# Peter Wadding

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**Peter Wadding** (c. 1581 – 13 September 1644) was an Irish [Jesuit](/source/Jesuit) theologian.

## Life

Born at [Waterford](/source/Waterford) in 1581 or 1583, he was son of Thomas Wadding and his wife, Mary Walsh.[1] Both father and mother are said to have been of good family. According to Leger's Life of Archbishop Walsh, Peter had five brothers who also became Jesuits: Luke, Thomas, [Michael](/source/Michael_Wadding_(priest)), Daniel, and Walter. The Franciscan [Luke Wadding](/source/Luke_Wadding), and the Jesuit Ambrose Wadding, were his cousins.

Wadding studied humanities for seven years in [Ireland](/source/Ireland), and then proceeded to [Douai](/source/University_of_Douai), where he graduates [M.A.](/source/Master_of_Arts), and subsequently doctor of both [laws](/source/Doctor_of_laws) as well as of [divinity](/source/Doctor_of_divinity). He was admitted to the Company of Jesus on 24 October 1601 by Father Oliveræus, the [provincial](/source/Provincial_superior) of [Flanders](/source/Flanders), and commenced his [novitiate](/source/Novitiate) at [Tournai](/source/Tournai) on 23 November 1601. When he joined the novitiate at Tournai, he gave his birth year as 1583.[1]

Eventually he became professor of theology first at [Louvain](/source/Old_University_of_Leuven), and then at [Antwerp](/source/Antwerp). In 1629 Wadding was transferred to [Prague](/source/Charles_University_in_Prague), becoming professor of theology and chancellor of the university.

The last years of his life were spent at [Graz](/source/University_of_Graz), where he was professor of theology and also chancellor. He died there on 13 September 1644.

## Works

While at Antwerp Wadding had a controversy with the famous [Arminian](/source/Arminianism) [Simon Episcopius](/source/Simon_Episcopius). The disputations of both were published in Dutch after their death in one volume, entitled *Twee brieven van den gelerden Peter Wading in sijn level Jesuit tot Antwerpen: d’eene, van den Regel des Geloofs’ d’andere,. van den beeldendienst …* Amsterdam, 1649, 4to (British Museum). On 30 November 1632 Wadding completed a *Brevis Refutatio Calumniarum quas Collegio Societatis Jesu Pragensi impegit scriptor famosi libelli cui titulus “Flagellum Jesuitarum”, præsertim in negotio Academiæ Pragnensis …* Nissa, 1634, 4to. This was followed by a solid work of 656 pages, entitled *R.P. Petri Wadingi Waterfordiensis Hibernie Soc. Jes S. Theologiæ professoris, olim in Lovaniensi nunc in Pragensi Academia professoris Tractatus de Incarnation,* Antwerp, 1636, 8vo. In the following year he published an *Oratio Pragæ dicta*, congratulating [Ferdinand III](/source/Ferdinand_III,_Holy_Roman_Emperor) on his election as emperor.

Besides the works mentioned, the updated 1643 bibliography of Jesuit writings known under the name of [Pedro de Ribadeneira](/source/Pedro_de_Ribadeneira) says Wadding published under a pseudonym, *Carmina varia et alia spectantia ad disciplinas humaniores*, and *Tractatus aliquos contra Hæreticos* (Ribadeneira, ‘’Bibl. Script. Soc. Jesu’’’, 1643, p.402).[2] A manuscript volume in the [Bodleian Library](/source/Bodleian_Library) contains various other treatises by him (Tanner, p.744).

According to Edmund Hogan, SJ, Peter Wadding's writings are as follows:

1. Carmina varia et alia spectantia ad Disciplinas Humaniores
1. Tractatus aliquot contra Haereticos
1. Brevis Refutatio Calumniarum quas Collegio Societatis Jesu Pragensi impegit Scriptor famosi libelli cui titulus "Flagellum Jesuiticum," praesertim in negotio Academiae Pragensis, 1634, 4to
1. De Incarnatione, 4to, 1634
1. Oratio Pragae dicta in Ferdinandi III. Ratisbonensibus Comitiis in Caesarem electi Inauguratione
1. De Contractibus, 4to, 1644
1. Epistola de Regula Fidei (published in Latin and translated into Dutch)
1. Epistola de Cultu Imaginum (published in Latin and translated into Dutch)

as well as these manuscripts:

- Thirty-six various treatises by him in the Bodleian Library Hyperoo Bodl., number 16
- Examen et Purgatio Petri Wadingi, in Imperial Libr. at Vienna

## References

1. Hogan, Edmund (1897). "Worthies of Waterford and Tipperary". *Journal of the Waterford & South-East of Ireland Archaeological Society*. **3**: 183–201. [hdl:2027/inu.30000116581186](https://hdl.handle.net/2027/inu.30000116581186)

1. Ribadeneira, *Bibliotheca Scriptorum Societatis Jesu* (1602 and 1608), supplemented by [Philippe Alegambe](/source/Philippe_Alegambe) in 1643 and Southwell ([Nathaniel Bacon (Jesuit)](/source/Nathaniel_Bacon_(Jesuit))) in 1676.

- Works in British Library, including: - Foley’s Collections, vii. 799) - Ware’s Irish Writers, ed. Harris

## Bibliography

- O'Dea, Paul (1941). "Father Peter Wadding, S. J.: Chancellor of the University of Prague 1629-1641". *[Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review](/source/Studies:_An_Irish_Quarterly_Review)*. **30** (119): 337–348. [JSTOR 30098132](https://www.jstor.org/stable/30098132)

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