Gregory of Rimini

An Augustinian theologian; born at Rimini, Italy, in the second half of the

thirteenth century; died at Vienna, 1358. After completing his studies, he

became professor and subsequently rector of the Augustinian seminary in his

native city. But it was not long before he was called to Paris to take a

professorship at the Sorbonne, where he achieved great distinction as a teacher.

He was one of the chief leaders of the Nominalists in the controversy over the

nature of "universals", and his disciples conferred most respectful titles on him,

such as Doctor acutus, Lucerna splendens, and especially Doctor authenticus.

Many people even called him "beatus" not only out of esteem for his remarkable

erudition, but for his heroic and virtuous qualities. As a theologian he belonged

naturally to the older Augustinian school founded by the Augustinian Ægidius of

Colonna, commonly known as the Schola Aegidiana. In some respects, however,

his views diverged from those of the founder of the school. For, while the latter's

views on the disposition of sinners towards grace by no means coincide with the

opinions of St. Augustine, and are far more nearly akin to Semipelagianism,

Gregory on the other hand was a most pertinacious champion of the teachings of

this saint, and had no hesitation in opposing the general teaching of the

Scholastics with respect to the need for grace in fallen man and the punishment

of original sin, even though the Ægidian school followed in general St. Thomas.

These views of Gregory found many zealous supporters again in the seventeenth

century, Cardinal Noris in particular defending them vigorously. Gregory's

opponents delighted to call him the "Infantium Tortor" (Tormentor of children),

because he held, in opposition to the other Scholastics, the severe and extreme

views concerning the fate of children who died unbaptized. In 1357 he succeeded

the equally famous Thomas of Strasburg as General of the Augustinian Hermits,

but died the next year at Vienna. Of his writings, the "Commentaries" on the

"Books of the Sentences" have appeared in print (Lectura in primum et

secundum librum Sententiarum, Paris, 1482, 1487; Milan, 1494; Valentia, 1500;

Venice, 1518); also a treatise on the prohibition of usury (De usuris, Rimini,

1522, 1622). Commentaries on the Epistles of St. James and St. Paul are also

attributed to him.

Patricius Schlager

Transcribed by Elizabeth T. Knuth

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VII

Nihil Obstat, June 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor

Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York

The Catholic Encyclopedia: NewAdvent.org