Festum Scoti

Happy feast everyone! I am too busy to post anything, but feel free to post celebratory comments in the combox!

Feast of Scotus 2018

Happy Feast, everyone! Generally busy these days, so nothing original today.

Here are some remarks on Scotus by the Franciscan Minister General.

And here I give you the famous poem by Hopkins for your delectation. Source.

Duns Scotus's Oxford

BY GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS

Towery city and branchy between towers; 

Cuckoo-echoing, bell-swarmèd, lark charmèd, rook racked, river-rounded; 

The dapple-eared lily below thee; that country and town did 

Once encounter in, here coped & poisèd powers; 

Thou hast a base and brickish skirt there, sours 

That neighbour-nature thy grey beauty is grounded 

Best in; graceless growth, thou hast confounded 

Rural, rural keeping — folk, flocks, and flowers.

Yet ah! this air I gather and I release 
He lived on; these weeds and waters, these walls are what 
He haunted who of all men most sways my spirits to peace; 

Of realty the rarest-veinèd unraveller; a not 
Rivalled insight, be rival Italy or Greece; 
Who fired France for Mary without spot. 

Feast of Scotus, 2017

Happy Feast, dear reader(s)!

For your delectation today I post a poem from a manuscript of the Ordinatio. Naturally, there are variants with the text as found in other manuscripts, but here is the one from Cesena (printed in Vat. ed. I, p. 50*).

Scotia plange, quia periit tua gloria rara,
Funde precem, confunde necem, tibi cum sit amara.
Quam fera, quam nequam sit mors, tribuens tibi legem
Cum reliquis aequam, rapiens ex ordine regem.
Caelum, terra, mare nequeunt similem reparare.
Si quaeras, quare, - probat haec editio clare.
Troia luit florem de viribus Hectora fisum,
Sic luo Doctorem iuvenili flore recisum.
Ergo, legens, plora, quia non huic subfuit hora,
Sed ruit absque mora: pro quo, lector, precor, ora.

Happy Feast of Scotus!

Enjoy the day. Here's a link to some interesting reflections, including a paper on Scotus and reductive physicalism.

Festum Scoti

It's  November 8 again, the optional memorial of the subtle Scot. Once again, here's the collect:

Domine Deus, fons omnis sapientiae, qui Beatum Ioannem presbyterum, Immaculatae Virginis assertorem, nobis magistrum vitae et scientiae dedisti, concede, quaesumus, ut, eius exemplo illuminati, et doctrinis nutria, Christo fideliter adhaereamus. Qui tecum vivit.

Reflections on "Four Things you Need to Know About John Duns Scotus" can be found here. Benedict XVI's general audience here.

Festum Ioannis Duns Scoti

Domine Deus, fons omnis sapientiae, qui Beatum Ioannem presbyterum, Immaculatae Virginis assertorem, nobis magistrum vitae et scientiae dedisti, concede, quaesumus, ut, eius exemplo illuminati, et doctrinis nutria, Christo fideliter adhaereamus. Qui tecum vivit. 

Festum Scoti

Nov. 8 has come again. Time to celebrate the feast/optional memorial of John Duns Scotus.

Here's the collect and poem from last year:

The collect:

Domine Deus, fons omnis sapientiae, qui Beatum Ioannempresbyterum, Immaculatae Virginis assertorem,nobis magistrum vitae et scientiae dedisti, concede, quaesumus,ut, eius exemplo illuminati, et doctrinis nutria,Christo fideliter adhaereamus. Qui tecum vivit. 

And a poem, De morte Duns Scoti [From Ioannis Duns Scoti Opera Omni I, 50*] 

Scotia plange, quia periit tua gloria rara,

Funde precem, confunde necem, tibi cum sit amara.

Quam fera, quam nequam sit mors, tribuens tibi legem

Cum reliquis aequam, rapiens ex ordine retgem.

Caelum, terra, mare nequeunt similem reparare.

Si quaeras, quare, - probat haec editio clare.

Troia luit florem de viribus Hectora fisum,

Sic luo Doctorem iuvenili flore recisum.

Ergo, legens, plora, quia non uic subfuit hora,

Sed ruit absque mora: pro quo, lector, precor, ora.

Gaudeamus!

