GOFFREDO di VENDÔME. – Benedictine theologian and cardinal, born to a noble family around 1070 at Angers, where he died on 26 March 1132. After attending the episcopal school of Angers, he became a monk in the abbey of the Most Holy Trinity at Vendôme, where, while still a deacon, he was elected abbot on 21 August 1093. Particularly devoted to the Apostolic See, he journeyed to Rome twelve times (ter quater transalpinavi: PL 157, 55), defended Urban II against the antipope Guibert, attended many councils, and hosted Urban II and Paschal II at Vendôme, receiving in return notable favors from them. As cardinal, he held the title of St. Prisca. His doctrine matched the intrepid courage with which he fought for the freedom of the Church.
His correspondence is extensive and important: it includes letters to Urban II, Paschal II, Ivo of Chartres, and Hildebert of Le Mans (PL 157, 34-212). His treatises are brief and concise: De Corpore et Sanguine Domini; De ordinatione episcoporum; De simonia; De arca foederis, and others (PL 157, 212-37). His eleven Sermones are rich in theological doctrine (PL 157, 218-82). In love with Rome, he spoke of it with profound veneration, affirming its universal motherhood (mater omnium Ecclesiarum Romana Ecclesia nos proprios et speciales filios habuit atque lacte suae dilectionis nutriti: PL 157, 39) and its infallible teaching (sumquum errare consuerit: PL 157, 42). Alongside the motherhood of the Church, he exalted that of Mary (vere bona Maria peperit Christum et in Christo peperit christianos. Est itaque mater Christi, mater Christianorum: PL 157, 266). His Eucharistic doctrine is clear and assured.