Peter Marchant

In Prümmer's Catalogue and Haringer's Index

• “Marchant, Petr., O.Min., Belgian (1585-1661), is a distinguished probabilist, who wrote the rather curious work Tribunal sacramentale et visibile animarum in hac vita mortali, 2 folio volumes, Ghent 1642. For his other works of lesser importance see Hurter, Nomenclator III, 1203.” — Prümmer, Catalogue of authors
• [**: weighty, probabilist] “Marchantius Petrus, Belgian, Franciscan, held the first offices of his order (Sacramental Tribunal), born 1585, died 1661.” — Haringer's index of writers (Gury-Ballerini) (p. XXIV, 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.

In the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)

“Peter Marchant”, vol. 9, by Gregory Cleary. Public domain; transcription at New Advent (which expands some of the print's abbreviations).

A theologian, b. at Couvin, a village in the principality of Liège, in 1585; d. at Ghent, 11 Nov., 1661. His brother James was the author of the well-known work "Hortus Pastorum". Peter entered the Franciscan Order in 1601. He led an austere life and was a strict observer of the Franciscan Rule. He acquired a profound knowledge of Scholastic philosophy and theology and for several years taught in the schools of his order. In 1625 he was elected definitor general of the order at the general chapter held in Rome; and in 1639 was appointed commissary general over the provinces of Germany, Belgium, Holland, Great Britain, and Ireland. His duties as commissary general brought him into contact with Irish politics during the troublesome times of the "Confederation of Kilkenny". Unfortunately he allowed himself to be deceived by false reports on the true state of affairs in Ireland and he took sides with the Ormondists and gave encouragement to their opposition to the nuncio Rinaccini. He was called upon by the authorities of the order to justify his conduct in connection with the Irish question, and in 1661 he addressed to the general chapter then assembled in Rome his apologia under the title of "Relatio veridica et sincera status Provinciae Hiberniae", etc. This is a very rare book, as it was never widely circulated and was condemned by the general chapter and ordered to be destroyed.

Marchant was a voluminous author. His chief work is "Tribunal Sacramentale" (3 vols., Ghent, 1642; Antwerp, 1672), for the use of confessors. It contains a full exposition of moral theology. He puts aside all disputed opinions, and simply states the doctrinal teaching of the Church, drawing his proofs from Holy Scripture, the decisions of councils, the constant tradition of the Church, and the writings of the saints. The treatise on Probabilism is lucid and complete. Its principles are in accordance with the restrictions plated on the doctrine later on by the decrees of Alexander VII and Innocent XI; and in many points is identical with the doctrine subsequently propounded by Daniel in his refutation of the "Lettres Provinciales". Marchant wrote several works on the cultus of St. Joseph. His work instituted "Sanctificatio S. Joseph Sponsi Virginis in utero asserta" (Bruges, s.d.), was placed on the Index, 19 March, 1633. He also wrote "Baculus Pastoralis sive Potestas Episcoporum in Regulares exemptos ab originibus suis explicata" (Bruges, 1638); "Resolutiones notabiles variorum casuum et quaestionum a multis hactenus desideratae" (Antwerp, 1655). Many of his works are on the history and legislation of the Franciscan Order.

Sources: WADDING-SBARALEA, Scriptores Ord. Min. (Rome, 1806); JOANNES A. S. ANT, Bibliotheca Univ. Franciscana (Madrid, 1732); FOPPENS, Bibliotheca Belgica (Brussels, 1739); DIRKS, Histoire litteraire, etc. (Antwerp, 1885); Contemporary History of Affairs in Ireland, ed. GILBERT (Dublin, 1879-80).