Raimondo Spiazzi

Raimondo Spiazzi OP (1918-2002) was a Catholic Italian theologian, advisor to Pius XII, and Mariologist with over 2,500 publications.

Spiazzi was born on January 18, 1918, in Moneglia, Genoa. He met Cardinal Secretary of State Eugenio Pacelli in 1937, who left a major impression on him and facilitated his entry in the seminary. [personal communication, March 2, 1992] March 25, 1944, he was ordained to the priesthood. During the war years he taught religion in a secondary school in Turin. After the war, he studied at the Pontifical International College "Angelicum" in Rome and graduated in 1947 with the title “The Christian perfection of man.” He taught in Rome at the Angelicum until 1972. [rivoltialsignore.blogspot.com/2007/10/in-memoriam-padre-raimondo-spiazzi_] Spiazzi, a tireless scholar authored 2.500 publications of which are 150 publications in book format. " l'Edizione Marietti dell'Opera Omnia di San Tommaso d'Aquino, l'Enciclopedia Moderna del Cristinesimo, l'Enciclopedia Mariana "Theotòcos". [rivoltialsignore.blogspot.com/2007/10/in-memoriam-padre-raimondo-spiazzi_] Many of his later publications are in the area of Mariology.

Pope John XXIII punishes Spiazzi

In 1959, Spiazzi published an article, which costs him banning from Rome and the wrath of Pope John XXIII. Aware of discussions on the continued mandatory priestly celibacy, most prominently by the Cardinal Archbishop Emmanuel Célestin Suhard of Paris, Spiazzi argued in "Monitor Ecclesiasticus," that historical evidence for mandatory priestly celibacy was extremely shaky. He pointed out, that even at he Ecumenical Council of Trent, the fathers did not consider clerical celibacy a matter of divine positive law, "“nor could they since there were validly ordained married priests in communion with Rome." [Monitor Ecclesiasticus, Rome, Vol 84,1959 ]

Pope John XXIII was not amused. He could not punish the Cardinal of Paris, but Spiazzi had to leave his teaching position and Rome within 24 hours. At the Roman synod January 27, 1960, the Pontiff affirmed mandatory celibacy as a permanent reminder of the heroic age, in which the Church had to do battle and succeeded to the extent that it won the triple title and emblem of its victory: "The Church of Christ, free, chaste Catholic" [Giovanni XXIIII, Lettere 1958-1963, Rome, 1970, p.133]

Pope Pius XII and Spiazzi

Spiazzi was theological advisor to Pope Pius XII from 1954 until his death October 1958. During this time, the Pontiff issued two Marian encyclicals, Ad caeli reginam and Fulgens Corona. [personal communication, March 2, 1992] After the death of the Pope he wrote several books, in which he illustrated the modern nature and applicability of the Magisterium of Pius XII. He participated in two seminars in the Vatican on the theology and ecclesiology of the late pontiff. A bitter disagreement developed in a October 9, 1992 seminar, when Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini accused Raimondo Spiazzi of misrepresenting the late Pope. Angelini, who had come late to the Spiazzi presentation, had most probably misinterpreted him. The encyclical Mystici Corporis, was in the view of Spiazzi, a most important legacy of Pope XII and a manifestation not only of his Christology but also of his Mariology. [R Spiazzi Mystici corpopis in 30 Giorni 1993.] After a serious illness, Spiazzi left Rome in 1997. Raimondo Spiazzi died October 24, 2004 in Varazze, Savona [rivoltialsignore.blogspot.com/2007/10/in-memoriam-padre-raimondo-spiazzi_]

Selected Works

* Raimondo Spiazzi ,Processo a Pio XII Intervista con Raomondo Spiazzi, Pan Editrice, Milano, 1979
* Raimondo Spiazzi, Pio XII, Mezzo Secolo Dopo, Edizioni Studio Dominicani, Bologna, 1991

* Raimondo Spiazzi, Il Cardinale Giuseppe Siri, Edizioni Studio Dominicani, Bologna, 1990

* Raimondo Spiazzi, (with Augustin Bea, Pietro Parente), Echi et Commenti della Proclamazione del Domma dell’Assunzione, Roma, 1954

* Raimondo Spiazzi Da San Sisto Sull Appia Al SS Rosario A Monte Mario, Roma, 1999

* Raimondo Spiazzi l'Enciclopedia Moderna del Cristinesimo,

* Raimondo Spiazzi , l'Enciclopedia Mariana, Rome 1965?

* Raimondo Spiazzi, l'Edizione Marietti dell'Opera Omnia di San Tommaso d'Aquino

* Raimondo Spiazzi, Cronache e fioretti del Monastero di San Sisto all'Appia, Bologna, ESD, 1994,
* Raimondo Spiazzi, San Domenico e il monastero di San Sisto all'Appia, Bologna, ESD, 1994

* Raimondo Spiazzi, San Tommaso d'Aquino: biografia documentata, Edizioni Studio Domenicano, Bologna, 1997

* Raimondo Spiazzi, Temi e Problemi de Teologia Politica, Intellectus fidei, Collana, 1988

* Raimondo Spiazzi, Dottrina soziale Della Chiesa, Edizioni Studio Domenicano,1989

* Raimondo Spiazzi, Enciclopedia del pensiero sociale cristiano: rassegna storica di idee, autori e opere, le fonti bibliche e classiche, gli sviluppi dall'epoca dei Padri ai nostri giorni, l'elaborazione dottrinale dei pensatori cristiani in relazione alle concezioni e ai sistemi moderni, proiezioni sul domani, documentazione e sintesi della dottrina sociale della Chiesa nei secoli XIX e XX, Edizioni Studio Domenicano, Bologna, 1992

ource

* Raimondo Spiazzi ,Processo a Pio XII Intervista con Raomondo Spiazzi, Pan Editrice, Milano, 1979
* ivoltialsignore.blogspot.com/2007/10/in-memoriam-padre-raimondo-spiazzi

Quotes