Sixtus Senensis

Sixtus Senensis, an Italian convert from Judaism, was born at Sienna in 1520. After his conversion to Christianity he joined the Order of Franciscans, and distinguished himself by his preaching in many cities of Italy. Having been accused of heterodoxy, the Inquisition condemned him to the stake, but he was saved through the intervention of the cardinal Michael Ghislieri, afterwards pope Pius V, with whose aid he joined the Dominicans. He now betook himself to the study of Greek, Hebrew, history, and philosophy, and distinguished himself both as a writer and a preacher. He died in 1569. The work which immortalized his name is his Bibliotheca Sancta ex Proecipuis Catholicoe Eccl. Auctoribus Collecta (Venice, 1566, and often; lastly Naples, 1742), which he dedicated to pope Pius V, and in his dedication he states, "Me, quem tu olim, ab inferis revocatum et errorum tenebris erutum, sincero veritatis lumine illustrasti," etc. The Bibliotheca is divided into eight books the first treats of the division and authority of the Scriptures; the second contains a historical and alphabetical index of the matter; the third treats of the interpretation of the Holy Writings; the fourth gives an alphabetical list of Catholic interpreters; the fifth (published also separately with the title Ars Interpretandi S. Scripturas Absolutissima [Cologne, 1577-88]) contains a hermeneutic of the Scriptures; the sixth and seventh contain exegetical disquisitions; and the last an apology of the Scriptures. The work was highly esteemed among both Catholics and Protestants. Besides this, he also published homilies and mathematical writings. See Kalkar, Israel u. die Kirche, p. 72 sq.; Theologisches Universal-Lexikon, s.v.; Dupin, Bibl. vol. 16; Wolf, Bibl. Hebroea, 1, 930; Simon [R.], Histoire Critique, p. 457 sq.; Fabricii Delectus Argumentorum et Syllabus, p. 516; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v. (B.P.)