Nov. 8 BL. John Duns Scotus

Blessed Duns Scotus (1265/66-1308)

November 8

John Duns Scotus was one of the most important and influential philosopher-theologians of the High Middle Ages, within the school of Scholasticism. His brilliantly complex and nuanced thought earned him the nickname “the Subtle Doctor.” Certain saints are given the title of and identified as Doctors of the Church due to their theological contributions. The title "doctor" means "important teacher." “Scotus” identifies John as a Scot, with Scotia being Latin for Scotland. His family name was Duns, which was also the name of the Scottish village in which he was born, just a few miles from the English border. We do not know the precise date of his birth, but we do know that Scotus was ordained to the priesthood in the Order of Friars Minor—the Franciscans—at Saint Andrew’s Priory in Northampton, England, on 17 March 1291.

Scotus studied philosophy and then theology at Oxford & Cambridge beginning sometime in the 1280s. He apparently spent about 13 years there (1288–1301) preparing for inception as master of theology. Scotus left Oxford for Paris, probably in 1302. Scotus became Doctor of Theology in 1305 and was Franciscan regent master at Paris in 1306–07. Scotus's great work is his commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard. His other works bear the names of the places he taught: The Works of Oxford (Opus Oxoniense) the Cambridge lectures (Reporatio Cambrigensis), and the Paris lectures (Reportata Parisiens). Thus, in his academic career and as an intellectual, he immediately follows fellow Franciscan Bonaventure and Dominican Thomas Aquinas, who both died in 1274: Thomas at age 48–49 and Bonaventure at age 52-53.

In an age when too many people adopted whole systems of thought without qualification, John pointed out the richness of the Augustinian-Franciscan tradition, appreciated the wisdom of Aquinas, Aristotle, and the Moslem philosophers, while still managing to be an independent thinker.

Duns Scotus was also known as the “Cantor of the Incarnate Word” because of his dedication to the central mystery of the faith. In 1307 he very ably defended the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Pius IX solemnly defined the Immaculate Conception in 1854, drawing on the work of John Duns Scotus.

“Dunce” in the early 1500s/16^th century became an epithet for the followers of Scotus. Scotus's opponents criticized his ideas as too confusing and pedantic. During the Protestant Reformation, Catholic teachings were criticized, and followers of Scotus were labeled as intellectually inferior.

John Duns Scotus was not only brilliant, but he was also very humble and prayerful: the exact combination St. Francis wanted in any friar who studied. Ideas are important. Scotus placed his best thinking at the service of the human family and of the Church.

Father Charles Balie, OFM, the foremost 20^th-century authority on Scotus, wrote: “The whole of Scotus’s theology is dominated by the notion of love. The characteristic note of this love is its absolute freedom. As love becomes more perfect and intense, freedom becomes more noble and integral both in God and in people.”

In 1307 Duns Scotus was appointed professor at Cologne. Some have suggested that Scotus was sent to Cologne for his own safety. Scotus died there on Nov. 8, 1308, and his German gravesite is adorned with a poem, in Latin, that reads:

Scotland brought me forth.
England sustained me.
France taught me.
Cologne holds me.

Beatified on March 20, 1993, by Pope John Paul II.

Oct. 27 Alexander of Hales

October 27 Servant of God (SoG) Alexander of Hales (c.1185- August 21, 1245)

Alexander, known as Doctor Irrefragibilis, or "Irrefutable Teacher," Doctor Doctorum, or "Doctor of Doctors," and even as Theologorum Monarcha or "King of Theologians"— was a Franciscan friar, theologian, and philosopher instrumental to the development of scholasticism. He introduced the Sentences of Peter Lombard as the basic textbook for the study of theology, which was particularly important because it was the first time that a book other than the Bible was used as a basic text for theological study. Alexander was also significant in bringing Aristotle into the discussion of theology.

In 1236 or 1237, aged about 50, Alexander entered the Franciscan Order after considering both the Cistercians and the Dominicans. He thus became the first Franciscan friar to hold a university chair. His doctrinal positions became the starting point of the Franciscan school of theology. He continued to teach and to represent the university and participated in the First Council of Lyon in the winter of 1245.

