John of Reading
Encyclopedia
John of Reading (died 1346) was an English Franciscan
theologian and scholastic philosopher. He was an early opponent of William of Ockham
, and a follower of Duns Scotus
. He wrote a commentary on the Sentences
around 1320, at the University of Oxford
. He argued for the unity of science. John of Reading also is credited with the "Prose for Christmas Day", the source for the Christmas Hymn: O come, all ye faithful (Adeste Fidelis).
In 1322 he moved to a teaching position at Avignon
, which in modern times is a commune
in the Vaucluse
department in southeastern France. Reading is buried at Avignon.
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....
theologian and scholastic philosopher. He was an early opponent of William of Ockham
William of Ockham
William of Ockham was an English Franciscan friar and scholastic philosopher, who is believed to have been born in Ockham, a small village in Surrey. He is considered to be one of the major figures of medieval thought and was at the centre of the major intellectual and political controversies of...
, and a follower of Duns Scotus
Duns Scotus
Blessed John Duns Scotus, O.F.M. was one of the more important theologians and philosophers of the High Middle Ages. He was nicknamed Doctor Subtilis for his penetrating and subtle manner of thought....
. He wrote a commentary on the 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...
around 1320, at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He argued for the unity of science. John of Reading also is credited with the "Prose for Christmas Day", the source for the Christmas Hymn: O come, all ye faithful (Adeste Fidelis).
In 1322 he moved to a teaching position at Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, which in modern times is a commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Vaucluse
Vaucluse
The Vaucluse is a department in the southeast of France, named after the famous spring, the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.- History :Vaucluse was created on 12 August 1793 out of parts of the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône, Drôme, and Basses-Alpes...
department in southeastern France. Reading is buried at Avignon.