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Profilo storico | Historical Profile                                                                                                            37







               Theology


               Modena didn’t have a tradition of theological studies at university level.
               The only teachings that were given, were the ones by the Seminary
               room, which was placed at that time in the rectories of the Dom, seat of
               the present notary Archive.
               Since in the public Studium the degrees were awarded by the respective
               professional Colleges and that in Modena a College of Theologians was
               missing, it was erected from the ducal authority, that provided motu pro-
               prio (on its own initiative) to emanate the relative Statutes. The creation by
               the civil power – without any papal authorization – of such organism
               caused, predictably, contrary opinions and objections about the canonic
               validity of the qualifications awarded, a problem destined to find a solu-
               tion, as explained below, only in the third decade of eighteenth century.
               Basing on the Statutes of the Theologians College, the prior role was
               given by right to the pro tempore Guardian of the Congregation of Beata
               Vergine (Blessed Virgin) and of San Carlo (Saint Carl); the members,
               indeed, were chosen impartially between the exponents of the several
               religious orders present in the city.
               In the fact, however, the theology chairs were held almost exclusively by
               the priests of San Carlo and by the Dominicans. It’s exactly thanks to the
               Dominicans, that occurred the regularization of the situation of the Theo-
               logians College, and so the definitive recognition of the University to grad-
               uate in theology: father Giovanni Domenico Agnani, prominent member
               of the Preachers order, intervened by the Roman Curia in favour of the
               Modena Studium, where he taught for twelve years. Thanks to his good
               offices, the rector Sassarini could send a letter to Benedict XIII, he too Do-
               minican, to ask for the authorization to the award of the Theology degrees.
               The permission arrived, through a proper papal breve, on the 23  of
                                                                             rd
               June 1728, together with the indemnity for the degrees awarded before
               of that date.








 Antonio Consetti, Portrait of Ludovico Antonio Muratori, 18th century, Aedes Muratoriana, Modena  Frontespizio del Tractatus in universam Theologiam Moralem di Filippo Maria Grossi, Modena, 1694  Frontispiece of the Tractatus in universam Theologiam Moralem by Filippo Maria Grossi, Modena, 1694
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