If one takes a look at the Scotus commission's website (they appear to have renamed themselves the 'Officina Scotista'), one will see an announcement for the festivities surrounding this year's celebration of Scotus' feast day November 8. One of the lectures is about the completion of the Ordinatio. There is only one volume left to go, and it seems they have finished it and will be unveiling it at the celebration. So lets raise a glass and salute the completion of their long labors. The first volume came out in 1950, based on work they had begun around 1938. So they've been at it a long time and deserve some props. I now expect Ave Maria university in Florida to establish a center of Scotistic renewal for the Church (which will of course require hiring 15 Scotists) and no doubt we will soon hear an announcement from Wyoming Catholic College that they are also setting up a center of Scotistic studies to aid in the production of the first English translation of the Ordinatio (with face-to-face Latin). Here's me starting to hold my breath...

Happy Scotus Day

Today is the 702nd anniversary of his death. I'll be raising a glass tonight and I hope you do as well.

The collect:

Domine Deus, fons omnis sapientiae, qui Beatum Ioannempresbyterum, Immaculatae Virginis assertorem,nobis magistrum vitae et scientiae dedisti, concede, quaesumus,ut, eius exemplo illuminati, et doctrinis nutria,Christo fideliter adhaereamus. Qui tecum vivit.

And a poem, De morte Duns Scoti [From Ioannis Duns Scoti Opera Omni I, 50*]

Scotia plange, quia periit tua gloria rara,
Funde precem, confunde necem, tibi cum sit amara.
Quam fera, quam nequam sit mors, tribuens tibi legem
Cum reliquis aequam, rapiens ex ordine retgem.
Caelum, terra, mare nequeunt similem reparare.
Si quaeras, quare, - probat haec editio clare.
Troia luit florem de viribus Hectora fisum,
Sic luo Doctorem iuvenili flore recisum.
Ergo, legens, plora, quia non uic subfuit hora,
Sed ruit absque mora: pro quo, lector, precor, ora.

Benedictio nuptiarum

Our worthy and esteemed Faber was married two days ago and consequently may not post for some time as he adjusts to his new duties. I offer both Mr and the new Mrs Faber my heartiest congratulations. At the end of my Best Man speech I offered a toast in English which I here present in its original form:

Benedictio nuptiarum

Utinam uxoris scientia et sollertia arte Latine
id mariti praestet semper--

Utinam ea usque irrideat ei,
et semper poenitet--

Et ergo impensam librorum suorum
semper ignoscat.

Happy Feast of Duns Scotus!

O Doctor Subtilissime, Ioannes, qui Deiparae Custos fidus fuisti; quamque Adam non foedaverat, Immaculatam clarius tu primus perpexisti; nostri tuam da mentibus doctrinam datam coelitus ad Matris laudem Christi.
v. Protege nos, Virgo praeservata ab omni macula.
R. Ut liberati a peccatis omnibus, per te perveniamus ad Praeservatorem tuum.

Oremus:

Deus, qui per Immaculatam Virginis conceptionem dignum Filio tuo habitaculum praeparasti: et qui per hoc lucis mysterium Seraphicam S. Francisci Religionem illustrare, atque in ea gloriosum Doctorem Subtilem Ioannem Scotum mirificare dignatus es: praesta quaesumus; ut qui ex morte Filii Mariae praevisa, eam ab omni labe praeservasti, nos quoque mundos eius intercessione ad te pervenire concedas. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

This makes 701 years since his passing.

700 Years!

Happy optional memorial, everyone! Today is the 700th anniversary of his death in Cologne. Here's to another 700 years. May he soon be canonized and take his rightful place as Doctor Ecclesiae. Here is a prayer to that effect:


O Doctor Subtilissime, Ioannes, qui Deiparae Custos fidus fuisti; quamque Adam non foedaverat, Immaculatam clarius tu primus perpexisti; nostri tuam da mentibus doctrinam datam coelitus ad Matris laudem Christi.

v. Protege nos, Virgo praeservata ab omni macula.
R. Ut liberati a peccatis omnibus, per te perveniamus ad Praeservatorem tuum.

