Among the writers of the Roman Catholic Chiu-ch who have stood aloof in a great measure from the casu- ists, as well as the reformers led by Pascal, the first place in this period belongs to bishop Louis Abelly (f 1691), whose Medulla Theologica has passed through several editions (last, Regensb. 1839). A favorite text-book for theological students, because of its brevity and clear- ness, is the Examen theologies Morale, by Marianus at Angelis. It has been exceeded in popularity only by Sobiech's Compend. theologice Moralis, and more recently by Liguori's Homo Apostolicus.
5. Recent Period. — Among those who in more recent daj's have led the Romanists on moral subjects, none deserve so high a place as Hirscher, whose Christl. Morcd (Tub. 1835, 3 vols. 8vo, and often) is really a work of more than ordinary merit. Perhaps equal merit is accorded to Sailer {ChrUtkatholische Moral, Ratisbon, 1831), also a scholar and a clear thinker. These two men were liberal in sentiment, and accom- modated themselves to the spirit of the age ; but for this reason they are well known only in Germany and among the Galilean clergy of France. Everyivhere else Liguori still holds sway. Ambrose Joseph Stapf may in many respects be counted a disciple of Sailer and Hirscher. His ChristUche Sitteidehre was published at Innsbruck in 1850, edited by J. B. Hofmann. Other works of like tendency and worth are from the distin- guished Roman Catholic theologians Filser, Martin, Propst, and especiall}^ Werner. Danzer, Jlutschelle, and Schreiber may be pointed out as principal organs of a negative tendency. They are Pelagian in their inter- pretation of Christianity, and betray the modern ra- tionalistic leaning in their moral systems. Among those who have closely allied themselves with the sceptical philosophic schools of our day the following are worthy of mention: Aug. Isenbiehl (f 1800), Tugendlehre nach Grundsdtzen der j-einen Vernunft u. des praktischen Chris- tenthums (Augsb. 1795) ; Jos. Geishlittner (f 1805), Theol. Moral in einer wissenschaftiichen Darstellung (Augsb. 1805). The last named is a disciple of Fichte, and, to- gether with Maurus Schenkl (f 1816), who published ^Ethica Christiana (oth ed. Vienna, 1830), indicates a passing over to a more positive tendency. One of the more recent and noted -works on the subject is Prof.
MORALES 5
Paul Palasthy's Theologia Morum Catholica (1861, 4 vols.). Though the author is a Hungarian, the work has been brought out in Germany, and there enjoys a wide circulation, and is acknowledged superior to the German works (comp. Literarischer Ihindweiser f. d. kath. iJtutschland, Sept. 18, 18G7). It is based on the labors of Suarez, Billuart, Less, Laymann, and Leander. Another work of about the same date is I'rof. F. Fried- hoffs Al/ffem. Moraltheologie (Mayence, 18G0). Later he wrote another work on the subject, entitled Specidle Moraltheologie (1865), but neither of them compares favorably with the Hungarian production. Of greater value even than Palasthy's work, and more recent in origin, is Prof. Simar's Lelirh. d. kathol. Moraltheologie (Bonn, 1867, 8vo), which is fast gaining ground in the theological schools of Germany. In his intro- duction he furnishes a valuable resume of the history of Koman Catholic moral theology, which we have freely consulted in writing this article. See Wetzer u. Welte, Kirchen-Lexikon, vii, '294:-308 ; Aschbach, Kir- chen-Lexikon, s. v, IMoral Theologie ; Dublin Rev. Oct. 1853 ; B)-oimson's Rev. Jan. 1853 ; and for Protestant criticisms. Manning and Meyrick, Moral Theology of the Church of Rome, or certain Points in S. A Ifonso de Liguori's Moral Theology considered, in 19 Letters (1855); Presb. Qu. April, 1873, p. 367; North Brit. Rev. Julv, 1870, p. 266; Westminster Rev. Jan. 1873, p. 118 sq.; Chri.^tian Remembrancer, Jan., July, and Oct. 1854. (J, 11. W.)
Morales, Ambrosio, a learned Spanish Domini- can, the best authority on early Spanish history, was born at Cordova in 1513. His parents and relatives were people eminent in literary circles, and Ambrosio enjoyed all the advantages his country could afford him. One of his uncles, Fernau Perez de Oliva, who was a iirofcssor of philosophy and theology at Salaman- ca, look a prominent part in his education, and greatly influenced his tendency to theological study. He was also indebted to Juan de Medina and to Mclchior Cano, two great writers and eloquent professors of divinity of that time, the former at Aicala, the latter at Salamanca, where he was the great antagonist of his eminent col- league Bartholomeo Carranza, and ,i stUl greater oppo- nent of the Jesuits. This Cano, or Canus, is the author of the excellent treatise J)e Locis Theologicis, and was a great reformer of the schools, from which he banished many futile and absurd questions. While yet a youth Morales produced a translation of the Pinax or Table ofCebcs. But religious enthusiasm arose far above all his literary aspirations, and pervaded all his actions. At the age of nineteen Morales became a Jeronymite, when, his religious fervor being no longer controllable, in order to secure himself against temptation, lie at- tempted to follow the precedent of Origen. The ex- cruciating pain inseparable from this self-mutilation drew from him a shriek which Ijrought a brother monk to his cell in time to give him effectual relief. In order to obtain a papal dispensation for his conduct, he set out for Rome, but fell into the sea, and was saved, ac- cording to his own account, by a miracle. Considering this accident as a warning not to proceed, he joined his friends at court, and lived thenceforward as a secular priest. After the death of his father he became a pro- fessor at Aicala, where he liad, among others, (iuevara, Chacon, Sandoval, and the first Don Juan of Austria, among his pupils. He sustained the high literary credit of his family by his investigations into the antiquities of Spain. He also devoted iiimself to belles-lettres, and did much to cultivate among the Spanish of his day a taste for literature. His services were recognised at court, and he was made historiographer to Philip H, king of Spain. Morales died in 15110. He was the autlior of several works on the secular as well as relig- ious history and antiijuities of Spain ; but liis extreme credulity greatly deteriorates the value of his writings. See Bouterweck, Hist. <f Spanish Lit. (see Index) ; Tick- uor, Hist, (f Spanish Lit. iii, 129.