Cornelio Musso (or Cornelius) (1511–1574) was an Italian

Friar Minor Conventual The Order of Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv) is a male religious fraternity in the Roman Catholic Church that is a branch of the Franciscans. The friars in OFM CONV are also known as Conventual Franciscans, or Minorites. Dating back to ...

, Bishop of Bitonto (1544–1574), Bishop of Bertinoro (1541–1544), ''(in Latin)'' and prominent at the Council of Trent. He was, perhaps, the most renowned orator of his day, styled the "Italian Demosthenes". Returning to ancient

patristic Patristics or patrology is the study of the early Christian writers who are designated Church Fathers. The names derive from the combined forms of Latin ''pater'' and Greek ''patḗr'' (father). The period is generally considered to run from ...

models, he raised the

homily A homily (from Greek ὁμιλία, ''homilía'') is a commentary that follows a reading of scripture, giving the "public explanation of a sacred doctrine" or text. The works of Origen and John Chrysostom (known as Paschal Homily) are considered ex ...

to a high form of perfection.

Biography

Musso was born at Piacenza. On 14 Nov 1541, he was appointed during the papacy of

Pope Paul III Pope Paul III ( la, Paulus III; it, Paolo III; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549), born Alessandro Farnese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534 to his death in November 1549. He came to ...

as Bishop of Bertinoro. On 27 Oct 1544, he was transferred by Pope Paul III to the

Diocese of Bitonto The Italian Catholic diocese of Bitonto, in Apulia, had a short independent existence from 1982 to 1986. In the latter year it was united into the Archdiocese of Bari, forming the Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto. Before 1982, it had existed since the 9 ...

. He served as Bishop of Bitonto until his death on 13 Jan 1574. He was among the first three bishops present at the Council of Trent, where he delivered the inaugural oration, distinguishing himself especially at the debates on

justification Justification may refer to: * Justification (epistemology), a property of beliefs that a person has good reasons for holding * Justification (jurisprudence), defence in a prosecution for a criminal offenses * Justification (theology), God's act of ...

. In 1560 he was sent as

papal legate 300px, A woodcut showing Henry II of England greeting the pope's legate. A papal legate or apostolic legate (from the ancient Roman title ''legatus'') is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic ...

to Emperor Ferdinand. He wrote: "De divina historia libri tres" (Venice, 1585; 1587); "Comment. in epist. ad Romanos" (Venice, 1588); "De operibus sex dierum" (Venice, 1598). His "Conciones evangeliorum" and "Sermones" (ed. by Jos. Musso, Venice, 1580) were translated into Latin by

Michael ab Isselt Michael ab Isselt (1530/40–1597), sometimes cited in the German form von Isselt, was a Dutch Catholic exile in Cologne and a chronicler of the late 16th century. He is best known as the compiler (under the pseudonym "D. M. Jansonio") of the firs ...

(Cologne, 1594). He served as Bishop of Bitonto until his death on 13 Jan 1574. Musso was buried in the Basilica of Santi Apostoli, the Curia of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, in Rome.

Episcopal succession

While bishop, he was the

principal consecrator A consecrator is a bishop who ordains someone to the episcopacy. A co-consecrator is someone who assists the consecrator bishop in the act of ordaining a new bishop. The terms are used in the canon law of the Catholic Church, Lutheran Churches, ...

of: * Sisto Diuzioli,

Bishop of Carinola The Diocese of Caorle or Diocese of Calina ( la, Dioecesis Caprulana seu Caprularum) was a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in the town of Carinola in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania.

(1572); and the principal co-consecrator of: *

Gian Antonio Fassano Gian Antonio Fassano (also Gian Antonio Phassarus or Gian Antonio Fasside) (died 10 Sep 1568) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Auxiliary Bishop of Monreale (1544–1568) and Titular Bishop of Christopolis (1544–1568).

, Titular Bishop of ''Christopolis'' and Auxiliary Bishop of Monreale; * Giovanni Antonio Lazzari,

Bishop of Amelia The Italian Catholic Diocese of Amelia, existed from the fifth century until 1983. In that year it was united into the new diocese of Terni, Narni, e Amelia. It was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Spoleto.Jakob Feucht Jakob may refer to: People * Jakob (given name), including a list of people with the name * Jakob (surname), including a list of people with the name Other * Jakob (band), a New Zealand band, and the title of their 1999 EP * Max Jakob Memorial Aw ...

, Titular Bishop of ''Athyra'' and Auxiliary Bishop of Bamberg (1572); * Giulio Fioretti, Bishop of Chiron (1572); and *

César Alamagna Cardona Cesar, César or Cèsar may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''César'' (film), a 1936 film directed by Marcel Pagnol * ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt * César Award, a French film award Places * Cesar, Portugal * Ce ...

Bishop of Cava de' Tirreni The Diocese of Cava (de' Tirreni) was a Roman Catholic diocese located in the Italian region Campania.

(1572).

References

*Gaudentius Guggenbichler, ''Beiträge z. Kirchengesch. d. 16. und 17. Jahrh.'' (Bozen, 1880), 48 sqq. *''Manuale dei Minori Conventuali'', 324 sq. * Pallavicino, ''Istoria de concilio di Trento'' (Rome, 1883), passim *Keppler in ''Theologische Quartalschrift'' (Tübingen, 1892), 98 * Hugo von Hurter, ''Nomenclator Lit.'', III (3rd ed.), 84 sqq.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Musso, Cornelio 1511 births 1574 deaths Conventual Friars Minor Bishops of Bitonto Participants in the Council of Trent 16th-century Italian Roman Catholic bishops Conventual Franciscan bishops Bishops appointed by Pope Paul III