HUGO OF BALMA (Balmey) or of Dorche. - Carthusian, monk and then prior of Meyriat, at the end of the 13th century.

He wrote a treatise of Theologia mystica, also called De Triplici via ad sapientiam, falsely attributed to St. Bonaventure, translated into Italian as early as the 14th century, and into other languages. Without doubt U. of B. is one of the first ascetic writers to describe the interior life according to the three progressive ways: purgative, illuminative and unitive, which later became traditional. He also treats of the "aspirations," that is, ejaculatory prayers (v.), which he often calls anagogici motus. At the end of the treatise he poses the question whether a purely affective prayer is possible, without any act of the intellect; and he answers affirmatively.

Bibliography2 works

BIBL.: S. Autore, Hugues de B., in DThC, VII (1927), coll. 215-20 (with indication of sources and bibliography); P. Dubourg, La date de la «Theologia mystica», in Rev. d'asc. et de myst., 8 (1927), pp. 156-71.

Anselmo Giabbani

@incollection{ec12_ugo_di_balma_balmey_o_di_dorch, author = {Giabbani, Anselmo}, title = {Ugo di Balma (Balmey) O di Dorche}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {XII}, pages = {705}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1954}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/ugo-di-balma-balmey-o-di-dorche} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

Hugo of Balma (Balmey) or of Dorche

About this entry