Antony Hickey (also known asAnthony Hickey andAntony Ó hÍceadha; 1586 – 26 June 1641) was an IrishFranciscan theologian.
Born at the Barony of Islands,County Clare,Ireland, Ó hÍceadha was a member of abardic family. He was educated locally and later entered theCollege of St Antony atLouvain, which had just been founded for Irish Roman Catholic students, and received the Franciscan habit on 1 November 1607.[1] Among his teachers there wereHugh Mac an Bhaird andHugh Mac Caghwell (the latter was later namedArchbishop of Armagh).
After his ordination to the priesthood, Hickey was appointed lecturer in theology at Leuven, and subsequently professor in the college of St Francis atCologne. In 1619 he was summoned to Rome to collaborate with FatherLuke Wadding in preparing theAnnals of the Franciscan Order for publication, and the works ofDuns Scotus.[2] He took an active part in the labours of the commissions appointed byPope Urban VIII to revise theRoman Breviary, and to examine into the affairs of the Eastern Church. At the general chapter of the order held in Rome in 1639, he was elected definitor general.[1] He lived for some time atSan Pietro in Montorio on theJaniculum. From 1624 until his death, he resided inRome at theCollege of Saint Isidore.
During the discussions which were held in Rome concerning the doctrine of theImmaculate Conception, Hickey won distinction by his learning and acuteness. His treatise on this subject is called by Marracius (Bibliotheca Mariana) "opus insigne et absolutum". In his work on the Fourth Book ofSentences, he shows great breadth of view and critical perception; in addition to thescholastic method, he makes use of thehistorical method and fully recognizes the development of sacramental theology.[citation needed]
Hickey wrote:
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Antony Hickey".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
