Hervaeus Natalis

Hervaeus Natalis[1] (c.1260, Nédellec, diocese of Tréguier, Brittany[2]-1323) was a Dominican theologian, the 14th Master of the Dominicans, and the author of a number of works on philosophy and theology. Among his many writings may be included the Summa Totius Logicae, an opusculum once attributed to Thomas Aquinas.

Life

Natalis joined the Dominicans in 1276. In 1303, he entered the convent of St. Jacques at the University of Paris. On his arrival to St. Jacques, he signed a petition supporting Philip the Fair's attempt to convoke a council in his war with Pope Boniface VIII on grounds of papal jurisdiction.[3]

He studied theology in Paris[4] and became French provincial of the Dominicans in 1308. Later in 1318, he was appointed Master General of the Order.[5]

A resolute early Thomist,[6] nicknamed Doctor rarus, he was a tenacious opponent of the theology of Durandus of Saint-Pourçain.[7] He also opposed Scotism.[8] He sought for and obtained the canonization of Aquinas.[9]

He became Master of the Order of Preachers in 1318, a post he held until he died in 1323 on the way to attend the canonization of Thomas Aquinas.

As Master of the Order

Natalis' tenure as master general of the Order was focused on removing the corruption prevalent in the Dominican Order. His ordered a series of acts that limited the privileges of the elites within the Order. These acts ordered high members of the Order to take part in choir and eat in the refectory along with abolishing the use of titles1. In addition to these acts, Natalis sought to reign in the studia generalia by abolishing the title magister. He also sought to centralize the curriculum and appointments of the studia generalia to the Master General.[10]

Differences with Durandus of St. Pourçain

While Natalis was Durandus' mentor, the two scholars disputed on numerous theological ideas. In a commission investigating the works of Durandus, Natalis found 91 objectionable propositions. From 1309 to 1316, a polemical war ensued between Hervaeus Natalis and Durandus of St. Pourçain. Throughout those years, both Natalis and Durandus of St. Pourçain exchanged polemics and writings that sought to disprove the other. Near the end of this war, Hervaeus Natalis compiled two censure lists, one in 1314 and one in 1316. These lists gathered the problematic tenets of Durandus' works, and in turn, compelled Durandus to revise his work.

Notable works concerning this polemical war include Reprobationes excusationum Durandi, Quodlibet III, and Correctiones super dicta Durandi in Quodlibet Avenonense I. These works either reprimanded Durandus or responded to Durandus' counterattacks to Natalis' arguments. One of Natalis' most significant counters to Durandus was in his Evidentiae contra Durandum super Ivum sent, in which Natalis examines 38 articles where Durandus deviated from the teachings of Aquinas regarding the sacraments

References

Notices

  1. ↑ Hervé or Harvey or Hervey Nedellec, or de Nédellec; Hervaeus Natalis Brito. There was another Hervaeus Brito of the early 13th century.
  2. ↑ Risultato della ricerca Web OPAC ICCU
  3. ↑ Pasnau, Robert (2010). The Cambridge History of Medieval Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  4. ↑ http://faculty.cua.edu/pennington/1298h-j.htm
  5. ↑ Lowe, Elizabeth (2003). The Contested Theological Authority of Thomas Aquinas: The Controversies between Hervaeus Natalis and Durandus of St. Pourcain. New York: Routledge.
  6. ↑ : The first Thomists appear at the end of the thirteenth century and the beginning of the fourteenth. They defend St. Thomas against certain Augustinians of the ancient school, against the Nominalists and the Scotists. We must note in particular the works of Herve de Nedellec against Henry of Ghent; of Thomas Sutton against Scotus, of Durandus of Aurillac against Durandus of Saint-Pourcain and against the first Nominalists.
  7. ↑ , . His predecessor as Master had appointed him, Peter de la Palu, John of Naples and others as a theological commission to assess the ideas of Durandus.
  8. ↑ : a valiant opponent of Scotus.
  9. ↑ Ashley/Dominicans: 3 Mystics 1300s
  10. ↑ Lowe, Elizabeth (2003). The Contested Theological Authority of Thomas Aquinas: The Controversies between Hervaeus Natalis and Durandus of St. Pourcain. Routledge.

Works

External links

Preceded by
Bérengar de Landore		 Master General of the Dominican Order
1318–1323 		Succeeded by
Barnaba Cagnoli
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