Moral Theology: Its Method and Masters
Castropalaus, Ferd.
Drawn from the authors' own words; every quotation links to its place.
Jesuit · 1581–1633
In Prümmer's Catalogue and Haringer's Index
- “Castropalaus, Ferd., S.J., Spanish (1581-1633), clearly and learnedly treats universal moral theology in the work entitled Opus morale, 7 folio volumes, Lyons 1631 and often afterward.” — Prümmer, Catalogue of authors
- [*: learned] “Castropalaus (Palaus) Ferdinandus, Spanish, S.J., conspicuous from boyhood for talent and piety, was venerated by his equals in theological questions as an oracle. When warned of imminent death he showed signs of unusual joy, frankly confessing that by his conscience he was accused of no mortal fault in his past life; thus he most peacefully fell asleep in the Lord (Moral Work), 1633.” — Haringer's index of writers (Gury-Ballerini) (p. XV, sign read on the page)
His Moral System, as Our Authors Report It
Every report quoted in the author's own words and linked to its place; point at a name to see his words. Haringer's signs give St. Alphonsus's judgment as Haringer found it in St. Alphonsus's works (his notice, Gury-Ballerini, 1884, p. XI); a sign on a writer the 1884 editor added to the list is the editor's own, and is said to be his.
| Probabilist | |
|---|---|
| Counted among them by 3 of our authors | Marc, Institutiones I, n. 91; Bucceroni, Commentarii, n. 108; Tanquerey, Fundamental Moral Theology, n. 397; Bucceroni, Institutiones, n. 119 |
| “These agree in substantial matters with the equiprobabilists, and can be called moderate probabilists. Such are Suarez, Vasquez, Lugo, Lessius, Laymann, Sylvius, Palaus, Viva, Abelly, Reuter, Voit, etc.”Moderate probabilist. Marc calls him a moderate probabilist, agreeing in substance with the equiprobabilists, and will not attack him | Marc, Institutiones I, n. 86 |
| Charged with laxity | |
| “Chapter II — A census of propositions which seem lax, culled from the Casuists … IX. "Even after the promulgation of the Gospel has been made, explicit knowledge of the Trinity, or of the mystery of the Incarnation, is not necessary with the necessity of means, but only of precept; and thus salvation can befall someone without his explicitly knowing that the Son of God was incarnate and suffered for us."”Concina's censuses of lax opinions list 16 of his opinions and names him in 2 more as teaching or approving one (the first is quoted; every one is under 'Where Our Authors Discuss Him') | Concina, Compendium I, bk. III, diss. I, ch. II, n. IX |
Where Our Authors Discuss Him
Each read in its full passage; the words quoted are the author's own. Where several authors say the same thing, one is quoted and the others follow “in nearly the same words”; point at a name to see his words.
| “Others treat the whole of moral theology solidly indeed, but less scholastically: Azor, S.J. (1603); Castropalao, S.J. (1633); P. Laymann, S.J. (1635)”Among the best-known moralists of the close of the sixteenth century | Vermeersch, Theologia moralis I, n. 19In nearly the same words: Koch-Preuss, Handbook I, history of moral theology |
| “For those heretics, deceitfully simulating great piety and a singular fervor for protecting moral science, brought it about that in France, Italy, and other provinces they drew many learned men to their side: among whom were also Peter Collet (the celebrated continuator of Honore Tournely), Louis Habert, and Natalis Alexander, who, although they rejected other errors of the Jansenists, nevertheless accommodated themselves in many things to their immoderate rigor. Indeed there were not lacking those who defended more benign opinions, such as Louis Abelly, Eusebius Amort, Castropalaus, Gobat, Roncaglia, Cardenas, Viva, Lacroix, Sporer, Reiffenstuel, Reuter, Voit, Holzmann, Elbel, Mazzotta, etc., without however being able wholly to repress the swelling rigor of doctrine.”Marc names him among those who defended more benign opinions against the rigor of the Jansenist age | Marc, Institutiones I, n. 6 |
| “Chapter II — An inventory of propositions which seem lax … IV. Fr. Castropalao, treatise 6, disputation 1, point 4, number 9: Fifthly, others assert that, danger of death pressing, even if you be not conscious of mortal sin — nay, even if, being conscious of it, you confess it sacramentally — you are obliged to love God above all things ...”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on the precepts of faith, hope and charity) | Concina, Compendium I, bk. III, diss. II, ch. II, n. IV |
