John of Montson
Encyclopedia
John of Montson (born at Monzón
, Spain; date of birth c.1340, death after 1412) was an Aragonese
Dominican
theologian and controversialist. His refusal to give up his beliefs regarding the Immaculate Conception
resulted in his condemnation and
clandestine exile to Spain
.
Here he entered the field of controversy on the question of the Immaculate Conception
, which was not then defined. Maintaining the proposition that the Blessed Virgin was conceived without sin was heretical, he aroused against him the faculty of the University of Paris
. They condemned fourteen propositions from his lectures, warned him, first privately, then publicly, to retract, and when he refused carried the matter to Pierre Orgement, Bishop of Paris, who promulgated a decree of excommunication
against all who should defend the forbidden theses. The faculty issued letters condemnatory of Montson's errors and conduct, which Denifle conjectures, from their acerbity of speech, were written by Pierre d'Ailly
. Denifle also says Montson would not have been condemned had he not declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception heretical.
, who cited him and the university faculty to Avignon
. Later, foreseeing that the case was going against him, Montson, despite the command under pain of excommunication to remain at Avignon, secretly withdrew into Aragon, then went to Sicily
, changing his allegiance to Pope Urban VI
, Clement's rival. There and in Spain, whither he afterwards returned, he filled several important positions. In 1412 Alfonso, Duke of Gandia
, chose him as head of a legation sent to defend his claim to the crown of Aragon.
Monzón
Monzón is a small town in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It has a population of 17,050. It is located in the northeast and adjoins the rivers Cinca and Sosa.-Historical overview:...
, Spain; date of birth c.1340, death after 1412) was an Aragonese
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
theologian and controversialist. His refusal to give up his beliefs regarding the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
resulted in his condemnation and
clandestine exile to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Condemnation of his opinions
He joined the Dominicans probably in Valencia. In 1383 he was lecturing on theology at Valencia Cathedral. Thence he went to Paris, taught in the convent of St. James there, and obtained the mastership of theology in 1387.Here he entered the field of controversy on the question of the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
, which was not then defined. Maintaining the proposition that the Blessed Virgin was conceived without sin was heretical, he aroused against him the faculty of the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. They condemned fourteen propositions from his lectures, warned him, first privately, then publicly, to retract, and when he refused carried the matter to Pierre Orgement, Bishop of Paris, who promulgated a decree of excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
against all who should defend the forbidden theses. The faculty issued letters condemnatory of Montson's errors and conduct, which Denifle conjectures, from their acerbity of speech, were written by Pierre d'Ailly
Pierre d'Ailly
Pierre d'Ailly was a French theologian, astrologer, and cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church....
. Denifle also says Montson would not have been condemned had he not declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception heretical.
Appeal and flight
Montesono appealed to Pope Clement VIIIPope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII , born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was Pope from 30 January 1592 to 3 March 1605.-Cardinal:...
, who cited him and the university faculty to Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
. Later, foreseeing that the case was going against him, Montson, despite the command under pain of excommunication to remain at Avignon, secretly withdrew into Aragon, then went to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, changing his allegiance to Pope Urban VI
Pope Urban VI
Pope Urban VI , born Bartolomeo Prignano, was Pope from 1378 to 1389.-Biography:Born in Itri, he was a devout monk and learned casuist, trained at Avignon. On March 21, 1364, he was consecrated Archbishop of Acerenza in the Kingdom of Naples...
, Clement's rival. There and in Spain, whither he afterwards returned, he filled several important positions. In 1412 Alfonso, Duke of Gandia
Duke of Gandia
The hereditary Spanish title duke of Gandía was created in 1485 by Ferdinand II of Aragon from the original Italian title "duke of Candia" belonging to the Italian Stato di Mare or Italian Kingdoms of the Mediterranean Sea; originally granted around 1206 to a Genoan marquis member of the House of...
, chose him as head of a legation sent to defend his claim to the crown of Aragon.