Orsi, Giuseppe Agostino

Orsi, Giuseppe Agostino an Italian Roman Catholic prelate, was born at Florence May 9, 1692. He received his education from the Jesuits, and in 1708 he entered the monastery of the Dominicans at Fiesole. Having been teacher of theology and philosophy in the monastery of St. Mark, at Florence, he was in 1732 called to Rome, and appointed secretary in the Congregation of the Index; in 1749 he became magister palatii; in 1759 cardinal, and died in 1761. Besides his work De irreformabili Roman. Pontific. in defin. idei controvers. judicio (Romoe, 1739), which was written for the purpose of defending papal infallibility, he also wrote a Church History (21 vols.), reaching as far down as the year 600 (Rome, 1747- sq., and 1754 sq.); a continuation of which, in 29 vols., reaching down to the Council of Trent, was written by the Dominican Becchetti (Rome, 1770 and 1788). See Theologisches Universal-Lexikon, s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 38:885-886.