Antoninus

(1389–1459)

   Saint, Archbishop, Theologian and Economist.

   Antoninus was a native of Florence, and he joined the Dominican Order at Cortona at the age of sixteen. There he was a contemporary of Fra angelico. He rose rapidly in the Church, becoming Prior of Cortona in 1418, of Fiesole in 1421, of Naples in 1428 and of Rome in 1430. He was appointed Auditor-General of the Papal Tribune in 1431; he was Vicar-General of the Dominican Order between 1432 and 1445 and was Archbishop of Florence from 1446. During this period he established the Convent of San Marco in Florence (frescos in which are painted by Fra Angelico). He was highly influential in secular affairs and was the author of a Summa Theologica and several other ethical works. Today he is particularly remembered as one of the first theologians to argue that it was not illegitimate to lend money on interest – thus paving the way for modern capitalism.

   W.T. Gaughan, Social Theories of St Antoninus from his Summa Theologica (1951);

   B. Jarrett, St Antonino and Mediaeval Economics (1914).