Bl. Giuseppe Maria Tommasi

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ACardinal, noted for his learning,humility, andzeal for reform; born at Licata,Sicily, of a princelyfamily, 12 September, 1649; died inRome, 1 January 1713. Though destined by hisfather for the Spanish Court, he joined theClerks Regular of theTheatine Order atPalermo, 24 March, 1665, renouncing his primogeniture and the princedom in favour of his brother. He wasprofessed 25 March, 1666. He studiedphilosophy, first atMessina, and later, owing to poor health, atFerrara andModena; andtheology inRome and Palermo. He wasordainedpriest onChristmas Day, 1673. To a wideknowledge of Greek, he united the study ofEthiopic, Arabic, Syriac, Chaldaic and Hebrew--converting his master a Jewish rabbi, toChristianity. From thePsalters in these different languages, he collected the titles of the Psalms. He devoted himself to the study of Scripture and the Fathers. Searching the chieflibraries, archives, and monuments, he retraced the ancientecclesiastical discipline and liturgy.

His valuable works (Codici Tommasiani), published chiefly from ancientcodices in the Vatican and Vallicellian Libraries and the Library of Christina of Sweden, were highly praised by the different academies ofEurope, evenProtestant. Chief among his publications are the "Codices sacramentorum nongentis annis antiquiores" (Rome, 1680), partly transcribed byMabillon in his "Liturgia Gallicana". Following these, in order of time, were: "Psalterium" (Rouse, 1683), according to the Roman and Gallican editions, published under the name of Giuseppe Maria Caro". In this work Tommasi introducedOrigen's symbols (obeli and asterisks), obsolete for nine centuries. Under the same pen-name Tommasi wrote "Responsalia et Antiphonaria Rom. Eccl.", etc (Rome, 1686); "Sacrorum Bibliorum Tituli, sive capitula" (Rome, 1688); Antiqui libri Missarum Rom. Eccl." or theAntiphonary of Pope Saint Gregory, entitled "Comes", written byAlcuin at the order of Charlemagae (Rome, 1691); "Officium Domicinae Passionis", used by the Greeks onGood Friday, translated into Latin (Rome, 1695). Under his proper name he published "Speculum" (Rome, 1679); "Exercitium Fidei, Spei et Caritatis" (Rome, 1683); "Breviarium psalterii (Rome, 1683); "Vera norma di glorificar Dio" (Rome, 1687); "Fermentum" (Rome, 1688); "Psalterium cum canticis" (Rome, 1697); "Indiculus institutionum theologicarum veterurn Patrum" (3 vols., Rome, 1709, 1710; 1712), an exposition oftheological theory and practice, derived from original patristic sources. Tommasi also wrote numerousopuscula, the last four published by G. Mercati (Rome, 1905). In 1753Vezzosi published his works in eleven quarto volumes.

Tommasi's efforts at reform were directed not to the introduction of the new, but to the restoration and maintenance of the old. He was not always upheld and was sometimes rebuked for hiszeal.Innocent XII made him examiner of thebishops, or of theclergy.Clement XI appointed him consultor of theTheatine Order,theologian of the "Congregatio super Disciplinâ Regulari" and other Congregations, consultor of the Congregations of Rites and Indulgences, andqualificator of the Holy Office. The samepope created himcardinal-priest of the Title of S. Martino ai Monti and compelled him to accept thehonour. TakingSt. Charles Borromeo for his model, Tommasi practisedhumility and charity towards the poor. He taughtcatechism to the children of the poor in his titular church. He introduced the use ofGregorian chant in his church. On his death he was mourned by all, even by thepope, who so admired hissanctity that he consulted him before accepting thepapacy. He wasbeatified byPius VII, 5 June, 1803. Every year the Arcadians hold a religious and literary commemoration in hishonour. His body rests in the church of S. Martino ai Monti.

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