Item 875 - Fr Richard Archdekin SJ

Born: 16 March 1619, Kilkenny City, County Kilkenny
Entered: 20 September 1642, Mechelen, Belgium - Flanders Province (FLAN)
Ordained: 28 March 1648, Louvain, Belgium
Final Vows: 09 December 1657
Died: 31 August 1693, College of Antwerp, Belgium - Flanders Province (FLAN)

Alias MacGiolla Cuddy

Son of Nicholas Archdekin and Anne Sherlog. Read Humanities in Ireland and Philosophy at Louvain
1649 in Tertianship at Mechelen
1650 Returned in Roman Cat age 34 having read 4 years of scholastic Theology
1671 Professor of Scripture at Antwerp (Louvain?) and was published - also taught Scripture, Humanities, Theology and Philosophy
Abbé Henegan says RIP 1690; Another account in suggests Ent 1649
Monument at Thomastown Kilkenny

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
Son of Nicholas and Ann née Sherlock
Studied Humanities at Antwerp and Lille under the Jesuits before Ent, and four years Theology in the Society. He knew Latin, Irish, English and Flemish.
1650 Teaching Humanities (HIB Catalogue 1650 - ARSI)
1653 Arrived at Professed House Antwerp, 26/03/1653, and Taught Humanities for six years and was a Professor of Philosophy, Moral Theology and Sacred Scripture, chiefly at Louvain and Antwerp, where he died. (cf Oliver, Stonyhurst MSS; and for his writings de Backer “Biblioth. des Écrivains SJ”)
Writer; Professor of Theology and Sacred Scripture. (cf Foley’s Collectanea)

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
Son of Nicholas and Anne neé Sherlock
He studied humanities in Ireland and Antwerp and on the completion of his philosophy studies at Louvain, entered the Society at Mechelen.
Having studied theology at Louvain he was Ordained priest there 28 March 1648.
Recalled to Ireland, he taught Humanities at Kilkenny until the fall of that city to the Cromwellian forces.
On his return to Belgium he continued to teach Humanities.
1657-1690 Professor of the ecclesiastical sciences :
1657-1665 Philosophy Antwerp, Sacred Scripture and Hebrew at Antwerp
1665-1674 Sacred Scripture, Hebrew and Moral Theology at Louvain
1674-1690 Prefect of ecclesiastical studies, Scripture and Moral Theology at Antwerp
1690-1693 On his retirement he continued to live at the College of Antwerp where he died 31 August, 1693.
The writings of Richard Archdekin were read in probably every theologate of Europe.
His most famous work was the “Praecipuae Controversiae Fidei” which went into many editions in his lifetime. The 1686 edition contains biographical notices of Blessed Oliver Plunket and Archbishop Peter Talbot.
Notable too amongst his works is his treatise on miracles composed with special reference to favours received through the veneration of relics of St. Francis Xavier which were kept at Mechelen. This book is said to be the first known to be printed in Irish and English conjunctively.

◆ Henry Foley - Records of the English province of The Society of Jesus Vol VII
ARCHDEACON, or ARCHDEKIN, RICHARD, Father, a native of Kilkenny, born March 16, 1618; made his humanities and two years philosophy out of the Society, and four years theology in it at Louvain. Knew the Latin, Irish, English, and Flemish languages; entered the Society at Mechlin, September 28, 1642. In 1650 was teaching humanities. (Irish Catalogue, 1650, in Archives, Rome). He was son of Nicholas Archdeacon and his wife Ann Sherlock; had studied under the Jesuits at Antwerp and Lille, and was a Pro fessed Father. He arrived at the Professed House, Antwerp, March 26, 1653 ; taught humanities for six years and was Professor of philosophy, moral theology, and Holy Scripture for a long period, chiefly at Louvain and Antwerp, and died at the latter placc August 31, 1693, æt. 75. (Oliver's Collectanca, from Stony hurst MŠS. For his writings see Father De Backer, Biblioth. des Ecrivains 5.7.)

