The Influence of the Scots Colleges in Paris, Rome, and Spain

Abstract

Following the imposition of the Penal Laws in Scotland, colleges were established in Europe specifically for Scots Catholics. Mainly directed by Jesuits, the education provided was in compliance with the precepts laid down by the Council of Trent and conformed to the Scholasticism of Thomas Aquinas. The Jesuit curriculum, Ratio Studiorum, detailed every aspect of teaching and was renowned for its excellence and rigour. Secular priests ran the college in Paris using a similar curriculum; however, in the eighteenth century it lost some of its effectiveness due to Jansenism. Scots Benedictines used Scholastic teaching in their seminary in Regensburg before they became involved in the Enlightenment movement, making significant contributions to education and science in Germany. In the first two centuries of their existence the colleges educated over two thousand students who supported the Mission in Scotland while contributing to the intellectual life of their homeland and abroad.