The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-10-01
DEATH or FATHER PERRONE, TIL
GREAT JESUIT IHEOLOGLAN.

iCatholio Reriew, Sept. .. |

After life spent in the service of God
and tho Catholic Church, Giovanni Perrone,
priest of the Society of jesus, rendered up
bis soul to God, on the 29ah of August.
Father Perrone, the prince Of modern theo-
logians, was born at Chieri, in Piedmont, in
1894. His fret studies were made in the
archiepiscopal seminary Of Turin, and be-
fore he had arrived at the age of twenty he
had graduated at the university of that city
as Doctor of Theology. In 1915 he went to
Rome and was among the first to enter the
Society of Jesus then reconstructed by
Plus VII. His superiors were not slow to
discover the great talents of Perrone and
the next year, 1916, he was sent to Orvieto
as professor of theology in the jesuit house
of that city. Here he remained for several
years when he was called to Rome to occu
py tho chair of theology in the Roman Col
lege in which such illustr0us theOlOgians as
Bellarmine and Vatquez had preceded him.
The fame of his Theological lectures soon
spread, and the attendance at them in
creased very largely, numerous foreign col
leges established in Rome sending their stu.
dents to hear the great exposnder. In 1880
he WAS appointed rector of the College of
Ferrara, but was recalled in 1888 to resume
his chair in the Roman College. In 1885 he
commenced the publication of those won
derful theological tracts, which compiled
into the " Pra.ectiones TheolngioCe, "have
run through over forty editions, and have
pean languages. The revolution Of lS4S
came, and found tl:e humble religious i'll
his cell surrounded by his books, but he
was Jesuit, and conseq gently for him
there was nothing but exile. With his
books, and q mum Der of pupils who followed
him, he took refuge in Stonyhurst, Eng-
land, and there continued his courses until
the restoration of Pins IN, in 1850. His
great fame had preceded HIM to England,
and while there he received much attention
from the learned men of the country. Re-
turning to Rome in 1850, Perrone was re-
ceived by the Pope with great honors, and
charged with the highest duties. In 1853 he
was made rector of the Roman College, but
though he ceased to teach he did not cease
to write till death came. In 1854 he took
leading part in the discussions that led to
the definition of the dogma of the Immacu-
late Conception, and in 1870 he was one of
the theo!oglsns most extensively consulted
on the questions before the council of the |
Vatican. In 1873 the jesuit order was sup
pressed in Italy, and their houses confis- |
Gated by the State. The Roman College |
was taken from under their direction. Since |
that time full of years and honors,
Father Perrone has resided in Rome, as
consultor of the Congregations on doctrine,
discipline, liturgy. etc. Esteemed highly
by three Popes-Leo XII. Gregory XVI.
and Plus IL. by the latter he was loved
aud honored with the highest esteem. The
highest honors which the Church can confer
would have long ago been conferred
on him, but his excessive humility always
interposed an insuperable obstacle. May he
rest in peace.