Henry of Gorkum (c. 1378 – February 19, 1431) was a Dutch

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

known for his commentaries on

St. Thomas Aquinas Thomas Aquinas, OP (; it, Tommaso d'Aquino, lit=Thomas of Aquino; 1225 – 7 March 1274) was an Italian Dominican friar and priest who was an influential philosopher, theologian and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism; he is known ...

and his defense of

Thomism Thomism is the philosophical and theological school that arose as a legacy of the work and thought of Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274), the Dominican philosopher, theologian, and Doctor of the Church. In philosophy, Aquinas' disputed questions a ...

.Janz, Denis (1983). ''Luther and late medieval Thomism: a study in theological anthropology.'' Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press,

Life and career

Henry was born in Gorkum in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. He was a colleague of John Capreolus at the

University of Paris , image_name = Coat of arms of the University of Paris.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of Arms , latin_name = Universitas magistrorum et scholarium Parisiensis , motto = ''Hic et ubique terrarum'' (Latin) , mottoeng = Here and a ...

, holding positions there between about 1395 and 1419. He taught philosophy at

University of Cologne The University of Cologne (german: Universität zu Köln) is a university in Cologne, Germany. It was established in the year 1388 and is one of the most prestigious and research intensive universities in Germany. It was the sixth university to ...

, and from 1420 he was director of a self-funded

bursar A bursar (derived from "bursa", Latin for '' purse'') is a professional administrator in a school or university often with a predominantly financial role. In the United States, bursars usually hold office only at the level of higher education (f ...

there. He became University of Cologne Vice-Chancellor in 1424.Weiler, Antonius Gerardus (1962). ''Seine Stellung in der Philosophie und der Theologie des Spätmittelalters.'' Hilversum:

Katholieke Universiteit te Nijmegen Radboud University (abbreviated as RU, nl, Radboud Universiteit , formerly ''Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen'') is a public research university located in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The university bears the name of Saint Radboud, a 9th century D ...

Later he was appointed a canon of the

Basilica of St. Ursula The Basilica church of St. Ursula (, ) is located in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is built upon the ancient ruins of a Roman cemetery, where the 11,000 virgins associated with the legend of Saint Ursula are said to have been burie ...

. He was a defender of Thomism in the dispute between the followers of St.

Albert Magnus Albertus Magnus (c. 1200 – 15 November 1280), also known as Saint Albert the Great or Albert of Cologne, was a German Dominican friar, philosopher, scientist, and bishop. Later canonised as a Catholic saint, he was known during his life ...

and those of St. Thomas Aquinas at the university.Schoot, Henk J.M. (2001). Language and Christology: The Case of Henry of Gorcum (†1431), Thomist. '' Recherches de Théologie et Philosophie Médiévales'' 68:1, pp.142-162.

References

1370s births 1431 deaths Year of birth uncertain Burgundian Netherlands Roman Catholic clergy People from Gorinchem Thomists University of Cologne faculty 15th-century Dutch philosophers {{Netherlands-academic-bio-stub