Gregory of Rimini
Encyclopedia
Gregory of Rimini also called Gregorius de Arimino or Ariminensis, was one of the great scholastic philosophers
and theologians of the Middle Ages
. He was the first scholastic writer to unite the Oxonian and Parisian traditions in 14th-century philosophy, and his work had a lasting influence in the Late Middle Ages
and Reformation
. His scholastic nicknames were Doctor acutus and Doctor authenticus.
Gregory was born in Rimini
around 1300. He joined the Order of the Hermits of Saint Augustine before studying theology
in the 1320s at the University of Paris
, where he encountered the ideas of the late Franciscan
Peter Auriol. In the 1330s he taught at Augustinian schools in Bologna
, Padua
and Perugia
, where he became familiar with the recent work of Oxford thinkers such as Adam Wodeham. He returned to Paris in 1342 to prepare his lectures on Peter Lombard's
Sentences
, which he delivered in 1342–1344. He became a Master of Theology in 1345 and subsequently taught at schools in Padua
and Rimini
. Gregory died in 1358 shortly after being named General of his Order.
The most important influence in Gregory's thought was St Augustine. Gregory read Augustine more carefully and extensively than his predecessors, and so was able to attack Auriol for his faulty citations and quotations of Augustine, as well as for his Semipelagianism
. Gregory adhered to Augustine's double predestination
and famously condemned unbaptised infants to Hell
, for which he gained the nickname Infantium Tortor, Torturer, or Tormentor, of Infants.
His most important work is the lectures on Books I and II of Peter Lombard's Sentences. (This should have been on the four books, but books III and IV seem to have been lost, or were never written).
Many later scholastics copied long passages from his works. Those who borrowed from him or were influenced by him include the Cistercian James of Eltville, Pierre d'Ailly
, and Henry of Langenstein
.
Scholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
and theologians of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. He was the first scholastic writer to unite the Oxonian and Parisian traditions in 14th-century philosophy, and his work had a lasting influence in the Late Middle Ages
Late Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages was the period of European history generally comprising the 14th to the 16th century . The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern era ....
and Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. His scholastic nicknames were Doctor acutus and Doctor authenticus.
Gregory was born in Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
around 1300. He joined the Order of the Hermits of Saint Augustine before studying theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in the 1320s at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, where he encountered the ideas of the late Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Peter Auriol. In the 1330s he taught at Augustinian schools in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
and Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
, where he became familiar with the recent work of Oxford thinkers such as Adam Wodeham. He returned to Paris in 1342 to prepare his lectures on Peter Lombard's
Peter Lombard
Peter Lombard was a scholastic theologian and bishop and author of Four Books of Sentences, which became the standard textbook of theology, for which he is also known as Magister Sententiarum-Biography:Peter Lombard was born in Lumellogno , in...
Sentences
Sentences
The Four Books of Sentences is a book of theology written by Peter Lombard in the twelfth century. It is a systematic compilation of theology, written around 1150; it derives its name from the sententiae or authoritative statements on biblical passages that it gathered together.-Origin and...
, which he delivered in 1342–1344. He became a Master of Theology in 1345 and subsequently taught at schools in Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
and Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
. Gregory died in 1358 shortly after being named General of his Order.
The most important influence in Gregory's thought was St Augustine. Gregory read Augustine more carefully and extensively than his predecessors, and so was able to attack Auriol for his faulty citations and quotations of Augustine, as well as for his Semipelagianism
Semipelagianism
Semipelagianism is a Christian theological and soteriological school of thought on salvation; that is, the means by which humanity and God are restored to a right relationship. Semipelagian thought stands in contrast to the earlier Pelagian teaching about salvation , which had been dismissed as...
. Gregory adhered to Augustine's double predestination
Predestination
Predestination, in theology is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God. John Calvin interpreted biblical predestination to mean that God willed eternal damnation for some people and salvation for others...
and famously condemned unbaptised infants to Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
, for which he gained the nickname Infantium Tortor, Torturer, or Tormentor, of Infants.
His most important work is the lectures on Books I and II of Peter Lombard's Sentences. (This should have been on the four books, but books III and IV seem to have been lost, or were never written).
Many later scholastics copied long passages from his works. Those who borrowed from him or were influenced by him include the Cistercian James of Eltville, Pierre d'Ailly
Pierre d'Ailly
Pierre d'Ailly was a French theologian, astrologer, and cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church....
, and Henry of Langenstein
Henry of Langenstein
Henry of Langenstein, also known as Henry of Hesse the Elder was a German Scholastic philosopher, theologian and mathematician.-Biography:...
.
Primary sources
- Lectura super Primum et Secundum Sententiarum, vols I-IV, ed. A. Trapp, Berlin and New York, 1979-84.
- Gregorii Ariminiensis...super Primum et Secundum Sententiarum, Saint Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute, 1955 [reprint of 1494 edition].
- Gregorij Ariminiensis Ordonis Hermitaru[m] Diui Augustini ac Sacri Pagine Magistri in Secundo Sententiar[um] Admiranda Expositio, Milan, 1494.
Further reading
- Heiko ObermanHeiko ObermanHeiko Augustinus Oberman was a historian and theologian who specialized in the study of the Reformation.-Life:...
, editor, Gregor von Rimini: Werk und Wirkung bis zum ReformationReformation- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
, Berlin and New York: de Gruyter, 1981.