UGO D'AMIENS (Hugo Ambianensis or Rothomagensis). — Benedictine theologian and archbishop, born ca. 1085, probably in the diocese of Amiens, died at Rouen on 11 November 1164.
A monk of Cluny, he subsequently became prior of S. Marziale (Limoges), abbot of S. Pancrazio (Chichester), and then of Reading; in 1129, archbishop of Rouen. Following the counsel of St. Bernard (« esto patiens, quia ex cum malis ») and Peter the Venerable, he governed with great prudence, succeeding in reconciling the freedom of the Church with the friendship of Henry I of England, who died (1135) under his spiritual care, after obtaining absolution. He fought tirelessly against the Henrician and Petrobrusian heresies. He introduced the feast of the Immaculate Conception at Reading and Rouen.
He wrote various works in a clear style, free from scholastic formalism: besides a substantial collection of letters (PL 192, 1131-38; 179, 670; 186, 1399-1450); the Vita s. Adiutoris (PL 192, 1345-53); the Tractatus in Hexameron (of which only a small portion survives, ibid. 1247-56); the De memoria (ibid. 1299-1324, predominantly theological); a brief commentary on the Creed and the Pater noster (ibid. 1324-46); Dialogorum libri septem (ibid. 1137-1248), in which he develops the whole of theology with some original insights; Contra haereticos libri tres (ibid. 1255-98), in which he addresses the charismatic aspect of ecclesiology with originality.