THE SEVENTH CENTENARY OF THE DEATH OF BLESSED JOHN DUNS SCOTUS 1308-2008
Born at Duns in Scotland at the end of 1265 or beginning of 1266 and received as a young man into the Order of Friars Minor, John was ordained a priest on 17 March 1291 (the first certain date we have for him). After graduating at the University of Paris, he taught in the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford and at Cologne. As a faithful son of Saint Francis of Assisi, he pursued the study of Divine Revelation with the most acute insight and published many works of philosophy and theology. He proved himself a fervent herald of the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word, an untiring promoter of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a defender of the supreme authority of the Roman Pontiff. He was exiled from Paris on 23 June 1303 because of his refusal to sign his name to the libellous attack made by Philip IV the Fair, King of France, on Pope Boniface VIII. Having dedicated all his energies to his teaching office in Cologne, he died there suddenly and prematurely on 8 November 1308. Already during his lifetime the outstanding Christian virtues of this great Master of Theology had gained for him a high reputation for holiness, and within a short time after his death he was venerated in a public cult, not only in the Seraphic Order to which he belonged, but also at Cologne where he is buried and at Nola in Italy. This cult was confirmed by Pope John Paul II on 6 July 1991.
Our Province marked the seventh centenary of the death of this one of its most outstanding sons with a series of celebrations. The year was inaugurated at the Franciscan International Study Centre on Scotus Day 2007, 8th November, with a Solemn Mass followed by the annual Scotus Lecture given by Br Seamus Mulholland, OFM on the significance of Scotus for today.
On Saturday, 15th March 2008, the Ordination of Duns Scotus which we know took place in St Andrew's Priory, Northampton on 17th March 1291 was commemorated in a Solemn Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Northampton, the Rt. Rev. Peter Doyle, at 12 noon in the Cathedral Church of Our Lady and St Thomas. There were about 20 friars there in their brown habits, including the Ministers Provincial of England and Ireland, the Cathedral choir, servers, and about 60 members of the parish. Br Philippe Yates gave the homily which pointed out the characteristics of Scotus's thought still relevant today. As it happens, many of the present members of the Province were ordained by the Bishop of Northampton of the time between the years 1947 and 1973 when our House of Studies was at East Bergholt in Suffolk, a part of the Diocese of Northampton before the establishment of the Diocese of East Anglia.
On Sunday, 14th September 2008, in St. Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotus's country of birth was commemorated with a Solemn Mass celebrated by the Cardinal Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh.
On Monday, 8th December 2008, at Westminster Cathedral in London, Scotus's famous defence of the Immaculate Conception was commemorated with a Solemn Mass celebrated by the Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster together with many friars and friends of the Order and this concluded the centenary celebrations.
To read the homily preached by Br Philippe Yates, Principal of the Franciscan International Study Centre, at the inauguration of the Year of Scotus (in a Word document) click here.
To read the article The Primacy of Christ in John Duns Scotus: An Assessment written by Br Philippe Yates in FAITH Magazine (January 2008) click on the link below
http://www.faith.org.uk/Publications/Magazines/Jan08/Jan08ThePrimacyOfChristInJohnDunsScotus.html
To read the article Incarnation in Franciscan Spirituality - Duns Scotus and the meaning of love by Br Seamus Mulholland in THE FRANCISCAN (January 2001) click on the link below
http://www.franciscans.org.uk/2001jan-mulholland.html
To read the article The Metaphysics of John Duns Scotus by Seamus Mulholland in PATHWAYS (International Distance Learning School) click on the link below
http://www.philosophypathways.com/essays/mulholland3.html
Some academic events in the centenary celebrations are listed at www.franciscans.ac.uk/Centre/Events/dunsScotusEvents.html
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THE NORTHAMPTON CELEBRATION OF JOHN DUNS SCOTUS 1308 - 2008
The scene in Northampton Cathedral on 15th March 2008 as the Franciscan Province commemorated the Ordination to the Priesthood of John Duns Scotus on the 17th March 1291, part of the celebration of the Seventh Centenary of his death.
