Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 14.djvu/276

 SPORER

236

SPRINGFIELD

His "Olympic" (15 Dec, 1819) he regarded as his best opera, yet it was not a success at first. At length after considerable revision he again presented it on 28 Feb., 1826, when his judgment was finally endorsed by the public.

Removing in 1820 to Berlin, where he was ap- pointed chief Kapellineisler at a salary of 4000 thalers annually and a yearly benefit concert, he composed music for Moore's "Lalla Rookh", produced at the Royal Palace on 27 Jan., 1821. His "Agnes von Hohenstauf en " got its first hearing on 12 June, 1829. In 1829 he received the honorary doctorate of Halle University, and in 1834 he conducted a performance of his "Vestale" at Hamburg. He visited his native place in 1835, and journeyed to England in 1838, returning to Paris, where he was made a member of the Institute in the same year. A revised version of his "Agnes" was given in 1837, after which he ceased writing operas. In 1842 he left Berlin for good (being succeeded by Meyerbeer), and went to Rome, where many distinctions awaited him. The pope created him Count of St. Andrea in 1844, in which year he returned to Paris. That year is mem- orable for a visit to Dresden, on which occasion Rich- ard Wagner got up his "Vestale" conducted by the composer. Feeling his end approaching he retired to Magolati in 1850. Although he loomed so large in the first half of the last century, Spontini's music is now almost on the top shelves. He was not a very loveable personality owing to his egotism, pride, and bad temper, but he was generous to needy musi- cians and at his death he bequeathed all his property for charitable purposes.

Grove, Diet, of Music and Mxisicians (new cd., London, 1908): Fetib, Biographic Universellc des Musiciens (2nd ed., Paris, 1860-65); Ledebur, Berliner Tonhunsller-Lciicon (Berlin. 1861); Lee, Story of Opera (London, 1909).

W. H. Grattan-Flood.

Sporer, Patritius, moral theologian, b. at Pas- sau, Bavaria; d. there, 29 May, 1683. In 1637 he entered the Order of Friars Minor in the convent of his native town, which then belonged to the religious Province of Strasburg. He taught theology for many years, obtained the title of Lector jubilatus, and was also the theologian of the Bishop of Passau. Sporer is the author of several works: (1) "Amor Dei super omnia" (Wiirzburg, 1662); (2) "Actionum humanarum immediata regula Conscientia moraliter explicata at que ad disputationem publicam expos- ita" (Wiirzburg, 1660); (3) "Theologia moralis, decalogalis et sacramentalis " (3 folio vols., 1681; re-edited, Salzburg, 1692; Venice, 1724, 1726, 1755, 1756). Some editions have additional notes by K. Kazenberger and Ch. Mayr, two well-known Francis- can moralists. The latest edition with up-to-date supplements is by Irensus Bierbaum, O. F. M. (3 vols. 8vo, Paderborn, 1897-1901; 2nd ed,, 1901-5). Sporer was one of the best moralists of his time and is much appreciated even to-day. St. Alphonsus Liguori often quotas him and Lehmkul numbers him amongst the classical authors of moral theology. For other testimonies see Preface of Bierbaum's edition. As to his moral system he follows Proba- bilism. In questions at issue between St. Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus he defends and follows the latter, as for instance in the question of indifferent human actions. Very often also Sporer lays under con- tribution his own large experience as director of souls, thus rendering his work all the more useful.

Joannes a S. A.ntonio, Bibtiotheca utiiversa Francescana, 11 (Madrid, 1732). 426; Minoes. Geach. der Framiskaner in Baycrn (Munich. 1896), 227; Hdrter, Nommclator, IV (3d ed., Inns- bruck, 1910), 944.

Livarius Oliger.

Sportelli, CjEsar, Venerable, b. at Nola in Bari, Italy, 29 March, 1702; d. at Pagani, 19 April, 1750. His mother, who died with the reputation of a saint.

brought CiEsar up with all care. He became a distin- guished lawyer, uniting the perfect ion of a Christian life with the duties of his profession. He was thirty-three when under the gtiidance of Fr. Falcoia of the " Pii Op- erarii " he joined St. Alphonsus, and was the first cleri- cal novice of the saint's institute. He was ordained priest by his director, now become Bishop of Castella- mare. Sportelli was St. Alphonsus's first and most faithful companion. \Mien others abandoned him, Spoitelli only clung more closely to him and like him- self was determined, at any cost, to devote his life to the evangelization of abandoned souls. In this he succeeded admirably, nor was he less successful in his work for priests and religious. Severe with himself, he was full of charity to others. There was nothing austere in his virtue: it drew all hearts to him. His union with God was manifest, and although he preached the great truths with vehemence he repelled no one. He was the saint's advisor and helped him more than anyone else to extend the influence of his Institute. In times of great difficulty he founded the house of Mater Domini, Caposele, and the house of Pagani in which St. Alphonsus lived and died and where his relics repose. He wore himself out working and on his way to preach a retreat he was struck by apoplexy in a lonely place. Bandits helped him to reach Pagani, where after a tedious illness he died on the day he had foretold. Three years and seven months after his interment it was decided to transfer his remains to a place in a newly built crypt. The eoflin was opened in the presence of the Bishop of Xocera, Right Rev. Gerard Volpe, the Abbotof Angri, D. Thomas Cortora, and others. The vestments in which the servant of God had been clothed turned to dust, while the body was in perfect preservation, flexible and exhaling a sweet fragrance. The countenance was beautiful and when a vein was opened blood flowed just as if he were living. St. Alphonsus wished to take steps at once for his beatification, but was prevented from doing so by many difficulties. It was not till 1899 that the cause was introduced and that he was declared venerable.

Landi, Notizia de P, Sportetli; A Redemptorist. Compendia delta vita del Scrm de Deo P. D. Cesare Sportelli ( Avelleno, 1895) ; Introductio Caus{F.

J. Magniek.

Springfield, Diocese of (Campifontis), in Massa- chusetts, erected in June, 1870. It comprises five counties of Central and Western Massachusetts: Wor- cester, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berk- shire. Its area is 4320 square miles, a little over half that of the entire state. According to the census of 1910 the population of the territory within the limits of the diocese was 843,212. Of this number 323,122 are Catholics.

Early History. — Some of the early Puritans of Central and Western Massachusetts became Catholics in a remarkable manner: children taken captive by French and Indians at Deerfield and Westboro were carried to Canada and there educated in the Catholic F"aith. They married in Canada, and the descend- ants of some of them attained eminence. Joseph- Octave Plessis, who in 1806 became Archbishop of Quebec and in a trying time ruled the Canadian Church with firmness and prudence, was a grandson of Martha French, who a little over a century before had been carried away from the home of her father. Deacon French of Deerfield. Some Acadians were quartered at Worcester in 1755, but the last of them returned to Canada in 1767. .\t the time of the Rev- olutionary War many Irishmen lived in Central and A\'estern Alassachusetts. Some of them must have been Catholics, but there is no evidence that they con- tributed in any way to the upbuilding of the future ■ Church of Siiringfield. The foundations of this f Church were laid by Irish immigrants, who in 1826 and later came to Worcester, to Chicopee (then a part of Springfield), and to I'ittsfield, to dig canals, to lay