Reginald of Bologna
Encyclopedia
Reginald of Bologna (died 1256) was the Archbishop of Armagh
and Primate of Ireland
from 1247 until his death. He was highly praised by Humbert de Romans
, Bernard Gui
, Antonio Pierozzi, Leander Alberti, and Thomas Malvenda in his Annals.
Reginald was an early follower of Dominic of Osma and entered the Dominican Order
at San Nicolò delle Vigne in Bologna
, where he was thereafter lived in a Dominican confraternity. The name by which he is commonly known may indicate either that he was born in Bologna or merely reflects his conversion and occupation there. His teaching at the University of Bologna
influenced Ramon de Penyafort to convert to mendicancy in 1222. In 1221 he was one of twelve or thirteen friars sent to England
by Dominic in one his last acts. Their work was to be not only missional
but also foundational: they were commissioned to found Dominican houses in the British Isles, under the superiority
of Gilbert of Fresnay. Reginald held no official post in the Isles, rather he travelled them widely, covering most of England and setting foot in Ireland
.
Reginald spent a few years in Britain before returning to Italy, where he entered the service of Pope Gregory IX
as a penitentiary
in Rome
. It was he who received the news in Europe of the death of the Dominican master-general, Jordan of Saxony, off the coast of Palestine
and brought it, with another Dominican papal penitentiary, Godfrey, to Paris
and probably elsewhere in 1237.
In 1247 Pope Innocent IV
appointed Reginald Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland, perhaps on account of his knowledge of the English language
, but also as a check on the power of Henry III of England
over the Irish church. Two other Dominicans, David McKelly, Archbishop of Cashel
, and Alan O'Sullivan, Bishop of Cloyne
, already held posts in Ireland and may have influenced Innocent's choice of Reginald to replace the abdicating Albert Suerbeer
. Reginald could speak no Irish
.
In 1252 Reginald paid his ad limina
to Innocent IV, but was detained in Rome for a long period of time litigating on behalf of his diocese, which cases he eventually won. He never returned to Ireland. He died in Italy late in 1256, probably at either Rome or Anagni
. He may have been ill for some time.
Archbishop of Armagh
The Archbishop of Armagh is the title of the presiding ecclesiastical figure of each of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland in the region around Armagh in Northern Ireland...
and Primate of Ireland
Primate of Ireland
The Primacy of Ireland was historically disputed between the Archbishop of Armagh and the Archbishop of Dublin until finally settled by Pope Innocent VI. Primate is a title of honour denoting ceremonial precedence in the Church, and in the Middle Ages there was an intense rivalry between the two...
from 1247 until his death. He was highly praised by Humbert de Romans
Humbert de Romans
Humbert of Romans was the fifth Master general of the Dominican Order from 1254 to 1263.-Early career:...
, Bernard Gui
Bernard Gui
Bernard Gui , also known as Bernardo Gui or Bernardus Guidonis, was an inquisitor of the Dominican Order in the Late Middle Ages during the Medieval Inquisition, Bishop of Lodève, and one of the most prolific writers of the Middle Ages...
, Antonio Pierozzi, Leander Alberti, and Thomas Malvenda in his Annals.
Reginald was an early follower of Dominic of Osma and entered the Dominican Order
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...
at San Nicolò delle Vigne in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, where he was thereafter lived in a Dominican confraternity. The name by which he is commonly known may indicate either that he was born in Bologna or merely reflects his conversion and occupation there. His teaching at the University of Bologna
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
influenced Ramon de Penyafort to convert to mendicancy in 1222. In 1221 he was one of twelve or thirteen friars sent to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by Dominic in one his last acts. Their work was to be not only missional
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
but also foundational: they were commissioned to found Dominican houses in the British Isles, under the superiority
Provincial superior
A Provincial Superior is a major superior of a religious order acting under the order's Superior General and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical...
of Gilbert of Fresnay. Reginald held no official post in the Isles, rather he travelled them widely, covering most of England and setting foot in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Reginald spent a few years in Britain before returning to Italy, where he entered the service of Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was...
as a penitentiary
Apostolic Penitentiary
The Apostolic Penitentiary, formerly called the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, is one of the three tribunals of the Roman Curia. The Apostolic Penitentiary is chiefly a tribunal of mercy, responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sins in the Catholic Church.The...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. It was he who received the news in Europe of the death of the Dominican master-general, Jordan of Saxony, off the coast of Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and brought it, with another Dominican papal penitentiary, Godfrey, to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and probably elsewhere in 1237.
In 1247 Pope Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV , born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was pope from June 25, 1243 until his death in 1254.-Early life:...
appointed Reginald Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland, perhaps on account of his knowledge of the English language
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
, but also as a check on the power of Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
over the Irish church. Two other Dominicans, David McKelly, Archbishop of Cashel
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in mid-western Ireland. The diocese is in the secular province of Munster. The Diocese of Cashel was established in 1111 by the Synod of Rathbreasail and promoted to the status of a Metropolitan Province in 1152 by the...
, and Alan O'Sullivan, Bishop of Cloyne
Bishop of Cloyne
The Bishop of Cloyne is an episcopal title which takes its name after the small town of Cloyne in County Cork, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it is a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics....
, already held posts in Ireland and may have influenced Innocent's choice of Reginald to replace the abdicating Albert Suerbeer
Albert Suerbeer
Albert Suerbeer was the first Archbishop of Riga in Livonia.Suerbeer was an aggressive supporter of papal power and tried to take over the whole eastern Baltic area for the Holy See. His efforts failed, however, and he was forced to submit to the Livonian branch of the Teutonic Knights.- Biography...
. Reginald could speak no Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
.
In 1252 Reginald paid his ad limina
Quinquennial Visit Ad Limina
In the Roman Catholic Church, a quinquennial visit ad limina or more properly, quinquennial visit ad limina apostolorum or simply an ad limina visit means the obligation of residential diocesan bishops and certain prelates with territorial jurisdiction , of visiting the thresholds of the [tombs of...
to Innocent IV, but was detained in Rome for a long period of time litigating on behalf of his diocese, which cases he eventually won. He never returned to Ireland. He died in Italy late in 1256, probably at either Rome or Anagni
Anagni
Anagni is an ancient town and comune in Latium, central Italy, in the hills east-southeast of Rome. It is a historical center in Ciociaria.-Geography:...
. He may have been ill for some time.