GODEFROY OF VENDÔME. – Benedictine theologian and cardinal, born of a noble family around 1070 at Angers, where he died on 26 March 1132. After attending the episcopal school at Angers, he became a monk in the abbey of the Holy Trinity at Vendôme, where, still a deacon, he was elected abbot on 21 August 1093. Particularly devoted to the Apostolic See, he made twelve journeys to Rome (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, by whom he was rewarded with notable favours. As cardinal, he held the title of St Prisca. His learning was matched by 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, 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 *Sermons* (PL 157, 218-82) are rich in theological doctrine. Devoted to 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 nutrivit: PL 157, 39) and its infallible teaching (numquam errare consuevit: PL 157, 42). Alongside the Church’s motherhood, he extolled 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.