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Galen or Galenus Mattheus Van, D.D.

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Galen, Christoph Bernhard Matthaus Van

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was born about the year 1528, at West-Kapelle, on the island of Walcheren. As his parents were not in such circumstances as would enable them to give their son a liberal education, the expenses of his preparatory course at Ghent were borne by two benevolent gentlemen of his native place. From Ghent he went to Loasvainwhere he studied philosophy and theology. After taking his bachelor's dearee, he gave instructions in this institution in sacred eloquence. Being licensed, he was, on the recommendation of the notorious Ruard Tapper, called to the professorship of theology is the recently founded university of Dillingen. This position he held from 1559 to 1563. Its duties were discharged in such a way as to secure for him a high reputation. From Dillingen he was called to occupy the chair of theology at Douay. Here, in 1564, he received his degree of D.D. With zeal and fidelity he labored at this post till his death, which occurred in 1573. He was a man of eminent learning, possessing for the time in which he lived an unusual familiarity with the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages. He was a member of the Council of Trent and of the Synod of Cembray. He numbered among his friends some of the principal men of his time. Though a man of great learning, he is said to have been deficient in critical acumen. He wrote various works in Latin on practical and polemic theology. The substance of his lectures on pulpit eloquence was given to the public under the title of Paralpomena. He also wrote a Commentarius in Epistolam D. Pauli ad Hebraeos e Syro Sermone in Latinus conversam (Duaci. 1578; Lovan. 1599). An Explicatio in Esaiam is still preserved in manuscript in the University library at Leyden. His greatest merit consists in the service rendered to Church history by original contributions in this department, and by the publication of medieval writings and documents. His works in this direction are Vita S. Willaebrordi, Frisiorum apostoli: — Oratio in vitam S. Georgii martyris: — Areopagitica seu epuscula quaedam nusquam hactenus excusa divi Chludowici et Hidiwini de sebus gestis ac scriptis B. Macarii Jonici Dionysii Areopagite (Colon. 1563; Paris, 1565): — Alcuini Rhetorica ad Carolum Magnum (Duaci. 1563; Colon. 1563): — De originibus monasticis sen de prima Christianae Monastices origine commentarius (Dilling. 1564). See B. Glasius, Godgeleerd Nederland, D. i, blz. 485 en verv.; also J.N. Paquot, Memoires pour servir 'a l´ histoire litteraire des dixsept provinces des Pays-Bas, de la principaute de Liege et de quelques contres voisines (Louvain, 1763-1770, 18 volumes, 8vo), 3, page 301 suiv. (J.P.W.)