Scotus Academicus, Tomus primus: De Deo in se subsistente

Approval of the Doctors of the sacred Faculty of Paris.

Once again Scotus emerges from the darkness, bearing the torch of the Very Reverend Father Claudius Frassen, of the Seraphic Order, Doctor of sacred Theology of Paris, and Professor among his own. So that this writer of a doctrine no less profound than subtle might come forth into public more pleasing to all, this most meritorious man did not suffer two further ornaments to be wanting in him, namely diction and arrangement. He therefore added the polish of language and the order of methodical treatment, and thus clothed and refined by both, he made of the Subtle Doctor an Academic, all the more, as is rightly hoped, to benefit all academics, because it is entirely consonant with the Christian faith and with chaste morals. Thus we judge and testify from our hearts, we the undersigned Doctors of the Sorbonne society in the sacred Faculty of Paris, on the 25th day of May, in the year 1672.

G. Lestocq, Royal Professor of sacred Theology at the Sorbonne.

A. Chevillier.

Mandate of Obedience, and Permission of the Most Reverend Father General.

Brother Franciscus Maria Rhini de Politio, Minister General of the whole Order of Friars Minor of our Seraphic Father Francis, and servant, and Apostolic Commissary in the Kingdom of France over all the Provinces subject to us, etc. To the Father beloved of us in Christ, and to Brother Claudius Frassen, alumnus of our Province of great France, Doctor of sacred Theology of Paris, and Professor of the same in our greater Convent of Paris, everlasting greeting in the Lord.

Since (as we have learned) a Work has been composed by you, whose title is Scotus Academicus, etc., and you desire it to be printed for the greater glory of God, the exaltation of Scotistic doctrine, and the honor of our Order; we, desiring to promote all the aforesaid as much as we can in the Lord, and understanding that your book will be of no small benefit in all these things, by the force of these presents grant you the faculty, joined with the merit of salutary obedience, inasmuch as, after the prior examination and approval of the same Work by the Reverend Fathers, emeritus Theologians of our Order and Doctors of the sacred Parisian Faculty, to be made by Brother Claude Domart, Guardian of this great Convent, Brother Andreas Houbereau, and Brother Carolus Mignet, and with the remaining Apostolic sanctions and our Constitutions preserved, you may and can commit it to the press. Given in our great Convent of Paris, on the twentieth day of April, under the handwriting and the greater seal of our office, in the year one thousand six hundred seventy-one.

Brother F. Maria Rhini de Politio, Minister General.

Brother A. E. de Lossada, Secretary General of the Order.

Approval, and Permission of the Very Reverend Father Claude Domart, Doctor of Paris, and Guardian of the greater Convent of the Friars Minor of St. Francis.

Having seen his earlier lucubrations, both philosophical and on the spiritual life, we cannot but hope that the Scotus Academicus of the Reverend Father Claudius Frassen, Doctor of Paris and Lector General of the great Convent of the Friars Minor of St. Francis, will come forth into the light with the applause of all Theologians. Wherefore, we not only permit it to be committed to the press, but inasmuch as we judge this Work most useful to the public, we desire it from our heart. Given in the said Convent of Paris on the tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred seventy-one.

Brother C. Domart, humble Guardian of the great Convent.

Approval of the Very Reverend Father Carolus Miguet, Doctor of Paris, and Lector General in Theology in the great Convent of the Friars Minor, and at present Guardian of the same.

A Work long at last desired, and a most useful Method of our School for unfolding the polished and solid doctrine of the Subtle Doctor, especially on the first book of the Sentences, I, the undersigned, attest that I have read through: whose title is truly Scotus Academicus: for it will stand as the strongest and clearest ornament of Scotistic learning, the honor of our Seraphic Family, and an easy way for Theologians to divine Wisdom. Hence I judge it to be saying too little to call it worthy of the press; rather, I think that the Author, the Rev. Father Claudius Frassen, proves himself the legitimate heir of the subtlety of the Subtle Doctor, and likewise shows himself the most faithful Interpreter of his doctrine, as also in the philosophical works: Wherefore, that it may be engraved by the types, as it will profit the public, and as a singular token of our friendship toward the Author, I most earnestly desire it. Given at Paris in the great Convent of the Friars Minor, on the fifteenth of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred seventy-one.

Fr. Carolus Miguet, Doctor in Theology, and Lector General.

Approval of the Very Reverend Father Andreas Houbereau, Doctor of Paris, Former Definitor General, and Former Provincial of the greater Province of Touraine.

I, the undersigned, Doctor of Theology in the University of Paris, have read and perused the Book whose title is Scotus Academicus, composed by the Rev. Father Claudius Frassen, Doctor and Professor of our Order in the same University: which I found elaborated with singular Doctrine, order, and method: for in it the deepest mysteries of the faith, the more abstruse difficulties of Theology, and the hidden treasures of the profound doctrine of Scotus himself are opened up so clearly, lucidly, and vigorously, and are piled up with such a density of arguments and reasons, that hardly any other learned man has ever yet unraveled them so. Hence it seems to draw any readers whatsoever and the souls of pious men into its own judgment by its very weight, with a certain sweet violence. Wherefore, since this great work contains a doctrine most firmly founded in the Scriptures, Councils, Fathers, and weightier Theologians, and there is in it nothing at all that is not holy, nothing not pious, nothing alien to the mind of the holy Catholic Apostolic and Roman Church, and nothing that does not savor of the Author's outstanding learning joined with equal piety; I judge it most worthy to come forth into the light, that it may be spread abroad into all Christian regions, for the glory of God and the public utility. At Paris, in the great Convent of the Franciscans, the twentieth of September, in the year one thousand six hundred seventy-one.

Fr. Andreas Houbereau, Former Definitor General, and Former Provincial of the Province of Touraine.