Leonard Boyle
Encyclopedia
Father Leonard Eugene Boyle (November 13, 1923 – October 25, 1999) was an Irish and Canadian
scholar in medieval studies
and palaeography
and was the first Irish
and North America
n Prefect of the Vatican Library
in Rome
from 1984 to 1997.
Born in Ballintra
, County Donegal
, Ireland
. Boyle spent some years in Tralee following the death in 1940 of his older brother John. The latter was a member of the police (Garda Síochána
) and drowned while on holiday in Ballybunion
, Co. Kerry July 1940 and acted as Boyle's father following the death of his mother 1933. Leonard was educated in Gaelic
and entered the Dominican Order
in 1943. He was ordained a priest in 1949 having received his doctorate
in Oxford
. He frequently visited Tralee, where a number of his family still reside, and he was involved in many projects in the town. His immense knowledge and expertise in historical and archaeological issues was freely given in order to enhance the town. Of particular concern was his hope that the site of the original Dominican Abbey at the centre of the town be conserved for future archaeological excavation. After moving to Toronto
, he taught at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies
, and at the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto
from 1961 to 1984.
In 1984 he was appointed Prefect of the Vatican Library by Pope John Paul II. This appointment took Boyle by surprise but would appear to have been a recognition of his immense scholarship, expertise in antiquity and renowned interest in learning as a whole. In an effort to modernize the Vatican Library, Father Boyle set about the digitization of the library's many thousands of manuscripts that dated from hundreds of years BC, which would lead to their greater availability to scholars around the world. Boyle also extended the opening hours of the library and employed women for the first time as part of the library's staff. In 1987, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. In 1997, he was ousted as Prefect after "his dealings with some American fund-raising associates resulted in lawsuits involving the Vatican.
Known for his wit and independence of mind and spirit, Boyle was once asked of his interest in being a Cardinal given the fact that all of his predecessors went on to be Cardinals. His reply was in the negative saying 'nothing but the papacy' would do him.
Father Boyle was buried in his beloved Basilica di San Clemente
, in 2000 a year after his death, following official desire to give him the honour of interment in the vaults of San Clemente - one of Rome's holiest and most historical shrines.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
scholar in medieval studies
Medieval studies
-Development:The term 'medieval studies' began to be adopted by academics in the opening decades of the twentieth century, initially in the titles of books like G. G. Coulton's Ten Medieval Studies , to emphasize a greater interdisciplinary approach to a historical subject...
and palaeography
Palaeography
Palaeography, also spelt paleography is the study of ancient writing. Included in the discipline is the practice of deciphering, reading, and dating historical manuscripts, and the cultural context of writing, including the methods with which writing and books were produced, and the history of...
and was the first Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n Prefect of the Vatican Library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
from 1984 to 1997.
Born in Ballintra
Ballintra
Ballintra is a village in the parish of Drumholm in South Donegal, Ireland just off the N15 between Donegal town and Ballyshannon. The village is geographically situated in a limestone area and this natural resource is quarried locally for the building and civil engineering industries.Ballintra...
, County Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Boyle spent some years in Tralee following the death in 1940 of his older brother John. The latter was a member of the police (Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
) and drowned while on holiday in Ballybunion
Ballybunion
Ballybunion or Ballybunnion is a coastal town and seaside resort in County Kerry, Ireland, from the town of Listowel. There are castle ruins near the town, although all that remains is a single wall, and two golf courses in the area including the famous Ballybunion Golf Club, a top class Links...
, Co. Kerry July 1940 and acted as Boyle's father following the death of his mother 1933. Leonard was educated in Gaelic
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
and entered the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
in 1943. He was ordained a priest in 1949 having received his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. He frequently visited Tralee, where a number of his family still reside, and he was involved in many projects in the town. His immense knowledge and expertise in historical and archaeological issues was freely given in order to enhance the town. Of particular concern was his hope that the site of the original Dominican Abbey at the centre of the town be conserved for future archaeological excavation. After moving to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, he taught at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies
Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies
The Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies is a research institute in the University of Toronto that is dedicated to advanced studies in the culture of the Middle Ages....
, and at the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
from 1961 to 1984.
In 1984 he was appointed Prefect of the Vatican Library by Pope John Paul II. This appointment took Boyle by surprise but would appear to have been a recognition of his immense scholarship, expertise in antiquity and renowned interest in learning as a whole. In an effort to modernize the Vatican Library, Father Boyle set about the digitization of the library's many thousands of manuscripts that dated from hundreds of years BC, which would lead to their greater availability to scholars around the world. Boyle also extended the opening hours of the library and employed women for the first time as part of the library's staff. In 1987, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 1997, he was ousted as Prefect after "his dealings with some American fund-raising associates resulted in lawsuits involving the Vatican.
Known for his wit and independence of mind and spirit, Boyle was once asked of his interest in being a Cardinal given the fact that all of his predecessors went on to be Cardinals. His reply was in the negative saying 'nothing but the papacy' would do him.
Father Boyle was buried in his beloved Basilica di San Clemente
Basilica di San Clemente
The Basilica of Saint Clement is a Roman Catholic minor basilica dedicated to Pope Clement I located in Rome, Italy. Archaeologically speaking, the structure is a three-tiered complex of buildings: the present basilica built just before the year 1100 during the height of the Middle Ages; beneath...
, in 2000 a year after his death, following official desire to give him the honour of interment in the vaults of San Clemente - one of Rome's holiest and most historical shrines.
Further reading
- Omnia disce: medieval studies in memory of Leonard Boyle, O.P., edited by Anne J. Duggan, Joan Greatrex, Brenda Bolton, Aldershot, Hants, England ; Burlington, VT : Ashgate, c2005. ISBN 0754651150
- J. Ambrose Raftis, "Leonard Boyle, O.P. (1923-1999)," Mediaeval Studies 62 (2000): vii-xxvi.
- Roma, Magistra Mundi: Itineraria Culturae Medievalis. Mélanges offerts à Père L.E. Boyle à l'occasion de son 75e anniversaire, edited by Jacqueline HAMESSE (Fédération Internationale des Instituts d'Etudes Médiévales, 10/1-3). Louvain-la-Neuve: Fédération Internationale des Instituts d'Etudes Médiévales, 1998.