Thomas Gallus
Encyclopedia
Thomas Gallus of Vercelli
(ca. 1200-1246) was a French theologian, a member of the School of St Victor
. He is known for his commentaries on Pseudo-Dionysius
and his ideas on affective theology. His elaborate mystical
schemata influenced Bonaventure
and The Cloud of Unknowing
. Sometimes referred to as Thomas of St Victor or Thomas of Vercelli, Thomas Gallus departed in 1219 from Paris, where he lectured in the university, and went to Vercelli in the north of Italy, along with two companions, to establish a new monastery there. This monastery was set up under the initiative of Cardinal Guala Bicchieri
, once a papal legate to England and France. Moreover, Bicchieri was a native of Vercelli and wished to establish a monastery and hospital in his home town.
By the end of 1225 or the start of 1226, Thomas was appointed abbot of the new monastery (hence Thomas’s more usual appellation, abbas Vercellensis or the abbot of Vercelli). As abbot, he devoted himself not just to the daily administrative tasks of the monastery, but also to composing various commentaries and expositions of the Bible and the writings of the Pseudo-Dionysius. He enjoyed a close relationship with the nascent Franciscan order; indeed, the Franciscans transferred their studium generale from Padua to Vercelli around 1228. He was personally acquainted with St Anthony of Padua
. Gallus also knew Robert Grosseteste
whom he may have met in 1238 when visiting England to secure a benefice associated with the church of St. Andrew's in Chesterton. Gallus and Grosseteste seem to have exchanged some writings through the agency of Grosseteste's associate, the Franciscan Adam Marsh
. When war broke out between the Guelphs of Vercelli and the Ghibellines of the neighbouring town of Ivrea, Gallus was compelled to flee Vercelli in 1243 and take refuge in Ivrea
after many grave accusations were made against him by the papal supporters. Some records however suggest that he did manage to return to Vercelli before his death in 1246.
A funerary monument to Gallus can be seen today in the Church of Sant’Andrea in Vercelli.
Vercelli
Vercelli is a city and comune of about 47,000 inhabitants in the Province of Vercelli, Piedmont, northern Italy. One of the oldest urban sites in northern Italy, it was founded, according to most historians, around the year 600 BC.The city is situated on the river Sesia in the plain of the river...
(ca. 1200-1246) was a French theologian, a member of the School of St Victor
School of St Victor
The school of St Victor was the medieval monastic school at the Augustinian abbey of St Victor. The name also refers to the Victorines, the group of philosophers and mystics based at this school as part of the University of Paris....
. He is known for his commentaries on Pseudo-Dionysius
Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite
Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, also known as Pseudo-Denys, was a Christian theologian and philosopher of the late 5th to early 6th century, the author of the Corpus Areopagiticum . The author is identified as "Dionysos" in the corpus, which later incorrectly came to be attributed to Dionysius...
and his ideas on affective theology. His elaborate mystical
Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism refers to the development of mystical practices and theory within Christianity. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions...
schemata influenced Bonaventure
Bonaventure
Saint Bonaventure, O.F.M., , born John of Fidanza , was an Italian medieval scholastic theologian and philosopher. The seventh Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, he was also a Cardinal Bishop of Albano. He was canonized on 14 April 1482 by Pope Sixtus IV and declared a Doctor of the...
and The Cloud of Unknowing
The Cloud of Unknowing
The Cloud of Unknowing is an anonymous work of Christian mysticism written in Middle English in the latter half of the 14th century. The text is a spiritual guide on contemplative prayer in the late Middle Ages.Manuscripts of the work are today at British Library and Cambridge University Library...
. Sometimes referred to as Thomas of St Victor or Thomas of Vercelli, Thomas Gallus departed in 1219 from Paris, where he lectured in the university, and went to Vercelli in the north of Italy, along with two companions, to establish a new monastery there. This monastery was set up under the initiative of Cardinal Guala Bicchieri
Guala Bicchieri
Guala Bicchieri was an Italian diplomat and papal official, and Cardinal. He was the papal legate in England from 1216 to 1218, and took a prominent role in the politics of England during King John’s last years and Henry III’s early minority....
