Biography

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Sinistrari of Ameno

Ludovico Maria Sinistrari, author of De Dæmonialitate, et Incubis, et Succubis, was born on February 26, 1622 in Ameno, Italy. He studied in Pavia and entered the Franciscan Order in 1647. He taught philosophy and theology to students in Pavia, some of them having been attracted to the area by his fame.

Sinistrari was an advisor to the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition in Rome. He was considered an expert on exorcism and wrote about the effects (during exorcisms) of various plants and other substances including cubeb, cardamom, ginger and nutmeg. He was also considered an expert on demonology, sins relating to sexuality, and especially all combinations thereof (demonilatria), including investigations of those individuals accused of sexual relations with demons. Allegations along these lines influenced later Inquisition investigations of those accused of witchcraft. His advice was, at various times, directed against enemies of the Roman Catholic Church, including Martin Luther, whom he referred to as a “devil-begotten man”.

Read more about Sinistrari of Ameno in the Post Scriptum of 'Incubi and Succubi or Demoniality'.