Un antiluterano leccese. L'abate generale celestino Iacopo Moronessa

A figure almost completely neglected in the novero of the authors Salento is that of Iacopo Moronessa. He was born in Lecce at the beginning of the '500 and began his formative and religious journey in the old monastery of Santa Croce, which stood near the castle. The Celestini had settled in Lecce for over a century and a half and had been rooted in the territory thanks to the good consideration they enjoyed, the pastoral activity and the educational and cultural offer. He continued his studies in Naples, where he received the Bachelor in 1535 and Bologna, where he was awarded the title of Doctor in Sacred Theology in the 1539. He reached the highest degree within his order, covering the charge of Abbot General from 1546 to 1549. He was motivated by profound religious zeal and addressed his studies and his pastoral commitment to the fight against the Lutheranism. Perhaps in this way his activism could be seen the reason for the attempted poisoning of which he was victimized in the 1547 and the other attempts at elimination. There are four works of him, which testify to his love for study and culture and his commitment to the defence of Catholic orthodoxy.