Oremus:

Deus, qui per Immaculatam Virginis conceptionem dignum Filio tuo habitaculum praeparasti: et qui per hoc lucis mysterium Seraphicam S. Francisci Religionem illustrare, atque in ea gloriosum Doctorem Subtilem Ioannem Scotum mirificare dignatus es: praesta quaesumus; ut qui ex morte Filii Mariae praevisa, eam ab omni labe praeservasti, nos quoque mundos eius intercessione ad te pervenire concedas. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.



And the collect for today from the Liturgia Horarum, proprium Coloniense:


Domine Deus, fons omnis sapientiae, qui Beatum Ioannem
presbyterum, Immaculatae Virginis assertorem,
nobis magistrum vitae et scientiae dedisti, concede, quaesumus,
ut, eius exemplo illuminati, et doctrinis nutria,
Christo fideliter adhaereamus. Qui tecum vivit.

In the Octave of the Assumption

This day the Ark of the living God, even the holy and living Ark, wherin once its own Maker had been held, is borne to its resting place in that Temple of the Lord which is not made with hands. Her ancestor David leapeth before it. And in company with him the Angels dance, the Archangels sing aloud, the Virtues ascribe glory, the Principalities shout for joy, the Powers make merry, the Dominions rejoice, the Thrones keep holiday, the Cherubim utter praise, and the Seraphim proclaim its glory. This day the Eden of the new Adam receiveth her who was the living garden of delight, wherein the condemnation was annulled, wherein the Tree of Life was planted, wherein our naked was covered. This day the spotless Virgin, who had been defiled by no earthly lust, but rather was enobled by heavenly desires, died only to live without returning to dust. For being herself a living heaven, she took her place today among the heavenly mansions. From her the true Life had flowed for all men, and how should she taste death? But she yielded obedience to the law established by him to whom she had given birth, and, as the daughter of the old Adam, underwent the old sentence, which even her Son, who is the very Life itself, had not refused. But, as the Mother of the living God, she was worthily taken by him unto himself.

--St John Damascene, Orat. 2 de Dormitione B.V.M.

Festum: Continuatio

Quotidiana B. I. Scoti Commemoratio

O Doctor Subtilissime, Ioannes, qui Deiparae Custos fidus fuisti; quamque Adam non foedaverat, Immaculatam clarius tu primus perpexisti; nostri tuam da mentibus doctrinam datam coelitus ad Matris laudem Christi.
v. Protege nos, Virgo praeservata ab omni macula.
R. Ut liberati a peccatis omnibus, per te perveniamus ad Praeservatorem tuum.

Oremus:

Deus, qui per Immaculatam Virginis conceptionem dignum Filio tuo habitaculum praeparasti: et qui per hoc lucis mysterium Seraphicam S. Francisci Religionem illustrare, atque in ea gloriosum Doctorem Subtilem Ioannem Scotum mirificare dignatus es: praesta quaesumus; ut qui ex morte Filii Mariae praevisa, eam ab omni labe praeservasti, nos quoque mundos eius intercessione ad te pervenire concedas. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Festum beati Ioannis Duns Scoti

Today's the day, folks, the anniversary of the death of the subtle doctor. He died on November 8, 1308 in Cologne, where his body still lies in the Minorite church. Sadly, despite the copious entries in Schafer's Bibliographia of prayers, songs, etc. composed in honor of Duns Scotus, I cannot post any as they are all from nineteenth and early twentieth-century journals that Notre Dame does not carry. So in honor of the feast (well, it's more of an optional memorial) I am reposting the previous post of prayers for his canonization.

O Most Holy Trinity, Who exalts the humble and confuses the proud,

You Who grant gifts of wisdom and charisms of holiness

To the simple ones of heart, Graciously sanctified your servant,

Blessed John Duns Scotus,

By His Holiness John Paul II on March 20, 1993,

"Doctor Subtilis" of the Order of Friars Minor.

For through him you first realized the Immaculate Mother of God;

Openly defending her exemption from Original Sin.

He modeled his life on that of Jesus Christ, Intensely loving Him and bravely serving Him

Through the apostolate of science; Illuminating, with humility and simplicity,

To all people the mysteries of the Faith, And showing heroic fidelity

To the Church and the Pope. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Prayer for the canonization of Blessed John Duns Scotus:)

Glory be to the Father, etc. (3 times)

Most Blessed Trinity, glorify Your Servant Blessed John Duns Scotus, The defender of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We beg you, hear us!