Guibert of Nogent

GUIBERTO di NOGENT. — Theologian and Benedictine abbot, born in 1053 near Beauvais, died at Nogent in 1124. A monk at St-Germain of Flay (hence called Flaviacense), he had frequent contact with St. Anselmo, then prior of Bec, whose disciple he considered himself. Elected abbot in 1104 of S. Maria of Nogent-sous-Coucy (diocese of Laon), he remained there until his death, devoted to study and preaching.

His numerous works were edited and annotated by L. D’Achery (Paris 1651), and reproduced by Migne (PL 156): Quo ordine sermo fieri debeat (ibid., cols. 21–32); Moralium in Gen. II. 10 (ibid., cols. 32–340); Tropologiae in prophetas Osee et Amos ac lamentationes Ieremiae (ibid., cols. 341–488); De Incarnatione contra Iudaeos (ibid., cols. 489–528); De buccella Iudae data et de veritate dominici corporis (ibid., cols. 529–37); De laude S. Mariae (ibid., cols. 538–78); De virginitate (ibid., cols. 579–607); De pignoribus sanctorum (ibid., cols. 608–670); Gesta Dei per Francos sive historiae hierosolomitanae (ibid., cols. 680–837); De vita sua (ibid., cols. 838–962). A true intellectual, among the most distinguished of his time, in his various treatments he displays versatility of talent and assured knowledge; particularly interesting are his Christological, Eucharistic, and Mariological doctrine. For the history of the First Crusade, the Gesta Dei per Francesi is invaluable; the De vita sua is an autobiography (the most original of the Middle Ages), rich in details also concerning his contemporaries (St. Anselmo, Anselmo di Laon).

BIBL.: Vitae synopsis: PL 156, 17–18; B. Monod. Le moine Guibert et son temps, Paris 1905 (translation of the autobiography); G. Bourgin, Guibert de Nogent, ibid. 1907; I. Geiselmann, Die Stellung des Guibert von Nogent in der Eucharistielehre der Fräscholastik, in Theologische Quartalschrift, 110 (1929), pp. 66–84; 279–305; J. De Ghellinck, Eucharistie, in DThC, V, II, cols. 1244–45; id., L'essor de la littérature latine au XIIe siècle, II, Brussels-Paris 1946, pp. 117–18 and passim; id., Le mouvement théologique au XIIe siècle, 2nd ed., Bruges 1948, pp. 230–31; B. Smalley, William of Middleton and Guibert of Nogent, in Recherches de théologie ancienne et médiévale, 16 (1949), pp. 281–91; A. Piolanti, Mater unitatis: de spirituali Virginis materialitate sec. nonnullos saec. XII scriptores, in Marianum, 11 (1949), p. 428. Antonio Piolanti
Cite this article

“GUIBERTO DI NOGENT.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. VI (1951), p. 759. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/guiberto-di-nogent.