Richard of San Lorenzo

RICHARD OF SAN LORENZO. - Theologian of the 13th century, of whom almost every biographical detail is lacking.

(Inf. Enc. Cart.)

RICHARD of SAINT GERMANO - Incipit of the Chronica, autograph of the author - Montecassino, Archivio, cod. R R 507, f. 1r.

Born in Picardy, he became canon and dean of the Chapter of Rouen between 1239 and 1245. It has been held that he later became a Cistercian monk, but certain proofs are lacking.

He wrote various works: Tractatus de versiculo + Quid est tibi nance + (among the works of Richard of St. Victor: PL 196, 1073-1116; Mariale or De laudibus B. M. V. libri XII (anonymous edition at Strasbourg in 1493, with the true name at Douai 1625, then among the works of St. Albert the Great; t. XXII: Jammy 1651; t. XXXVI: Paris 1898), to which his fame is linked. The extensive work develops Marian theology according to this plan: explanation of the Ave Maria (l. I); Quomodo Maria servivit nobis in singulis membrii suis (l. II); privileges, virtues, physical and moral beauty of the Virgin (ll. III-V); celestial, terrestrial and aquatic titles and symbols of Mary (ll. VI-IX); Marian symbols drawn from human life and from the art of war and navigation (ll. X-XI); the value of the title hortus conclusus (l. XII). Apart from the fantastic elements and futile questions, the Mariale is to be regarded as a solemn testimony of the fervent love of that age for the Virgin, an ample repertory of the Marian questions in vogue in the 13th century, in which ingenious explanations are not lacking and theological insights of some value abound. R. is a convinced assertor of the Assumption of Mary.

Antonio Piolanti