| “Chapter II — An inventory of propositions which seem lax … V. The same, in the place cited, number 9: Seventhly, others say that this precept obliges, first, when martyrdom must be undergone, or some other excellent and difficult work undertaken: because it is expedient then to strengthen the soul in the service of God. But I, while I acknowledge the fittingness, disapprove the obligation.”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on the precepts of faith, hope and charity) | Concina, Compendium I, bk. III, diss. II, ch. II, n. V |
| “Chapter II — An inventory of propositions which seem lax … VI. The same, in the place cited, number 10: By this obligation, then, I judge that every adult is bound not every year, as pleased Peter de Ledesma — for this is too hard, and rests on no firm foundation — but a few times in his life ...”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on the precepts of faith, hope and charity) | Concina, Compendium I, bk. III, diss. II, ch. II, n. VI |
| “Chapter II — Lax propositions of the Casuists … III. Fernando de Castropalao, treatise 6, disputation 4, point 1, number 11: "Nevertheless I believe that, if you act with due moderation, you can without mortal sin be saddened over someone's life, and rejoice over his natural death, and seek and desire it with an inefficacious affection — not indeed from displeasure at the person, but on account of some temporal advantage following from it.”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on charity toward the neighbor) | Concina, Compendium I, bk. III, diss. III, ch. II, n. III |
| “Chapter I — First, the condemned propositions are recounted; then those which seem lax … II. "Coninck believes that no fear whatever makes it licit to paint an idol, or to make a priestly vestment at the request of an Infidel ... But I believe that it can be excused by a most grave fear, if these things are not demanded of you in contempt of Religion, and there is no scandal in your not scorning them.”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on scandal and cooperation in sin) | Concina, Compendium I, bk. III, diss. IV, ch. I, n. II |
| “Chapter I — The condemned and lax propositions are recounted … VI. "What obliges a vow of abstaining from wine? It would suffice under grave fault that wine be drunk temperately, in that quantity which is used by those who drink for one meal."”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on vows) | Concina, Compendium I, bk. III, diss. IX, ch. I, n. VI |
| “Chapter I — The condemned and lax propositions are recounted … VIII. "If you wished to redeem the loss of time, you comprehended even moderate play, and likewise play for another's sake: because you would truly be playing with a loss of time.”Concina names him in the same number as teaching or approving the lax opinion (on vows) | Concina, Compendium I, bk. III, diss. IX, ch. I, n. VIII |
| “Chapter II — A review of condemned opinions, and of the laxer views of certain recent authors … VI. "What of a vow to abstain from wine? It obliges under grave fault only if one drinks that quantity of wine which would suffice, for those using wine temperately, for a single meal."”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on vows) | Concina, Theologia IV, diss. I, ch. II, n. VI |
| “Chapter II — A review of condemned opinions, and of the laxer views of certain recent authors … VIII. "If you vowed to redeem lost time, you included even moderate play, and likewise playing on behalf of another — since you would truly be playing away time. You may not, however, play through another, though by watching you lose time...”Concina names him in the same number as teaching or approving the lax opinion (on vows) | Concina, Theologia IV, diss. I, ch. II, n. VIII |
| “Chapter IV — Lax, or improbable, propositions are reviewed, which not a few Casuists teach … VII. "Merchants who cannot obtain a just price from buyers, unless they swear that their goods stand them at such-and-such a price, when in fact this is not so, can indeed swear that the goods stand them at such-and-such a price, understanding, with all expenses computed, or reckoning in the goods which they have at home, or which they bought elsewhere."”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on the oath) | Concina, Theologia V, diss. I, ch. IV, n. VII |
| “Chapter IV — Lax, or improbable, propositions are reviewed, which not a few Casuists teach … IX. "Even if the one asking wished to exclude every equivocation, and required an oath about the fact done, beyond an oath about the accusation, and demanded an oath to speak the truth sincerely without any equivocation, you can still swear an amphibological oath, with a mental restriction made — since you can understand that you will swear without equivocation, without your being able to have any restriction in mind.”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on the oath) | Concina, Theologia V, diss. I, ch. IV, n. IX |
