Author
Francesco Silvestri
1474–1528
Francesco Silvestri (c. 1474–1528) was born at Ferrara, from which he is known as Ferrariensis, and entered the Dominican order there. He taught at Bologna and other houses of the order, served as regent of studies and as vicar general of the Lombard Congregation, and in 1525 was elected Master General of the Dominicans. He died at Rennes while visiting the houses of the order in France.
His commentary on the Summa contra Gentiles, first printed in 1524, was for centuries the standard exposition of that work; Leo XIII ordered it printed with the text in the Leonine edition, as Cajetan's commentary is with the Summa theologiae. Silvestri followed Cajetan on many questions but disagreed with him on others, notably on the natural knowledge of the immortality of the soul and on the natural desire to see God, and these disagreements became reference points for later Thomists.
The library holds his commentary on all four books of the Summa contra Gentiles, and his De convenientia institutorum Romanae Ecclesiae cum evangelica libertate, a reply to Luther on the Church's laws and Christian freedom. The commentary on the first book, on God, is the place to start.
Works
Texts currently available in the library.
De convenientia institutorum Romanae Ecclesiae cum Evangelica libertate
1525Apologia de convenientia institutorum Romanae Ecclesiae cum evangelica libertate adversus Lutherum, de hoc pessime sentientem is a theological-polemical treatise written in the early years of the Reformation. It defends the compatibility of the institutions, authority, discipline, and ecclesiastical order of the Roman Church with evangelical freedom, directly opposing Martin Luther’s contrary position. The work belongs to the earliest Catholic theological responses to the Lutheran Reformation.
Commentaria in Summam contra Gentiles, Liber I
1918Franciscus de Sylvestris Ferrariensis (1474-1528), Dominican Master General, wrote the classical commentary on the Summa contra Gentiles. Liber I of this edition reproduces the commentary as printed with the Leonine text of 1918, tomus XIII.
Commentaria in Summam contra Gentiles, Liber II
1918Franciscus de Sylvestris Ferrariensis (1474-1528), Dominican Master General, wrote the classical commentary on the Summa contra Gentiles. Liber II of this edition reproduces the commentary as printed with the Leonine text of 1918, tomus XIII.
Commentaria in Summam contra Gentiles, Liber IV
1918Franciscus de Sylvestris Ferrariensis (1474-1528), Dominican Master General, wrote the classical commentary on the Summa contra Gentiles. Liber IV of this edition reproduces the commentary as printed with the Leonine text of 1930, tomus XV.
Commentaria in Summam contra Gentiles, Liber III
1926Franciscus de Sylvestris Ferrariensis (1474-1528), Dominican Master General, wrote the classical commentary on the Summa contra Gentiles. Liber III of this edition reproduces the commentary as printed with the Leonine text of 1926, tomus XIV.