◆ Royal Irish Academy : Dictionary of Irish Biography, Cambridge University Press online
Archdekin (Ardsdekin, MacGiolla Cuddy), Richard
by Terry Clavin

Archdekin (Ardsdekin, MacGiolla Cuddy), Richard (1619–93), Jesuit priest and scholar, was born 16 March 1619 in Kilkenny city, son of Nicholas Archdekin and his wife Ann (née Sherlock). After being educated at the classical school in Kilkenny, he travelled to Antwerp (1637) to study theology at the Jesuit college there before moving to Louvain (1640), where he studied philosophy. Already proficient in Irish, English, and Latin, he became fluent in Flemish. On 20 September 1642 he entered the Society of Jesus at Malines (Mechelen) before returning to Louvain (1644) to resume his study of philosophy. He was ordained a priest on 28 March 1648 and, after completing his tertianship, returned to Ireland in summer 1649 to join the Jesuit mission there. Presumably he would have been a member of the teaching staff of a college that the Jesuits intended to establish in Kilkenny, but these plans were dashed by the invasion of Ireland by a militantly anti-catholic English protestant army under the generalship of Oliver Cromwell (qv). Archdekin was soon obliged to flee to Galway, which held out until 1652, after which he managed to slip away and (after a period in hiding) eventually found a ship bound for the Continent. He landed in the Spanish Netherlands on 26 March 1653.

Thereafter he pursued a successful academic career on the Continent, being first appointed to teach humanities at Malines and Alost (Aalst). In 1657 he became professor of philosophy at the Jesuit college in Antwerp and continued as such until 1662, when he began teaching scripture and Hebrew. He moved (1665) to the Jesuit college at Louvain, where he taught scripture, Hebrew, and moral theology before serving as professor of scripture and moral theology at Antwerp from 1664 until his retirement in 1690.

He also wrote a number of works, and his first publication, A treatise of miracles (1667), was printed in both Irish and English. When writing in Irish he used the pseudonym MacGiolla Cuddy. In 1671 he published Vita et miraculorum sancti Patritii Hiberniae, which included a life of St Patrick (qv) and also elaborated on prophecies attributed to St Malachy (qv). The same year he published Praecipuae controversiae fidei, a practical guide for missionary priests in Ireland. It included material on theology, philosophy, the catholic rite, secular and ecclesiastical history, sermons, and religious instruction. In particular it incorporated many references to Irish affairs. The first edition of 1,000 copies was sold out within months and it went through eleven editions in his lifetime. The 1686 edition was retitled Theologia tripartite universa and expanded on the preexisting material to include lives of the martyred archbishop of Armagh, Oliver Plunkett (qv) and of Peter Talbot (qv), archbishop of Dublin. In 1700 an error was uncovered in his teaching on philosophical sin, and as a result the book was placed on the prohibited index. This error was corrected in subsequent editions. He died at Antwerp 31 August 1693 and was buried in the Jesuit graveyard there.

Webb; Crone; T. Wall, ‘Richard Archdekin's catechetical hour’, IER, no. 70 (Jan.–June 1948), 305–15; Boylan (1988 ed.); Dictionary of catholic biography (1962); ODNB

Forename: Richard
Surname: Archdekin
Alternate surname: Ardsdekin, MacGiolla Cuddy
Gender: Male
Career: Religion
Religion: Catholic
Born 16 March 1619 in Co. Kilkenny
Died 31 August 1693 in Belgium

◆ James B Stephenson SJ Menologies 1973

Father Richard Archdekin 1618-1693
Richard Archdekin came of a distinguished Kilkenny family, being born in that city in 1618. He made his early studies at Antwerp and Lille, and finally entered the Society in 1642.

Form most of his life he lectured at Louvain and Antwerp in Philosophy, Moral Theology and Sacred Scripture. He was a voluminous writer. From his pen we have : “A Treatise on Miracles”, written in English and irish, the famous “Theologica Tripartita”, “The Life and Miracles of St Patrick”, “The Mirac les of St Francis Xavier”, and the most useful and influential of all his works, a translation of the Catechism of St Peter Canisius.

He died full of works and ripe in merit and age at Antwerp on August 31st 1693.

