Caesar Baronius
Cesare Baronio (also known as Caesar Baronius; 30 August 1538 – 30 June 1607) was an Italian cardinal and ecclesiastical historian of the Roman Catholic Church. His best-known works are his Annales Ecclesiastici ("Ecclesiastical Annals") which appear in twelve folio volumes (1588–1607). Baronius' cause of canonization has commenced and he has the title of Servant of God. Pope Benedict XIV conferred upon him the title of Venerable but it was found that the late cardinal did not fill the requirements for the advancement in the cause so the title was dropped.
Life
Cesare Baronio was born at Sora in Italy in 1538 as the single child of Camillo Baronio and Porzia Febonia.
He was educated at Veroli and Naples where he commenced his law studies in October 1556. At Rome he obtained his doctorate in canon law and civil law. After this he became a member of the Congregation of the Oratory in 1557 under Philip Neri - future saint - and was ordained to the subdiaconate on 21 December 1560 and later to the diaconate on 20 May 1561. He was then ordained to the priesthood in 1564. He succeeded Neri as superior in 1593.
