MALDONATUS, JOANNES, was born at Casas de la Reina, in Estremadura, in 1534, studied at Salamanca, and was distinguished in his youth for his knowledge of Greek and philosophy. He took the vows and habit of the Society of Jesus at Rome in 1562. He was sent by the Jesuit authorities to Paris as a teacher of Catholic theology during the excitement of the French Reformation and Catho lie reaction, between 1562 and 1572. His exege tical lectures were attended by Protestants in Paris and elsewhere, and the renown of his teaching reminds the reader of the history of Abelard. His brilliant course was chequered by malicious charges of heresy on the doctrine of the Imma culate Conception, and also of deathbed robbery' in favour of the Society of Jesus. He retired after this to the solitude of the Convent of Bourges, and prepared the various exegetical and other works by which he is known to posterity. None of his works were published during his life, and some still remain in the Ambrosian Library of Milan. The most valuable productions of Maldonatus are — I. Commentarii in Quatuor Evansclistas. Though condemned by some, and procuring for its author the title of virulentissimus et maledi centissimus,' this work has received from Catholic and Protestant writers a just meed of praise (see Bayle, Richard Simon, Schlichtingius, M. Poole, and Jackson). In this work, Maldonatus collates the opinions of the Fathers with great ability, and does not hesitate to differ even from Augustine when sound exegesis demands it. He shows ac quaintance with the Vatican MS. of the N. T., and with the LXX. version of the O. T., and with the
original Hebrew. The best edition was published 1595. II. Commentarii in preeripuos Sacra- Scrip tune libros V. T., including Jeremiah, Baruch, Ezekiel. and Daniel, and an exposition of Psalm cix. III. A folio volume, containing Scholia on the Psalms, Proverbs, Canticles, and Ecclesiastes.
and various theological treatises. IV. .Liber de damonibus, Disputations de fide, a translation of this was also published in French in 1617. V. Summula casuum conscientie, a work of doubtful value, morality, and authenticity. VI. A com mentary on the Epistle to the Romans, and other works, are preserved in MSS. in Milan.
While engaged in preparing these works, Mal donatus was summoned to Rome by Pope Gregory XIII. to assist in the publication of an edition of the LXX. He died shortly afterwards, in 1583, in the fiftieth year of his age. He was one of the greatest ornaments of the Society of Jesus, and a learned man in the age of great scholars and reviving thought (see R. Simon, Hist. Crit. des Principaztx Commentateurs du Nouveau Test., 1693, pp. 618-33 ; Bayle, Zeller, Hoffman, and Morery ; Aubertus Mirwus, Scriptores Saadi, xvi. in Fabricius, Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica).
There was another writer of the same name, a Spanish Jesuit, who, according to Aubertus Mirams, was a priest of Burgos, and is stated by Zeller to have ordered the lessons of the Roman Breviary. In 1549 he published a treatise De senectute Chris tiana, and an elegant abridgment of the lives of the saints.—H. R. R.