Career
At an early age he entered the order of Saint Dominic, in which he held many important offices. But above all these, he prized study, teaching, and writing. He refused a bishopric and asked to be relieved of distracting duties.
lieutenant was said that he knew by heart the Summa of Thomas Aquinas.
He devoted himself with such earnestness to the study of Greek and Hebrew that he could converse fluently in both of these languages. His knowledge of Hebrew enabled him to overcome in public debate two rabbis, one at Avignon in 1659, the other at Florence in 1695.
The latter became a Christian, his conversion being ascribed by Massoulié to prayer more than to successful disputation. Massoulié was a professor of theology at the Roman College of Saint Thomas, the future Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum.