The Bishop of Northampton, Rt Rev. Peter Doyle, in front of the arch - the only remainder of the medieval Priory of St Andrew where Scotus was ordained. On the right, Br Seamus Mulholland, organiser of this event, and on the left Br George Smulski, Director of Postulants.
To see more photographs of the occasion click here
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EDINBURGH CATHEDRAL CELEBRATION OF SCOTUS CENTENARY
On Sunday, 14th September 2008, it was the turn of Scotland to celebrate one of her most famous sons on the seventh centenary of his death - the Franciscan friar John Duns Scotus who died in 1308. This celebration took place in St. Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Edinburgh. (See the bottom of this News section for a full account of all the centenary celebrations).
The principal celebrant was the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien, and the preacher was Br Michael Copps, O.F.M., the Minister Provincial of the Franciscans in Britain.
- Left to right: Fr Antony Collins OFM (Guardian Craigmillar), Msgr Mario Conti (Archbishop of Glasgow), Fr Seamus Mulholland OFM (Guardian Canterbury), Fr Michael Copps OFM (Minister Provincial), Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien (Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh), Fr William McFadden (Rector of Scotus College, Bearsden), Msgr Michael Regan (Administrator of the Cathedral), Br Christopher Kiernan OFM (missionary in South Africa), Msgr Henry Docherty (Motherwell).
- The Minister Provincial giving the homily
. Photographs by Paul McSherry
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THE CONCLUDING EVENT IN THE YEAR OF JOHN DUNS SCOTUS
- Westminster Cathedral on 8th December 2008: The friars enter in procession
- The friars in places usually occupied by the Canons of Westminster
- The Minister Provincial delivers the homily
- The presiding Bishop with the Provincial and Vicar Provincial in the Cathedral Sacristy after the Mass
The concluding event took place on Monday, 8th December 2008, in Westminster Cathedral at 5.30 p.m. We could not let pass the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the patronal title of our Province, without marking Scotus's contribution to the theology of that now solemnly defined doctrine of the Church.
The Solemn Mass was celebrated by the Rt Rev George Stack, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster (the Cardinal being absent in Rome), and our Minister Provincial, Fr Michael Copps O.F.M., gave the homily. The Cathedral Choir sang, and 25 friars in their brown habits and white stoles concelebrated the Mass.
Many friends of the friars of the Province joined the celebration in the Cathedral.
In this way was concluded the celebration of the Seventh Centenary of the death of John Duns Scotus.
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700 YEARS IN THE GRAVE AND STILL ALIVE
1308 - 8th November - 2008
- The tomb of Blessed John Duns Scotus in the church of the Conventual friars in Cologne
The 8th November 2008 marked the exact seventh centenary of the death of Blessed John Duns Soctus, one of the most outstanding and influential thinkers of medieval and indeed of all times. His subtle thought lives on today in the universally accepted formulations of Catholic doctrine. He was Franciscan through and through and may be regarded as giving theological precision to the spirituality and outlook of Saint Francis of Assisi, his master.
An Apostolic Letter was sent by Pope Benedict XVI on the 8th November 2008 to the International Congress held in Cologne marking the centenary, which you can read by clicking on the following link:
http://www.ofm.org/ofmnews/?p=2058#more-2058
On Thursday, 13th November 2008, the Annual John Duns Scotus Lecture in the Franciscan International Study Centre, Giles Lane, Canterbury, took place in an especially solemn form.
The programe comprised two main events:-
At 5.00 p.m. the Celebration of the Eucharist presided over by Br James McCurry OFM Conv, Delegate General of the Conventual friars in Britain, with Br Ed Ondrako OFM Conv preaching.
At 7 p.m. a Lecture on the subject "A Man for All Ages - John Duns Scotus 1266-1308" by Rev. Dr. Thomas Mollenbeck from Paderborn University.
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