Maurilius of Rouen (Mauritius Rothomagensis)

MAURILIO di ROUEN (Mauritius Rothomagensis). - Benedictine archbishop and theologian, b. in the territory of Reims at the beginning of the 11th century, d. at Rouen c. 1067. A monk of Fécamp (Normandy), thirsting for solitude he went to Italy, where he lived as a hermit; having become abbot of S. Maria di Firenze (La Badia), he relinquished the office because of the monks’ opposition to his reforms.

Having returned to Fécamp, in 1055 he was elected archbishop of Rouen. At its provincial Council (1063) he promulgated a clear profession of Eucharistic faith, Berengario di Tours (v.), using expressions that anticipate the classical formulations of transubstantiation: «Ineffabili potentia Divinitatis... converti substantiam panis in substantiam carnis» (PL 143, 1383). He also wrote a hitherto unpublished Liber de officiis ecclesiasticis (Oxford, Bibl. Bodl., Lat. 843, ff. 126-41), which echoes the liturgical treatise of the Amalario di Metz (v.).

BIBL.: anon., Vita b. Maurilii: PL 143, 1375-88; Hurter, I. coll. 996-97; L. Biginelli, I Benedettini e gli studi eucaristici nel medioevo, Turin 1895, p. 21 (inaccurate); F. Béguinot, La Très Ste Eucharistie, II, Paris 1902, pp. 313-15; R. Delamare, Le «De officiis ecclesiasticis» di Jean D'Avrances. Etude liturgique, ibid. 1923, pp. 48-49. Antonio Piolanti
Cite this article

“MAURILIO DI ROUEN (MAURITIUS ROTHOMAGENSIS).” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. VIII (1952), p. 311. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/maurilio-di-rouen-mauritius-rothomagensis.