THE HISTORY OF PROBABILISM AND RIGORISM, 2 VOLUMES

Concina, Daniello. Della storia del probabilismo e del rigorismo dissertazioni teologiche, morali e critiche, nelle quali si spiegano, e dalle sottigliezze de' Moderni Probabilisti si difendono i Principj Fondamentali della Teologia Cristiana. In Lucca (si trovano in Venezia appresso Simone Occhi Librajo), MDCCXLIII [Lucca: 1743].

4to (2 volumes, 254x20mm), full vellum binding, five raised bands spine with title, collocation and decoration handwritten in brown ink, blue sprinkled edges, title-page of the first volume printed in red and black, pp. Lii, 698, [2, the last blank] to the first volume; pp. [2, the last blank], xvi, 621 [3, the last two blank]. Roman type, text in Italian. Woodcut initials and tail-pieces.

CONCINA'S STORIA DEL PROBABILISMO E DEL RIGORISMO [HISTORY OF THE PROBABILISM AND OF THE RIGORISM], FIVE DISSERTATIONS ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIES OF OLD AND NEW RELIGIOUS STREAMS.

WHICH IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO HEAVEN? According to Concina, people can choose between two paths: one is a narrow, harsh and dangerous street while, the other one is large, comfortable and easy. Both the theories are equally justified and promoted by two different kinds of Theologians: the Probabilisti and the Rigoristi. The Probabilists think that it is possible to reach God through the "sweet" way called also via della minor probabilità (minor probability way). On the contrary, the Rigorists believe that walking through this way, humans will reach the eternal death.

The controversies between the streams of thought and their histories are the theme of the five dissertations that compose the work. Though both the doctrines are equally unpopular with the Church, the author is rather in favour of the moral rigidity of the Rigorism which he considers a natural continuation of the ecclesiastical traditional discipline. To explain his choice, he states that even the probabilists agree that the rigorists will be saved, while on the contrary, according to the rigorists, the probabilists won't reach the salvation. For this reason, a person that has to choose one of these streams, should be more attracted by the one that seems to guarantee the grace in the majority of people's opinion. The Rigorism has been taxed with raising doubts and with throwing people in despair, but the author warns the reader that even Jesus was accused of Rigorism by the Judeans, because he taught rigid and severe doctrines, against the senses and the flesh for the preparation of the soul.

The book had a great diffusion, but was soon attacked by the Jesuits who felt themselves directly touched by Concina's invective.

AT THE END OF THE SECOND VOLUME, THIS EDITION PRESENTS AN APPENDIX CONTAINING THE DISSERTAZIONE APOLOGETICA [Apologetic dissertation], a work written to reply to many critics moved against the author by some theologians and in particular to confute the Difesa della Dissertazione Teologico-Morale-Critica [Defence of the Teological-Moral-Critic Dissertation] published against Concina's book Della quaresima appellante.

Daniello Concina (1687-1756) was born in Udine (North of Italy) and attended the Jesuit college in Gorz. He decided to follow his vocation and he became a Dominican friar. After a period in Venice, where he studied theology, he started travelling all over Italy in order to preach. He is remembered for his polemic strength against the religious contaminations of the contemporary age. Concina dedicated his works to the religious poverty [see, Disciplina apostolico-monastica (Apostolic and monastic discipline)], to the abstinence from food, to the return to the ancient doctrine, to the absolution. Each of these works caused lots of controversies and even Pope Benedict XIV, not approving his violent polemic on the usury, decided to purge one of his works. Concina was certainly unpopular to many people and probably hated or dreaded, especially by the Jesuits. He died in Venice.

Provenance: At the title-page of both the volumes, stamp and handwritten ownership note Del Luogo Dei Cappuccini Di Peschiera.

References: IT\ICCU\TO0E\033727. Not in Brunet nor in Graesse.

Unpleasant brown stain at the outer upper corner of all leaves, foxing traces, some minor stains (at page 311, 426, 465 of the first volume), minor tears at the lower corner at pages 495, 593 of the first volume and at page 575 of the second volume; overall, a fair copy.