| “Chapter IV — Lax, or improbable, propositions are reviewed, which not a few Casuists teach … XVII. Fr. Fernando Castropalao, Vol. III, tract. 14, disp. 1, punct. 7, n. 13: "If, indeed, an honest cause of concealing the truth intervenes, such as would be for the preservation of your health, or that of your family, your honor, your goods; or if it were fitting not to assent to one questioning unjustly, you commit no fault, swearing thus amphibologically.”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on the oath) | Concina, Theologia V, diss. I, ch. IV, n. XVII |
| “Chapter IV — Lax, or improbable, propositions are reviewed, which not a few Casuists teach … XVIII. "Asked about a crime, which at least under a probable opinion you are not bound to reveal, either because you are not asked juridically, or because a harm to yourself would arise from revealing it, you can deny that you did it, understanding within yourself: 'in prison,' or 'so as to be bound to say it.'" The same author, ibid.”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on the oath) | Concina, Theologia V, diss. I, ch. IV, n. XVIII |
| “Chapter IV — Lax, or improbable, propositions are reviewed, which not a few Casuists teach … XIX. "Asked, even though not asked juridically, whether you promised marriage, from whose obligation, according to a probable opinion, you are free, you can swear that you did not promise it, understanding: 'so as to be bound.'" Ibid., n. 5.”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on the oath) | Concina, Theologia V, diss. I, ch. IV, n. XIX |
| “Chapter IV — Lax, or improbable, propositions are reviewed, which not a few Casuists teach … XX. "One probably exempt from paying a toll can swear that he is not carrying such-and-such a thing, even though he is, understanding: 'so as to be bound to declare it for the toll.'" The same, ibid.”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on the oath) | Concina, Theologia V, diss. I, ch. IV, n. XX |
| “Chapter IV — Lax, or improbable, propositions are reviewed, which not a few Casuists teach … XXI. "Merchants who cannot obtain a just price from buyers, unless they swear that their goods stand them at such-and-such a price, can indeed swear that they stand them at such-and-such a price..." , since it does not in fact stand thus, understanding, all expenses computed; or with other goods which they have at home, or bought elsewhere."”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on the oath) | Concina, Theologia V, diss. I, ch. IV, n. XXI |
| “Chapter IV — Lax, or improbable, propositions are reviewed, which not a few Casuists teach … XXII. "Beyond what has been said above, it must be especially noted, that one who employs any of the aforesaid amphibologies ought at least to know, in general, that he can conceal the truth without a lie, by which he swears.”Concina lists among the lax opinions of the casuists (on the oath) | Concina, Theologia V, diss. I, ch. IV, n. XXII |
| “Likewise S. D. calls that doctrine lax which authors of the past century almost commonly handed down, namely in the latter part of that century, in which several lax opinions of probabilists were condemned by the Holy See; but certainly not Sanchez, Suarez, Lessius, Palaus, Laymann, Lugo, Pallavicini and very many others, whom S. Alph. himself, not only in his Moral Works, but in that very Dissertation on his moral system, approves and praises for his opinion.”Bucceroni: not among the authors St. Alphonsus called lax, but among those he approves and praises | Bucceroni, Institutiones, n. 133 |
| “Wherefore, in excuse of this author, it must be said that, although his manner of speaking is entangled, and less cautious”Concina: he claimed Suarez for vows of thanks for an unjust victory, against Suarez’s own limits; Concina excuses him as speaking unguardedly | Concina, Theologia IV, diss. I, ch. VI, n. XXX |
| “Now he is esteemed a great theologian who possesses the greatest authority among theologians on account of his distinguished doctrine, prudence, and probity”Konings names him among the great theologians whose word that an opinion is probable makes it so | Konings, Compendium, n. 57 |
Works Our Authors Used
- Ferdinandus Castropalaus, S.J. Opus morale; 3rd Venetian edition. - 4 vols. fol. (Venice, 1721). — Marc's list
No article in the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913).