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Gesualdo De Luca
Gesualdo De Luca, (1814-1892), was
General Keeper and prior Capuchin and learned author of numerous, theological, canonical and historical
works.
Professor of Philosophy, Theology and Canon Law to the Capizzi College (where
had among his pupils
Luigi Capuana) and at the University Of Palermo, he was the first to search for
ancient documents and sources of brontese history reporting
them back in his most famous book the "Storia
della Città di Bronte" ("History of the town of
Bronte"), a weighty volume of 450 pages
published in Milan in 1883.
Many judge "fanciful" the historical rebuilding done by the De
Luca, written more with love than with study; another historian of ours,
Benedetto Radice, defined "chaotic"
the attempt done by the De Luca, even if, affirms,
"of
that he must also be given praise".
Published more than 50 books among
which "The right of property in the teaching and the facts of
the church" (two volumes, Catania 1853), "The divine and human
rights" (in two volumes, Catania 1854 and Palermo 1857), "Consecrator
crist. matrimoni" (Catania, 1871)".
As a "good fellow villager",
father Gesualdo De Luca joined the enemies and
detractors chorus that were trying to confute and demolish the advanced
thesis of Nicola Spedalieri. |
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Father
Gesualdo De Luca, from a drawing taken from his book "History of the
town of Bronte" and (below) a painting preserved in the Capizzi
college.
Benedetto Radice speaks of him as "noticed to the
ecclesiastical world for his works about Canon Law, for his love of the
Bourbon and his turbulent spirit". |
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In his book "Il contratto sociale discusso a mente dei sacri
canoni" (The social contract talked while thinking of the holy
canons), (Catania, 1882) turned ferocious
criticisms to the thought of the philosopher defining him, among
other things, "a very miserable copycat of the
most impious theories that crazy fellows ("Rousseau and others, equally
delirious")
had written about the origin and quality of the men's natural right and
duties", and their "inauspicious
shadow" that " ... is wrapped in
so many contradictions ...".
Also, "excited by good friends, proposed,
to straighten up this big work by the priest Spedalieri ... if God will
grant me a long life".
«But - write Giuseppe Cimbali
(About Spedalieri - The insults of a century, Rome 1899)
- the announced destruction was not performed.
Luckily, God did not grant ... the hoped longevity and the destruction remained
only a criminal attempt».
Father Gesualdo De Luca died in Bronte in 1882.
It is buried in the cemetery of Bronte on the floor in front of the altar
of the Chapel Of The Franciscan Order. |
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