WEISS COLLECTION

CARDINAL HENRY NORIS

ST URBAIN, Ferdinand de: Papal States, ca.1700, Bronze, 36 mm
Obv: Robed bust of Cardinal Noris (l) HENR. CARD. NORIS. VERON. S. R. E. BIBLIOTH
Rev: Figures of Theology and History seated on either side of a column engraved with: CL.V and AN. CHR NAT Around: HISTORIA. VINDICATA
Exergue: CHRONOL. REST
Ref: Forrer V, p. 312 # 82; Weiss BW637

Cardinal Henry Noris (1631-1704) was Professor of History and Theology at Pisa and Papal Librarian under Pope Innocent XII. Noris was born in Verona of English ancestry. He studied under the Jesuits at Rimini, and there entered the novitiate of the Hermits of Saint Augustine. After his probation he was sent to Rome to study theology. He taught the sacred sciences at Pesaro, Perugia, and Padua, where he held the chair of church history in the university from 1674 to 1692.

In 1692 Noris was made assistant Librarian in the Vatican by Innocent XII. In 1695, he was named Cardinal-Priest of the Title of S. Agostino. In 1700 he was given full charge of the Vatican Library. Although some of his works were considered controversial, as he was accused of Baianism and Jansenism, both of which were deemed non-orthodox by the Catholic theologians (this issue was resolved in an Inquisition), the majority of his publications are highly valued for accuracy and thoroughness of research. (From Catholic Encyclopedia)

LINK to Biography of Henry Noris (from wikipedia)

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