Ignatius of Jesus

Father
Ignatius of Jesus
Ignàzio di Gesù
Born1596
Sorbolongo, Pesaro
Died21 February 1667
Rome
Occupation(s)Friar and missionary
Years active1629–1664
Known forWritings on Mandaeism and the Persian language
ReligionChristianity
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
Ordained27 February 1623
Writings
  • Narratio originis, rituum, & errorum christianorum Sancti Ioannis (1652)
  • Grammatica linguae persicae (1661)

Ignatius of Jesus (Italian: Ignàzio di Gesù, born Carlo Leonelli; 1596, Sorbolongo, Pesaro – 21 February 1667, Rome) was an Italian Roman Catholic friar of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites who served as a missionary in Persia, Basra, and Lebanon for 35 years.[1] He is best known for writing the first Western scholarly work on Mandaeism, Narratio originis, rituum, & errorum christianorum Sancti Ioannis ("Narration of the Origin, the Rituals, and the Errors of the Christians of St. John") (1652).[2][3]

Biography

1596, Carlo Leonelli was born as the fifth of sixth siblings to a semi-noble family in Sorbolongo.[2]

He joined the Discalced Carmelites (also known as the "Barefoot" Carmelites)[4] and took his vows on 27 February 1623, receiving the name of Ignatius of Jesus.[2]

He spent 35 years from 1629 to 1664 as a missionary in the Middle East in the following locations.[2]

He died in Rome on 21 February 1667.[2]

Works

Ignatius of Jesus is best known for his 1652 treatise on Mandaeism, Narratio originis, rituum, & errorum christianorum Sancti Ioannis ("Narration of the Origin, the Rituals, and the Errors of the Christians of St. John").[5]

His other works include Grammatica linguae persicae (1661),[6] a grammar of the Persian language.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Ignàzio di Gesù". Enciclopedia Treccani (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lupieri, Edmondo (2004). "Friar Ignatius of Jesus (Carlo Leonelli) and the First "Scholarly" Book on Mandaeanism (1652)". ARAM. 16: 25–46.
  3. ^ Flannery, John M. (2013-01-01). "The Catholic Missions to the 'St John Christians'". The Mission of the Portuguese Augustinians to Persia and Beyond (1602-1747). Leiden: Brill. pp. 149–184. doi:10.1163/9789004247703_008.
  4. ^ Lupieri, Edmondo F. (2012). "Mandaeans: i. History". Encyclopædia Iranica. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  5. ^ di Gesù, Ignazio (1652). Narratio originis, rituum, & errorum christianorum Sancti Ioannis (in Latin). Typis Sac. Cong. Prop. Fidei.
  6. ^ di Gesù, Ignazio (1661). Grammatica linguae Persicae (in Latin). Typis Sacrae Congregationis de Propaganda Fide.