Humbert de Romans
Encyclopedia
Humbert of Romans was the fifth Master general of the Dominican Order
from 1254 to 1263.
at the University of Paris
, and subsequently, although he had thought about joining the Carthusians (whom his brother joined), entered the Dominican order on 30 November 1224.
He was appointed lector
of theology at the Dominican convent in Lyon
during 1226 and by 1237 he had become prior
of the Lyon convent. During the following year, he was elected provincial of the Roman province of Dominicans. His presence in Rome led to support for his candidature in the 1241 papal election (although the Orsini and other Roman families would seem to have opposed his election).
Humbert returned to France in 1244 or 1245 as provincial of the whole of the country, replacing Hugh of Saint-Cher, who had been made a cardinal in 1244.
During his time as provincial, Humbert was charged with producing a lectionary
for use by the whole Order.
A new edition of the Order's constitutions was prepared and measures taken to improve discipline in the Order's houses.
Further, he issued new constitutions for all nuns associated with the Dominican Order, based on those he himself had drawn up whilst Provincial of France.
He instituted the formal collection of information of two of the Order's saints, Dominic
, the founder, and Peter Martyr
; in relation to this search for information, Gerald de Frachet produced his Vitae fratrum
or Lives of the Brethren.
In 1255, he was called to adjudicate a dispute on the constitutions of the Carthusians; in 1256, he became the godfather of one of the children of Louis IX
of France; and in 1258, the same king asked for his advice regarding the settlement of a dispute between various noble families. Humbert further encouraged the missionary activities of the friars, and schools to teach oriental languages were established in Spain.
Opposition to the presence of both Dominicans and Franciscans at the University of Paris during the mid-1250s led to his issuing a joint encyclical with the Franciscan Minister General, urging that the two Orders - often in bitter dispute - should work together for their survival and the maintenance of their university chairs.
Humbert resigned his position as Master of the Order in 1263 at the General Chapter in London
, probably on account of his failing health.
Humbert also composed the Opus tripartitum, one of a number of texts by leading intellectuals commissioned by Gregory X to be presented at the Council of Lyon
in 1274. This document defended church reform, promoted the philosophy of crusades, discussed the relationship of the Church to Arabs, analysed the causes and effects of the Greek
Schism
, proposed ways to go about the re-establishment of Christian
unity, and the promoted the mission to the heathens.
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...
from 1254 to 1263.
Early career
Humbert of Romans studied both Arts and then Canon LawCanon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
at the University of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and subsequently, although he had thought about joining the Carthusians (whom his brother joined), entered the Dominican order on 30 November 1224.
He was appointed lector
Lector
Lector is a Latin term for one who reads, whether aloud or not. In modern languages the word has come to take various forms, as either a development or a loan, such as , , and . It has various specialized uses:...
of theology at the Dominican convent in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
during 1226 and by 1237 he had become prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
of the Lyon convent. During the following year, he was elected provincial of the Roman province of Dominicans. His presence in Rome led to support for his candidature in the 1241 papal election (although the Orsini and other Roman families would seem to have opposed his election).
Humbert returned to France in 1244 or 1245 as provincial of the whole of the country, replacing Hugh of Saint-Cher, who had been made a cardinal in 1244.
During his time as provincial, Humbert was charged with producing a lectionary
Lectionary
A Lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christian or Judaic worship on a given day or occasion.-History:...
for use by the whole Order.
Master general
Humbert became Master General of the Dominican Order in 1254. His first achievement was the re-organization (and consequent standardisation) of the Order's liturgy.A new edition of the Order's constitutions was prepared and measures taken to improve discipline in the Order's houses.
Further, he issued new constitutions for all nuns associated with the Dominican Order, based on those he himself had drawn up whilst Provincial of France.
He instituted the formal collection of information of two of the Order's saints, Dominic
Dominic
Dominic is a male name. Translated from Latin it means "Of Our Lord" or "Belonging to God". Variations include: Dominik, Dominick, Domenic, Domenico, Domanic, Domonic, Domingos and the unisex but usually feminine Dominique Dominic is a male name. Translated from Latin it means "Of Our Lord" or...
, the founder, and Peter Martyr
Peter of Verona
Saint Peter of Verona O.P. , also known as Saint Peter Martyr, was a 13th century Italian Catholic priest. He was a Dominican friar and a celebrated preacher...
; in relation to this search for information, Gerald de Frachet produced his Vitae fratrum
Lives of the brethren
The Lives of the Brethren is an early account of the first members of the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans. is potentially confusing as there are several works which are often abbreviated to that name. The book that records the early history of the Dominican order is the Vitae...
or Lives of the Brethren.
In 1255, he was called to adjudicate a dispute on the constitutions of the Carthusians; in 1256, he became the godfather of one of the children of Louis IX
Louis IX
Louis IX may refer to:* Louis IX of France .* Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria "the Rich" * Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt ....
of France; and in 1258, the same king asked for his advice regarding the settlement of a dispute between various noble families. Humbert further encouraged the missionary activities of the friars, and schools to teach oriental languages were established in Spain.
Opposition to the presence of both Dominicans and Franciscans at the University of Paris during the mid-1250s led to his issuing a joint encyclical with the Franciscan Minister General, urging that the two Orders - often in bitter dispute - should work together for their survival and the maintenance of their university chairs.
Humbert resigned his position as Master of the Order in 1263 at the General Chapter in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, probably on account of his failing health.
Writings
His literary production was geared mainly to the demands of his Order. He composed a Letter on Regular Observance and a commentary on the Rule of Saint Augustine (the Rule which had been adopted by the Dominicans in 1220); and a work On the Formation of Preachers, which had some success as a collection of exempla but few manuscripts survive with its initial suggestions regarding the formation of the preacher himself.Humbert also composed the Opus tripartitum, one of a number of texts by leading intellectuals commissioned by Gregory X to be presented at the Council of Lyon
Second Council of Lyon
The Second Council of Lyon was the fourteenth ecumenical council of the Catholic Church, convoked on 31 March 1272 and convened in Lyon, France, in 1274. Pope Gregory X presided over the council, called to act on a pledge by Byzantine emperor Michael VIII to reunite the Eastern church with the West...
in 1274. This document defended church reform, promoted the philosophy of crusades, discussed the relationship of the Church to Arabs, analysed the causes and effects of the Greek
Church of Greece
The Church of Greece , part of the wider Greek Orthodox Church, is one of the autocephalous churches which make up the communion of Orthodox Christianity...
Schism
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
, proposed ways to go about the re-establishment of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
unity, and the promoted the mission to the heathens.