Stefano Antonio Morcelli

From the Catholic Encyclopedia

An Italian Jesuit and learned epigraphist; b. 17 January, 1737, at Chiari near Brescia; d. there 1 January, 1822. He studied at the Jesuit College of Brescia and was admitted into the Society of Jesus, 3 Nov., 1753. He successively taught grammar at Fermo, humanities at Ragusa, and oratory at the Roman College where he established an academy of archæolgy at the Kircher Museum. After the suppression of the Society of Jesus (1773) he became librarian to Cardinal Albani and in 1791 was appointed to a provostship in his native town. He declined the offer of the Archbishopric of Ragusa and died a member of the restored Society of Jesus. He owes his fame not only to his extensive knowledge of ancient inscriptions, but also to his classical Latinity. Among his numerous works the following may be mentioned: (1) "De stilo inscriptionum latinarum" (Rome, 1781); (2) "Inscriptiones commentariis subjectis" (Rome ,1783) to a second edition of these two works was added the "Parergon Inscriptionum novissimarum" (Padua, 1818-22); (3) Menologion ton Euaggelion heortastikon sive Kalendarium Ecclesiæ Constantinopolitanæ" etc. (Rome, 1788); (4) "Africa Christiana" (Bresica, 1816-7); (5) "Opuscoli Ascetici" (Brescia, 1819 or 1820).

SOMMERVOGEL, Bibl. de la C. de Jésus, V, 1290-1305 (Paris, 1894).

N.A. WEBER