Cornelius a Lapide

Also known as: Cornelius Cornelii a Lapide, Cornelius a Lapide S.J.
Dates: 1567–1637
Role: Jesuit biblical commentator, professor of Holy Scripture at Louvain and Rome; author of the Commentaria in Scripturam Sacram

Jesuit biblical commentator who taught Holy Scripture at Louvain for over twenty years and then at Rome. Author of the monumental Commentaria in Scripturam Sacram covering nearly the entire Bible. Died in Rome on 12 March 1637.

Works

Preliminaries

Cornelius a Lapide, S.J. — Named as author of the work
"Cornelius a Lapide, S.J."
Title Page — Full title page identifies him as author and professor
"COMMENTARIES ON HOLY SCRIPTURE By Reverend Father Cornelius a Lapide, of the Society of Jesus, formerly professor of Holy Scripture at Louvain, afterwards at Rome"
Permissions — Vitelleschi grants permission for his Commentaries on the Pentateuch to be printed
"the Commentaries on the Pentateuch of Father Cornelius Cornelii a Lapide, theologian of our Society"
Permissions P2 — Scribani grants printing permission for his work
"the Commentaries on the Pentateuch of Moses, authored by Father Cornelius Cornelii a Lapide, theologian of our Society"
Permissions P3 — Spitholdius certifies his commentary as learned and pious
"This Commentary of the Very Reverend Father Cornelius Cornelii a Lapide, theologian of the Society of Jesus, is learned and pious"
Permissions P4 — Crampon's annotations to his commentaries noted
"Annotations by which Aug. Crampon, priest of the diocese of Amiens, has illustrated and enriched Father Cornelius a Lapide's Commentaries on the Pentateuch."
THE LIFE OF CORNELIUS A LAPIDE. — Heading of the biographical section
"THE LIFE OF CORNELIUS A LAPIDE."
THE LIFE OF CORNELIUS A LAPIDE. — Full biography: born in Bocholt, entered Society of Jesus 1592, taught at Louvain 20+ years, then Rome; his prayer expressing devotion to solitude and contemplation
"Cornelius Cornelii a Lapide, a Belgian by nationality, a native of Bocholt in the region of Eupen, born of respectable parents, began to worship God in faith, hope, and charity from the first use of reason."
THE LIFE OF CORNELIUS A LAPIDE. — Continues biography: his humility, desire for martyrdom, near-capture by Dutch cavalry at Aspromont in 1604, devotion to the Blessed Virgin, death in Rome 12 March 1637; catalogue of his published works
"Absorbed in these pursuits of holiness, after he had passed seventy years of age, he paid at last the debt of nature in the Holy City, where he had always desired to mingle his bones with those of the saints, on 12 March in the year 1637."
THE LIFE OF CORNELIUS A LAPIDE. — Left incomplete commentaries on Job and Psalms
"He left incomplete his commentaries on the books of Job and Psalms."

Preface and Praise of Sacred Scripture

Cornelius a Lapide, S.J. — Named as author of the work
"Cornelius a Lapide, S.J."
The Author's Method (paragraph 48) — Describes his own method of commentary: tracking the historical sense, consulting Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and Fathers, preferring Vulgate per Trent decree
"As for what concerns me, I know and feel what a burden I bear, and how pathless the road I must tread"
The Author's Method (paragraph 48) — Discusses his approach to Rabbis and mystical sense; notes the immense labor of consulting Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Syriac, Chaldean sources
"As for the Rabbis, I will have no dealings with them, except insofar as they agree with Catholic doctors"
Peroration and Conclusion of Section One — Invokes his patrons (the Virgin, St. Jerome, Moses) and asks that Paul assist him as he assisted Chrysostom
"I will ceaselessly entreat all the Saints, and especially my patrons, the Virgin Mother of eternal Wisdom, St. Jerome, and Moses"

Commentary on the Pentateuch of Moses

Argumentum — Author of the entire work; named in the title
"The Torah or Law comprises the Pentateuch, namely Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy"
Sacred Chronology — Received the chronology from Samerius and diligently purged its errors
"it was not, however, free from errors, from which I diligently purged it"

Chapter I (The Six Days of Creation)

Cornelius a Lapide — Named as the author
"Cornelius a Lapide"
Introduction — Pledges brevity and solidity in his approach
"I shall compress into a few words what others have said at length"
Introduction — Explains his method of citing authors
"when I cite those authors just mentioned, I shall not note the specific passage"