Guillaume Herincx
Encyclopedia
Guillaume Herincx (1621 in Helmond
, North Brabant
, Southern Netherlands
– 17 August 1678), was a Belgian Franciscan
theologian. He became bishop of Ypres.
, North Brabant
. After receiving his preliminary education at 's-Hertogenbosch he entered the University of Louvain, where he devoted himself to the study of the ancient classics and obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. After completing his university course, he resolved to embrace the religious state and entered the Franciscan Order.
In 1653 he was appointed lecturer in theology at Louvain. After fifteen years spent in teaching theology, Father Herincx was honoured with the title of Lector Jubilate, equivalent to the university degree of Doctor of Divinity.
He was twice elected minister provincial, then definitor general, and finally commissary general for the northern countries of Europe. On 28 April 1677, whilst making a canonical visitation
in England, he received word at Newport
that Charles II
had nominated him Bishop of Ypres.
He was consecrated on 24 October in the same year, in the Franciscan church, Brussels. He left immediately for his diocese but ruled it for less than a year; he died while making his first diocesan visitation.
The epitaph on his tombstone in the cathedral of Ypres says: "Ob virtutem et omnimodam eruditionem ad has infulas assumptus". Letters found in his room after his death show that his promotion to the cardinalate had been determined on by the pope.
According to the constitutions of his order, Father Herincx propounds the doctrine of Duns Scotus
, but he does not neglect the teachings of Bonaventure
or Thomas Aquinas
.
Father Herincx was a Probabilist
, and his tractate "De conscientia" is a masterpiece. He shows that the system of Probabilism is not altogether new, and he draws his proofs from Aquinas, Bonaventune, St. Antonine, and Scotus, although the Subtle Doctor is not so explicit on the matter as the other ancient writers. According to Herincx, the tempest that arose in the seventeenth century against Probabilism had its origin in Jansenism
, for Rigorism was unknown among the theologians of the Middle Ages.
The decrees of Pope Alexander VII
, issued in 1665 and 1666, after the publication of Herincx's work, called for some modifications in the latter, and Father Guillaume van Goorlaeken, lector jubilate, was commissioned to bring out a new edition.
His "Summa Theologica Scholastica et Moralis" was published at Antwerp, 1660–63; 2nd ed., 1680; 3rd, 1702-04. His Centiloqium Theologicum was apparently influenced by Theodore Smising.
Helmond
Helmond is a municipality and a city in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands.- Quarters and Neighbourhoods :*Quarter 11 Inner City**Neighbourhood 0 Centrum**Neighbourhood 2 Leonardus**Neighbourhood 3 Heipoort...
, North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
, Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...
– 17 August 1678), was a Belgian 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....
theologian. He became bishop of Ypres.
Life
He was born at HelmondHelmond
Helmond is a municipality and a city in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands.- Quarters and Neighbourhoods :*Quarter 11 Inner City**Neighbourhood 0 Centrum**Neighbourhood 2 Leonardus**Neighbourhood 3 Heipoort...
, North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
. After receiving his preliminary education at 's-Hertogenbosch he entered the University of Louvain, where he devoted himself to the study of the ancient classics and obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. After completing his university course, he resolved to embrace the religious state and entered the Franciscan Order.
In 1653 he was appointed lecturer in theology at Louvain. After fifteen years spent in teaching theology, Father Herincx was honoured with the title of Lector Jubilate, equivalent to the university degree of Doctor of Divinity.
He was twice elected minister provincial, then definitor general, and finally commissary general for the northern countries of Europe. On 28 April 1677, whilst making a canonical visitation
Canonical Visitation
A canonical visitation is the act of an ecclesiastical superior who in the discharge of his office visits persons or places with a view of maintaining faith and discipline, and of correcting abuses by the application of proper remedies.-Catholic usage:...
in England, he received word at Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
that Charles II
Charles II of Spain
Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
had nominated him Bishop of Ypres.
He was consecrated on 24 October in the same year, in the Franciscan church, Brussels. He left immediately for his diocese but ruled it for less than a year; he died while making his first diocesan visitation.
The epitaph on his tombstone in the cathedral of Ypres says: "Ob virtutem et omnimodam eruditionem ad has infulas assumptus". Letters found in his room after his death show that his promotion to the cardinalate had been determined on by the pope.
Works
His superiors, who had observed his talent and success in teaching, ordered him (1658) to draw up a course of theology for use in the Franciscan schools, and the first volume of his work was published in 1660. The style is concise and clear. In the preface to his Summa Theologica, he writes:- "The teaching of theology does not consist alone in the search after truth, but it behooves us to make use of the truth for our own sanctification and for the sanctification of others, and above all for kindling and nourishing in ourselves and in others the love of God."
According to the constitutions of his order, Father Herincx propounds the doctrine 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....
, but he does not neglect the teachings of 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...
or Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
.
Father Herincx was a Probabilist
Probabilism
In theology and philosophy, probabilism refers to an ancient Greek doctrine of academic skepticism. It holds that in the absence of certainty, probability is the best criterion...
, and his tractate "De conscientia" is a masterpiece. He shows that the system of Probabilism is not altogether new, and he draws his proofs from Aquinas, Bonaventune, St. Antonine, and Scotus, although the Subtle Doctor is not so explicit on the matter as the other ancient writers. According to Herincx, the tempest that arose in the seventeenth century against Probabilism had its origin in Jansenism
Jansenism
Jansenism was a Christian theological movement, primarily in France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. The movement originated from the posthumously published work of the Dutch theologian Cornelius Otto Jansen, who died in 1638...
, for Rigorism was unknown among the theologians of the Middle Ages.
The decrees of Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII , born Fabio Chigi, was Pope from 7 April 1655, until his death.- Early life :Born in Siena, a member of the illustrious banking family of Chigi and a great-nephew of Pope Paul V , he was privately tutored and eventually received doctorates of philosophy, law, and theology from...
, issued in 1665 and 1666, after the publication of Herincx's work, called for some modifications in the latter, and Father Guillaume van Goorlaeken, lector jubilate, was commissioned to bring out a new edition.
His "Summa Theologica Scholastica et Moralis" was published at Antwerp, 1660–63; 2nd ed., 1680; 3rd, 1702-04. His Centiloqium Theologicum was apparently influenced by Theodore Smising.