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
ARCHDEACON, RICHARD, was born in Kilkenny in 1619. He was admitted into the Society of Jesus at Mechlin, at the age of 23, and in due time was enrolled among the professed Fathers of the Order. After teaching Humanities for six years, and Philosophy, Moral Divinity, and Scripture for a very long period, chiefly at Louvain and Antwerp, he died in the last mentioned city, about the year, 1690, according to Harris (p. 203, Writers of Ireland) We have from the pen of this Rev. Father:

1. “A Treatise on Miracles”, written in English and Irish, 8vo. Louvain, 1667. In the Annual Letters of Ireland of 1673, mention is made of a book, quem de S. Xaverii miraculis edidit Anglice P. Richardus Archdekin .
2. “Theologia Tripartita Universa”. 8vo. Louvain, 1671. During the Author s life this useful work was frequently reprinted.
3. “Vitae et Miraculorum S. Patricii Epitome”. 8vo. Louvain, 1671. I am un able to describe the book : but a copy at the sale of Mr. Bradish s Library, in the summer of 1829, was deposed of by Jones, Trinity Street, Dublin, for eight Guineas.

https://www.ucc.ie/en/cnls/resources/findinglist/richardarchdekin/

Richard Archdekin

Born in Kilkenny, and also known as Mac Giolla Cuddy, or Arsdekin. He studied theology at Louvain, and then became a Jesuit at Mechelen in 1642. He taught philosophy, moral theology, and scripture at Louvain and Antwerp, and several of the theses over which he presided were printed and are listed below. He wrote a treatise in English and Irish on miracles. His Theologia Quadripartita, a guide to essential Catholic teachings and controversies with Protestants, was extremely popular, quickly selling out, and he produced an expanded form of the work in the same year, the Theologia Tripartita. The work received censure from the Inquisition and was thus emended at various points during the production of subsequent editons. Brussels MS 7299, f.71r-75v contains a summary of things to be emended by Archdekin. He also published a life of St Patrick accompanied by the so-called Prophecies of St Malachy, and a treatise "de constantia Hiberniae in religione Romana inter persecutiones poeneis perpetuas, per annos mille ducentos". At his death, he left a manuscript entitled “Theologia Apostolica”. The titles below scarcely convey the popularity of Archdekin’s works, which were reissued many times despite the earlier censure.

1. Theses Sacrae in Epist. Pauli Ad Romanos et Primum Ad Corinthianos (Louvain, 1668).

2. Theses Sacrae in Sancta Jesu Christi Evangelia, (Louvain, 1669), Quarto.

3. Praecipuae Controversiae Fidei Ad Facilem Methodum Redactae (Louvain, 1671), Octavo.

4. Theses Sacrae de Verbo Dei et Creatione Mundi (Louvain, 1671), Quarto.

5. Vitae et Miraculorum Sancti Patricii Hiberniae, Apostoli Epitome Cum Brevi Notitia Hiberniae et Prophetia S Malachiae (Louvain, 1671), Octavo.

6. Theses Theologicae de Deo Uno et Triuno ([Antwerp], [1676]), Quarto.

7. Apparatus Materiae et Formae Pro Doctrina Sacra in Quavis Dictione Facile Methodo Paranda, et Pro Catechesi Cum Exemplis Illustranda. Cum Praxi Varia Assistendi Aegris Ac Moribundis, et Alias Functiones Sacras Rite Obeundi, (Antwerp, 1678), Octavo.

8. Theologia Quadripartita (Prague, 1678).

9. Theologia Tripartita Universa, Complectens Nunc Bibliothecam Perfectam Viri Ecclesiastici, Ordine Sequenti, (Antwerp, 1678), Octavo.

