John of Fécamp

Johannes von Fécamp , lat.Joannes Fiscamnensis , French Jean de Fécamp , (* late 10th century near Ravenna ; † February 22, 1078 in Fécamp ) was an Italian Benedictine and from 1028 until his death abbot of Fécamp abbey in the Normandy . He was an original theological writer whose importance was not rediscovered until the 20th century.

Life

Johannes, small in stature but highly educated in literature, medicine and music, became a pupil of Wilhelm von Dijon , an important representative of the Cluniac reform . From 990 he was abbot of St. Bénigne in Dijon , from 1001 at the same time abbot of Fécamp. In 1017 he sent John from Dijon to Fécamp and installed him there as prior . In 1028 he became Abbot of Fécamp as Wilhelm's successor.

John directed the abbey for 50 years. During this time William I pacified Normandy and conquered England in 1066 . John supported him in this. He enlarged the monastery library and traveled to Rome and England on matters relating to the abbey . During his tenure, Fécamps founded six subsidiaries. In his writings the longing for peace and spiritual contemplation can often be heard.

Fonts

Most of Johannes von Fécamp's works have long been handed down in collections of writings by other authors, including Augustine von Hippo , Alcuin , Johannes Cassianus , Anselm von Canterbury and Bernhard von Clairvaux . It was not until the 20th century that André Wilmart u. a. its independent meaning and identified its authentic works in a text-critical manner. The most important are Confessio theologica , Libellus de scripturis et verbis patrum and Confessio fidei . His meditations , ascribed to St. Augustine in the Middle Ages and early modern times , were highly valued by Catholic and Protestant theologians; The 7th chapter found its way into the German ecclesiastical people in Johann Heermann's adaptation of the Herzliebster Jesu, what have you done wrong .

literature

• Ulrich Köpf : Article by Johannes von Fécamp. In: Theological Real Encyclopedia . Volume 17, Berlin / New York 1988, pp. 132-134. ( Digitized version )
• Hugh Feiss: John of Fécamp's Longing for Heaven . In: Jan Swango Emerson and Hugh Feiss: Imagining Heaven in the Middle Ages . New York 2000, pp. 65–82 ( partially digitized )
• Tommaso di Carpegna Falconieri:  GIOVANNI di Fécamp. In: Mario Caravale (ed.): Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (DBI). Volume 56:  Giovanni di Crescenzio – Giulietti. Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, Rome 2001.

Web links

• John of Fécamp in Catholic Encyclopedia (English)