Philip of Harveng

Contents

Philip of Harveng (Philip of Harvengt)[1] (died 1183) was a twelfth-century Premonstratensian and abbot of Bonne-Espérance Abbey in Hainault (present-day Belgium), and a theological writer.

Biblical commentary

His Responsio de damnatione Salomonis addressed the puzzling biblical behaviour of Solomon.[2] He invented novel schemes of history from the Book of Daniel in his Dream of Nebuchadnezzar (De somnio regis Nabuchodonosor) ,[3] varying the pattern of the four monarchies.

Augustinian theology

His life of Augustine of Hippo was celebrated and influential.[4] Drawing on Possidius, he also makes Augustine presage the regular canons.[5] Associating the phrase docere verbo et exemplo (to teach by word and example) with the clerical life, in his De institutione clericorum, he put an emphasis on preaching.[6] In the same work he argued in favour of social order.[7]

Other works

He wrote much hagiography, including a life of St. Foillan.[8] Surviving letters to Philip, Count of Flanders and Henry I, Count of Champagne argue for knightly patronage of learning.[9]

References

  1. 1.Philippe Le Harvengt.
  2. 2."heliotropia 2.1 - papio". Archived from the original on 2006-06-22. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  3. 3.Giles Constable, The Reformation of the Twelfth Century (1996), p. 164.
  4. 4.Eric Leland Saak, High Way to Heaven: The Augustinian Platform Between Reform and Reformation (2002), p. 179.
  5. 5.Saak, p. 182.
  6. 6.Caroline Walker Bynum, The Spirituality of Regular Canons in the Twelfth Century: A New Approach, Medievalia et Humanistica, New Series Nr. 4, 1973, online.
  7. 7.Giles Constable, Three Studies in Medieval Religious and Social Thought (1998), pp. 263-4.
  8. 8.Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Foillan
  9. 9.Knights at Court