◆ Menology of the Society of Jesus: The English Speaking Assistancy

August 31

On the 26th of August, 1640, at Cashel, died Father Barnaby O'Kearney, brother of David O'Kearney, Archbishop of Cashel. He was admitted into the Society at Douay, in the twenty-fourth year of his age. After teaching rhetoric and Greek at Antwerp and Lisle, he was sent to the Irish Mission with his nephew, Father Walter Wale, in the summer of 1603. Father O'Kearney devoted himself with marvellous assiduity and success to the work of preaching. Everywhere he went his sermons made a wonderful impression. Father Holywood, then Superior of the Irish Mission, in one of his letters to the Father General, says, speaking of the labours of the previous year: “Immense crowds went to hear Father O'Kearney at a Mission

Father Richard Archdeacon, a native of Kilkenny, was born on the 1 6th of March, 16 18. He made his earlier studies under our Fathers at Antwerp and Lille, before entering the Society, and having joined the Novitiate at Mechlin in 1642, he afterwards studied his theology at Louvain. In 1650, he was employed in teaching, and arrived at the Professed House ia Antwerp, in 1653. He taught there for six years, and became after that Professor of Philosophy, of Moral Theology, and of Holy Scripture, chiefly at Louvain and Antwerp, during a course of many years. He died at Antwerp on the 31st of August, 1693, at the age of seventy-five.

He was the author of A Treatise on Miracles, written in English and Irish, and published at Louvain, in 1667 ; of Theologia Tripartita Universa, a work frequently reprinted during his lifetime ; and also of Vitae et Miraculorum S. Patricii Epitome, a copy of which was sold at Dublin, in 1829, for eight guineas. Father Archdeacon also wrote in English a treatise on the Miracles of St. Francis Xavier.

◆ MacErlean Cat Miss HIB SJ 1670-1770

1672 FL BEL Cat
Leuven
“Richardus Arsdekin”
Born 16/03/1619 Kilkenny
Entered 21/09/1642 Mechelen
Ordained 18/03/1648
Four Vows 09/12/1658
Teaching

1675 FL BEL Cat
Collegium Antwerp
“Richardus Arsdekin”
Born 16/03/1619 Kilkenny
Entered 21/09/1642 Mechelen
Ordained 28/03/1648
Four Vows 09/12/1657
Studied Theology 4; Teaching Humanities 7; Philosophy 5; Scripture and Moran Theology 18. Prefect of Studfies and House Confessor.

1678 FL BEL Cat
Collegium Antwerp
“Richardus Arsdekin”
Born 16/03/1619 Kilkenny
Entered 1642 Mechelen
Ordained 28/03/1648
Four Vows 02/02/1657
Studied Theology 4; Teaching Humanities 7; Philosophy 5; Scripture and Moran Theology 21. Prefect of Studfies 4

1681 FL BEL Cat
Collegium Antwerp
“Richardus Arsdekin”
Born 17/03/1618 Kilkenny
Entered 21/09/1640 Mechelen
Ordained 28/03/1648
Four Vows 09/12/1657
Studied Theology 4; Teaching Humanities 7; Philosophy 5; Scripture and Moran Theology 21. Prefect of Studfies 5
1681 - Consultor

1685 FL BEL Cat
Collegium Antwerp
“Richardus Arsdekin”
Born 17/03/1618 Kilkenny
Entered 21/09/1640 Mechelen
Ordained 1646
Four Vows 02/02/1656
Studied Theology 4; Teaching Humanities 5; Philosophy 5; Scripture and Moran Theology 16. Prefect of Studfies 7; Confessor 4

1690 FL BEL Cat
Collegium Antwerp
“Richardus Arsdekin”
Born 17/03/1618 Kilkenny
Entered 21/09/1642 Mechelen
Ordained 06/03/1646
Four Vows 09/12/1657
Studied Theology 4; Teaching Humanities 5; Philosophy 5; Scripture and Moran Theology 16. Prefect of Studfies 11; Confessor 4

1693 FL BEL Cat
Collegium Antwerp
“Richardus Arsdekin”
Born 17/03/1618 Kilkenny
Entered 02/09/1642 Mechelen
Ordained 28/03/1648
Four Vows 09/12/1657
Studied Theology 4; Teaching Humanities 5; Philosophy 5; Scripture and Moran Theology 16. Prefect of Studfies 11; Confessor 4

RIP Antwerp 31/08/1693 : Born 17/03/1618; Entered 02/09/1642; Final Vows 09/12/1657