appearances for Newport, scoring 4 goals...
, bishop of Viseo, and in 1617 he was made president of the Irish College at University of Salamanca
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
, and Master of Students and Professor of Divinity. The next year He went to Rome (1618) as chaplain to the Spanish ambassador, Bishop Antonio Trejo de Sande.
He collected the funds for the establishment of the Irish College of St Isidore
Pontifical Irish College
The Pontifical Irish College is a Roman Catholic seminary for the training and education of priests, in Rome.-Foundation and early history:Towards the close of the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII had sanctioned the foundation of an Irish college in Rome, and had assigned a large sum of money...
in Rome, for the education of Irish priests, opened 24 June 1625, with four lecturers-—Anthony O'Hicidh of a famous literary family in Thomond, Martin Breathnach from Donegal, Patrick Fleming from Louth, and John Ponce from Cork. He gave the college a library of five thousand printed books and eight hundred manuscripts, and thirty resident students soon came. Wadding was rector for fifteen years. From 1630 to 1634 he was procurator of the Franciscans at Rome, and vice commissary from 1645 to 1648.
He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Irish Catholics in the war of 1641, and his college became the strongest advocate of the Irish cause in Rome. This spirit of patriotism, originated by Wadding, it has ever since retained, so that Sir George Errington, who was sent by Gladstone to explain the relation of English and Irish politics in Rome, reported that those Irish politicians thought most extreme in England were conservatives compared with the collegians of St. Isidore. Wadding sent officers and arms to Ireland, and induced Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X , born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj , was Pope from 1644 to 1655. Born in Rome of a family from Gubbio in Umbria who had come to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Innocent IX, he graduated from the Collegio Romano and followed a conventional cursus honorum, following his uncle...
to send there Giovanni Battista Rinuccini
Giovanni Battista Rinuccini
Giovanni Battista Rinuccini was a Roman Catholic archbishop in the mid seventeenth century. He was a noted legal scholar who became chamberlain to Pope Gregory XV, who made him the Archbishop of Fermo in Italy...
. The confederate Catholics petitioned Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
to make Wadding a cardinal, but the rector of the Irish College found means to intercept the petition, and it remained in the archives of the college.
Legacy
Wadding founded the Ludovisi College for Irish clergy.Through Wadding's efforts, St Patrick's Day became a feast day.
In 2000 the Waterford Institute of Technology
Waterford Institute of Technology
Waterford Institute of Technology is a state funded third-level educational institution situated in the city of Waterford, Ireland. The Institute has six Schools and 16 Departments....
dedicated a new library building to his name.
In the 1950s a statue of Wadding was erected on the Mall in Waterford, adjacent to Reginald’s Tower and one of the city’s most prominent locations. The Waterford born Franciscan’s literary, academic and theological attributes were denoted by a quill pen held poised in the statue’s right hand.
More recently this statue was replaced by one of Thomas Francis Meagher
Thomas Francis Meagher
-Young Ireland:Meagher returned to Ireland in 1843, with undecided plans for a career in the Austrian army, a tradition among a number of Irish families. In 1844 he traveled to Dublin with the intention of studying for the bar. He became involved in the Repeal Association, which worked for repeal...
.The figure of Luke Wadding was moved to Greyfriers.
Works
A voluminous writer, his chief work was the Annales Minorum in 8 folio volumes (1625–1654), re-edited in the 18th century and continued up to the year 1622; it is the classical work on Franciscan history. He published also a Bibliotheca of Franciscan writers, an edition of the works of Duns ScotusDuns Scotus
Blessed John Duns Scotus, O.F.M. was one of the more important theologians and philosophers of the High Middle Ages. He was nicknamed Doctor Subtilis for his penetrating and subtle manner of thought....
, and the first collection of the writings of St Francis of Assisi.
He published in all thirty-six volumes - fourteen at Rome, twenty-one at Lyons, and one at Antwerp.
- Annales Minorum, in eight volumes (1625–54);
- Duns Scotus in twelve volumes (1639, fol.)
- πρενβεία published at Louvain (1624)
- a treatise on the immaculate conception of the Virgin, . The doctrine of the immaculate conception of the Virgin, the works of Duns Scotus, and the history of the Franciscan order were his favourite subjects of study.
- De Hebraicæ origine, præstantia, et utilitate
- his essay is prefixed to the concordance of the Hebrew scriptures of Marius de Collasio, which Wadding prepared for the press in 1621.
Referred works
- Harold, Francis, Vita Fratris Lucae Waddingi (1731)
- Ware, James, The Whole Works of Sir James Ware Concerning Ireland (1764)
- Webb, Alfred, A Compendium of Irish Biography: Comprising Sketches of Distinguished Irishmen (1878)
- Anderson, Christopher, Historical Sketches of the Ancient Native Irish and Their Descendants (1830)
- Meehan, Charles Patrick, The rise and fall of the Irish Franciscan monasteries, and memoirs of the Irish hierarchy in the seventeenth century (1877)
- O'Shea, Joseph A, 'The Life of Father Luke Wadding, Founder of St. Isidore's College, Rome' (1885)