“Capite nobis vulpes” (Song 2:15): The Struggle of Libertus Fromondus (1587–1653) with Leonardus Lessius’ Theological Legacy

Abstract This essay takes its starting point in the critique the Leuven theologian Libertus Fromondus (1587–1653) formulated against the theological legacy of Leonardus Lessius (1554–1623) a quarter of a century after the Jesuit’s death. This criticism is part of the long-standing controversy that raged in the Leuven theological milieu between the professors of the University, on the one hand, and the Jesuits, on the other. The former, following the anti-Pelagian Augustine, stressed the overwhelming necessity of God’s grace for the salvation of humanity, fundamentally corrupted after the Fall, while the latter gave more space to the contribution of humans’ free will and agency in their attaining eternal salvation. This article first situates Fromondus’ engagement with Lessius’ theological legacy in the setting of this decades-long debate in the Leuven theological milieu from the sixteenth century onwards. It then focuses on how the controversy between the aforementioned key figures was reflected in their commentaries on three scriptural passages, specifically Song 5:2–6, Rom 8:29–32, and 1Tim 2:4–6. When relevant, we also include references to the Augustinus of Cornelius Jansenius “the younger” (1585–1638), Fromondus’ predecessor as Royal professor of Sacred Scripture in Leuven.