, once a papal legate to England and France. Moreover, Bicchieri was a native of Vercelli and wished to establish a monastery and hospital in his home town.
By the end of 1225 or the start of 1226, Thomas was appointed abbot of the new monastery (hence Thomas’s more usual appellation, abbas Vercellensis or the abbot of Vercelli). As abbot, he devoted himself not just to the daily administrative tasks of the monastery, but also to composing various commentaries and expositions of the Bible and the writings of the Pseudo-Dionysius. He enjoyed a close relationship with the nascent Franciscan order; indeed, the Franciscans transferred their studium generale from Padua to Vercelli around 1228. He was personally acquainted with St Anthony of Padua
Anthony of Padua
Anthony of Padua or Anthony of Lisbon, O.F.M., was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. Though he died in Padua, Italy, he was born to a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, which is where he was raised...
. Gallus also knew Robert Grosseteste
Robert Grosseteste
Robert Grosseteste or Grossetete was an English statesman, scholastic philosopher, theologian and Bishop of Lincoln. He was born of humble parents at Stradbroke in Suffolk. A.C...
whom he may have met in 1238 when visiting England to secure a benefice associated with the church of St. Andrew's in Chesterton. Gallus and Grosseteste seem to have exchanged some writings through the agency of Grosseteste's associate, the Franciscan Adam Marsh
Adam Marsh
Adam Marsh was an English Franciscan, scholar and theologian.-Biography:He was born about 1200 in the diocese of Bath, and educated at Oxford under the famous Grosseteste....
. When war broke out between the Guelphs of Vercelli and the Ghibellines of the neighbouring town of Ivrea, Gallus was compelled to flee Vercelli in 1243 and take refuge in Ivrea
Ivrea
Ivrea is a town and comune of the province of Turin in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy. Situated on the road leading to the Aosta Valley , it straddles the Dora Baltea and is regarded as the centre of the Canavese area. Ivrea lies in a basin that, in prehistoric times, formed a great lake...
after many grave accusations were made against him by the papal supporters. Some records however suggest that he did manage to return to Vercelli before his death in 1246.
A funerary monument to Gallus can be seen today in the Church of Sant’Andrea in Vercelli.
Works on Pseudo-Dionysius
- Structural division of the writings of the Pseudo-Dionysius (date unknown).
- 1224: Glosses on the Angelic Hierarchy.
- 1232/33: Exposition of the Mystical Theology (probably lost), made on the basis of the Latin version of Iohannes Sarracenus.
- 1238: The Extractio, a paraphrase of several of Pseudo-Dionysius's works, intended to make them comprehensible to a wider audience.
- 1241-1244: The Explanatio of the works of Pseudo-Dionysius, Gallus's magnum opus.
- 1244-46: Spectacula contemplationis: a treatise on contemplation.
- 1244-46(?): Qualiter vita prelatorum conformari debet vite angelice: a sermon on the angels.
- Super mentem exsultemus: a poetic sequence on the angels, possibly written by Gallus; at the very least, Gallus wrote a (lost) commentary on this sequence (date unknown).
Biblical commentaries
Gallus's commentaries on Scripture include- Biblical Concordance, which Gallus calls Concordantie nostre (date unknown).
- 1218: Commentary on Isaiah (Vidi Dominum sedentem), or more probably on only a portion of Isaiah. Only a fragment of this commentary survives.
- ca. 1224: First Commentary on the Canticle of Canticles, now lost.
- 1237/38: Second Commentary on the Canticle of Canticles.
- 1243: Third Commentary on the Canticle of Canticles.
- Sermon on Pentecost (Iam advenerat dies tertius), now lost.