Ongoing Project: Translating Arcangelo of Borgonovo’s Commentary on Pico della Mirandola’s Cabalistic Conclusions
Arcangelo of Borgonovo (d. 1571) was an Italian Franciscan friar, Christian Cabalist, and a significant – albeit understudied – figure in the Western Esoteric tradition. His extensive Latin commentaries, including the Apologia pro defensione doctrinae Cabalae (printed in 1564/1600) and the Cabalistarum selectiora obscurioraque dogmata (1569), served to uphold various esoteric Jewish doctrines first defended by the Prince of Concord, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, in 1486 as part of his 900 Conclusiones against the critiques of fellow Christian academics and schoolmen. Arcangelo synthesized arguments from Christian Cabalists like Paolo Riccio, Johannes Reuchlin, and Francesco Giorgi with Platonic, Hermetic, and scholastic traditions, creating a distinctive intellectual synthesis in the service of Catholic universalism.
My current project focuses on translating and analyzing Arcangelo’s commentaries, particularly his work on Pico della Mirandola’s Cabalistic Conclusions. Arcangelo’s works are pivotal in understanding, at the level of fine detail, how Renaissance philosophers appropriated medieval Jewish mysticism and re-imagined it within a Christian framework, especially during a time when Dominican theologians like Pedro Garcia sought to purge Catholicism of “Judaizing” influences. Where Pico della Mirandola wrote in brief and enigmatic conclusions, Arcangelo expands in full detail.
As such, Arcangelo’s commentaries serve as a crucial link in the history of Christian Cabala and Renaissance esotericism, bridging the medieval and early modern periods. His defense of esoteric Jewish doctrines not only shed light on Renaissance intellectual history but also provided us with an essential perspective on the ways Jewish-Christian interactions shaped the Western esoteric tradition.
This translation project aims to:
- Provide the first complete Latin-to-English rendering of Arcangelo’s works.
- Enhance our understanding of Pico della Mirandola’s influence on Renaissance thought, particularly his 900 Conclusions.
- Explore the intersections of Jewish mysticism, Christian theology, Platonism, Hermeticism, and esoteric philosophy in the sixteenth century.
Current Progress
I am about halfway through the translation of Arcangelo’s works, which span over 700 pages of dense Latin prose. This project will require years of meticulous work, as I aim to produce a faithful and accessible translation alongside critical notes and commentary.
Engage with the Project
Stay updated on the progress of this monumental work here on The Modern Hermeticist. I invite scholars and enthusiasts to reach out with questions or insights. Together, we can illuminate the thought of this industrious friar and his contribution to Renaissance intellectual history.
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