Moral Theology: Its Method and Masters
Hyacinthe Sigismond Gerdil
Drawn from the authors' own words; every quotation links to its place.
In the Index: Gerdil, H. S.
Added because Merkelbach classifies him among the moral systems (Summa II, excursus).
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.
| Tutiorist (rigorist) | |
|---|---|
| Counted among them by 3 of our authors | Tanquerey, Fundamental Moral Theology, n. 400; Prümmer, Manuale I, n. 339; Koch-Preuss, Handbook I, the moral systems |
| “This system, which likewise involves exaggerated rigorism, was maintained in the 17th and 18th century by the doctors of Louvain, more devoted than was right to Jansenius: Opstraet (d. 1720), Steyaert (d. 1701), Henry of St. Ignatius (d. 1719), etc. They indeed tried to soften the harshness of the Jansenian doctrine in this way, by admitting a most probable opinion for liberty. Moreover, they defend their doctrine by the same arguments as the Jansenists. In recent time Cardinal Gerdil (1802) acceded to this opinion, which now no one any longer holds.”Mitigated tutiorist (milder rigorist). Noldin: in recent time he acceded to mitigated tutiorism | Noldin, Summa I, n. 230 |
| “Wherefore others taught a certain mitigated tutiorism, as Steyaert, van Opstraet, Henricus a S. Ignatio, Dens, Perin, Neesen; to whom there closely approached in France Habert, in Italy Fagnanus and Card. Gerdil.”Mitigated tutiorist (milder rigorist). Merkelbach: he approached closely to mitigated tutiorism | Merkelbach, Summa II, excursus on the moral systems |
In the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)
“Hyacinthe Sigismond Gerdil”, vol. 6, by George Sauvage. Public domain; transcription at New Advent (which expands some of the print's abbreviations).
Cardinal and theologian; b. at Samoëns in Savoy, 20 June, 1718; d. at Rome, 12 August 1802. When fifteen years old, he joined the Barnabites at Annecy, and was sent to Bologna to pursue his theological studies; there he devoted his mind to the various branches of knowledge with great success, and attracted the attention of Archbishop Lambertini of that city, later Pope Benedict XIV. After his studies, he taught philosophy at Macerata, philosophy and moral theology at Turin, and became provincial of his order. At the suggestion of Benedict XIV, he was chosen preceptor of the Prince of Piedmont, afterwards Charles Emmanuel IV. Designated cardinal in petto, in 1773, by Clement XIV, he was promoted to that dignity by Pius VI, in 1777, who called him to Rome and named him Bishop of Dibbon, consultor of the Holy Office, corrector of the oriental books, and prefect of the Propaganda. After the invasion of Rome in 1798, he left the city and returned to his Abbey Della Chiusa. On the death of Pius VI he would probably have been elected pope at the consistory of Venice, in 1800, had not his election been vetoed by Cardinal Herzan in the name of the Emperor of Germany. He accompanied the new pope (Pius VII) to Rome, where he died in 1802.
His numerous works written in Latin, Italian, and French on divers subjects — dogmatic and moral theology, canon law, philosophy, pedagogy, history, physical and natural sciences, etc. — form twenty volumes in quarto (ed. Rome, 1806-1821). Among the most important may be mentioned: "L'Immortalité de l'âme démontrée contre Locke et défense du P. Malebranche contre ce philosophe" (Turin, 1747-48), 2 vols.; "Réflexions sur la théorie et la pratique de l'éducation contre les principes de J.-J. Rousseau" (Turin, 1765), reprinted in a new edition under the title "Anti-Emile"; "Exposition des caractères de la vraie religion", written in Italian (translated into French, Paris, 1770), etc. His works were written especially for the defence of spiritual philosophy against materialism, of supernatural religion against Deism, of the supreme authority of the pope against Febronianism and the Synod of Pistoia. A scholar of very extensive knowledge, a deep thinker, though some of his philosophical opinions, especially those concerning our knowledge of God, are not those generally accepted, a theologian of firm principles, he was also known as a man of great moderation in his counsels and of great charity in controversy.