Bonaventure, who may not have studied under Alexander directly, nevertheless referred to him as his "father and master" and wished to "follow in his footsteps." Alexander, Bonaventure, and the Franciscan developments within Scholasticism are sometimes overlooked due to the strength of Dominican scholarship, exemplified by Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas.

Alexander was born in Hales Owen, Shropshire, England, and died in Paris. Hales is in the West Midlands of England. The word “hales” means a nook or a remote valley. Franciscans honor him on October 27. So today, let’s remember Alexander of Hales as a great theologian, but also as a person humble enough to desire to live according to the Gospel in the footprints of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Saints called “the Great”

 Saints given the appellation “the Great”

[An unofficial title given by popular acclamation, not an official proclamation of the Church. Note the one female saint, although Mary is acknowledged as "Blessed be the Great Mother of God" and so might be included in this list as well.]

James the Great-er/Major: one of the Twelve, as opposed to James the Less

Anthony the Great (c.251-356): father of monasticism

Basil the Great (330-379) honored on January 2^nd w/Gregory of Nazianzen; brother to Gregory of Nyssa: Byzantine Greek theologians

Armenians:

Nerses I the Great (c.310-373)patriarch

Isaac the Great (c.345-439) catholicos leader

Euthymius the Great (377-473) monk

 

Arsenius the Great (c.354 -c.455) Orthodox Egyptian monk

Bruno the Great (925-65) archbishop of Cologne, Germany

Albert Magnus (1193-1280) philosopher, scientist, teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas and Scholasticism

Gertrude the Great (1256-1301) German Cistercian nun, mystic and stigmatist

Popes

Leo I (reigned 440-461)

Gregory I (c.540 – reigned 590-604)

Nicholas (c.800 - reigned 858-67)

?! John Paul II (1920 - reigned 1978 -2005)

In studying about Pope Saint Gregory the Great during Tuesday morning "Coffee with the Saints," the question of how many "Great" saints came up! And here is the list in answer!

July 15 St. Bonaventure, Doctor of the Church -CA Mission

St. Bonaventure (1218-1274)

July 15

            Bonaventure was born at Bagnorea, Tuscany and was baptized "John/Giovanni." As a child he was cured at the intervention of St. Francis. Bonaventure studied at the University of Paris and became a Franciscan there. Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure were both distinguished scholars there in Paris at the same time. His academic career was cut short in 1257 by his election as Minister General of the Order. Bonaventure immediately dedicated his energies to restoring harmony among the friars, who were plagued by various factions.

As one Franciscan source puts it: "The Church in the 1260’s closely linked ordination and the permission to preach. This presented a problem for the friars whose style, since Francis’ time, had been that of itinerant preachers—few of whom were ordained. Bonaventure, wanting to ensure the friars’ preaching vocation, moved them in a clerical direction. And accepting ordination meant establishing large houses of study near universities like Paris and Oxford. Though some people have criticized Bonaventure for this redirection of the friars, others have argued convincingly that he was simply following the mind of the Church—which, they say, is what Francis would have wanted. Bonaventure ably defended the friars against those who said that the friars’ form of life, with its provisions for begging, was condemned by the gospel."

Among Bonaventure’s most famous writings are his life of St. Francis called the Legenda Major and the equally brilliant Journey of the Soul to God.  Bonaventure attributed his knowledge to meditation on the cross of Jesus Christ, something he wrote of in The Tree of Life.

Bonaventure writes in Journey of the Soul to God, Chapter 7: “For this passover (to God) to be perfect, we must suspend all the operations of the mind and we must transform the peak of our affections, directing them to God alone. This is a sacred mystical experience. It cannot be comprehended by anyone unless they surrender themselves to it; nor can they surrender themselves to it unless they long for it; nor can they long for it unless the Holy Spirit, whom Christ sent into the world, should come and inflame their inmost soul.  Hence the Apostle says that this mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit.” 

Bonaventure worked hard not to be named a bishop but was finally made Bishop of Albano and then cardinal. At the Second Council of Lyons (1274), he worked for the reunion with the Eastern Greek Church. He died before the Council ended. Bonaventure was canonized in 1482.