Richard FitzRalph

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Archbishop FitzRalph writing at his scriptorium. Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. MS 180, fol. 1r. By permission of the Master and Fellows of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

Richard FitzRalph (also Fitz Ralph; c. 1300 – 16 December 1360) was a

Archbishop of Armagh during the 14th century. His thought exerted a significant influence on John Wycliffe's.[1]

Life

FitzRalph was born into a well-off

Vice-Chancellor of the university; this was an almost unparalleled achievement for someone still in his early thirties, let alone an Irishman (although Prince, in his "Worthies of Devon" makes the case for him being a Devonian).[3]

As Vice-Chancellor, FitzRalph was faced with the crisis caused by the famous secession of masters and students to found a

Archbishop of Armagh
. In both of these positions, he was revered as a thoughtful and competent administrator.

From 1344, FitzRalph began to keep an account in diary form of his sermons. The shorter, less consequential ones were summarised, while the longer, more learned theological sermons were written in full. This was especially true for those he preached at Avignon. Both forms were written in

Franciscan friars. He also clashed with the Archbishop of Dublin, John de St Paul, as they continued the century-old controversy over which of them had the right to claim the Primacy of Ireland
.

The texts demonstrate that FitzRalph was pre-occupied with social problems in Ireland – twenty-nine sermons were given in

Anglo-Irish, or Gaelic
.

He undertook a third visit to Avignon from 1349 to 1351, where he is believed to have participated in the negotiations between the

mendicant friars. He wished to have their privileges withdrawn in regard to the act of confession, preaching, and other acts as they were undermining his secular clergy. As a result, he undertook a fourth visit to Avignon in 1357 to discuss the matter with Pope Innocent VI. He died there on 16 December 1360. In 1370, his remains were interred at St Nicholas's Church, Dundalk
, where his memory was venerated for several centuries and miracles were reported in connection to him.

It is possible that FitzRalph was Chancellor of Oxford University in 1360.[4]

Writings

  • Lectura on the Sentences
  • Summa de Quaestionibus Armenorum
  • Commentary on the Physics (lost)

References

  1. ISBN 9781139055390
    .
  2. ^ "The Sorcery Trial of Alice kyteler by Bernadette Williams". 24 January 2013.
  3. Prince, John (1810). Danmonii orientales illustres or The Worthies of Devon
    (new ed.). Rees and Curtis. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  4. ISBN 0-333-39917-X
    .

Sources

External links

Academic offices
Preceded by
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford

1333–1336 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Chancellor of the University of Oxford

1360 		Succeeded by
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Armagh
1346–1360 		Succeeded by
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