Moral Theology: Its Method and Masters
Arthur Vermeersch
Drawn from the authors' own words; every quotation links to its place.
S.J. · Jesuit · 1858–1936
On this site: Theologia Moralis: Principles — Responses — Counsels; Questions on Justice for Present-Day Use, Scholastically Disputed; On Chastity and on the Contrary Vices: A Doctrinal and Moral Treatise; On the Prohibition and Censorship of Books (De prohibitione et censura librorum); What Is Marriage? A Catechism Arranged According to the Encyclical “Casti Connubii” of Pope Pius XI; Tolerance
His Moral System
Probabilism ("pure but moderate")
- “we shall show that the system of pure but moderate probabilism is true” — Vermeersch, n. 358
Life
Born 26 August 1858, Ertvelde, East Flanders; died 12 July 1936, Eegenhoven, near Louvain. [New Catholic Encyclopedia]
- Doctor of civil law of Louvain; entered the Jesuit novitiate at Tronchiennes at twenty-one; studied philosophy at Louvain and theology at the Gregorian. [New Catholic Encyclopedia]
- Taught moral theology and canon law at the Jesuit theologate of Louvain from December 1893, for twenty-five years. [New Catholic Encyclopedia]
- In 1918 succeeded G. Bucceroni in the chair of moral theology at the Gregorian University, and taught there sixteen years; founded and edited the journal Periodica de re canonica et morali (so the NCE names it). [New Catholic Encyclopedia]
- Consultor of three Roman Congregations (Council, Sacraments, Religious); from 1904 worked on the codification of canon law, especially on religious. [New Catholic Encyclopedia]
- Wrote nineteen articles on moral theology and canon law for the Catholic Encyclopedia (1908–1914). [New Catholic Encyclopedia]
Sources: New Catholic Encyclopedia (2nd ed., 2003), as published on Encyclopedia.com. Each fact names where it was read; the links go to the page or entry itself.
What Our Authors Say of Him
- “is a grave and fecund author” — Prümmer, Catalogue of authors
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 | |
|---|---|
| “we shall show that the system of pure but moderate probabilism is true”Moderate probabilist. In his own words (Probabilism ("pure but moderate")) | Vermeersch, n. 358 |
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.
| “and A. Vermeersch, S.J.”Koch-Preuss name him among recent authors who use the Scholastic method for the practical needs of the confessor | Koch-Preuss, Handbook I, history of moral theology |
No article in the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913).