School Name
The school is named after St. Robert Bellarmine, a distinguished Jesuit theologian, writer, and cardinal, born at Montepulciano, on October 4, 1542.
Robert entered the newly formed Society of Jesus in 1560 and after his ordination went on to teach at Louvain (1570 – 1576) where he became famous for his Latin sermons. In 1576, he was appointed to the chair of controversial theology at the Roman College, becoming Rector in 1592; he went on to become Provincial of Naples in 1594 and Cardinal in 1598.
This outstanding scholar and devoted servant of God defended the Apostolic See against the anti- clericals in Venice and against the political tenets of James I of England. He composed an exhaustive apologetic work against the prevailing heretics of his day. In the field of church – state relations, he took a position based on principles now regarded as fundamentally democratic – authority originates with God, but is vested in the people, who entrust it to fit rulers.
St. Robert Bellarmine spent most of his life writing as a controversialist for the Roman Catholic Church. All his writings were highly respected and used extensively by and in the church itself. His works covered a wide variety of subjects from an apologetic of the Roman Catholic position, Disputationes de Controversiis Christianae Fidei adversus hujus temporis Haereticos (Ingolstat 1588 – 93), to writing about the power of the pope. No topic, even criticism of his own leadership, was out of the reach of Bellarmine and his writing.
His book, Controversies, was carried by Roman Catholic missionaries on their journeys, and he also wrote catechisms for children and teachers. At the end of his life Bellarmien published three more essential works, In omnes Psalmos dilucida Esposito (Rome 1611), De gemitu columbae (Rome 1615), and De arte bene moriendi (Rome 1620).
This saint was the spiritual father of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, helped St. Francis de Sales obtain formal approval of the Visitation Order, and in his prudence opposed severe action in the case of Galileo. He has left us a host of important writings, including works of devotion and instruction, as well as controversy. He died on September 17,1621.
His feast day is celebrated every 17th of September and is recognized as the Patron Saint of Canonists.
