Hugh of St Victor’s Influence on the Summa Halensis

Abstract

: The influence of the 12 th century Victorines, especially that of Hugh and Richard of St Victor, on the Summa Halensis , is pervasive, both deep and wide. The Halensist quotes both authors explicitly and frequently. A catalogue of Hugh citations would reveal one kind of perspective on Hugh ’ s influence on various topics, especially on the sacraments in the unedited Book IV of the Summa. Arguably more important, though, is Hugh ’ s influence on the entire orientation and method of the early Franciscan Summa. Three aspects of this form of influence are noteworthy. First, the Halensist adopts and adapts Hugh ’ s signature distinction between the two fundamental ‘ works of God ’ , namely, creating and restoring, as a framework for organizing the content of the entire Summa. Second, the Halensist identifies the overarch-ing subject matter of theology as the Hugonian ‘ works of restoration ’ in salvation history, centered on the Incarnation. Third, the Halensist is inspired by Hugh to con-ceive of theology as a practical discipline, aimed ultimately at perfecting its praction-er affectively by orienting her in love toward divine goodness. In this, theology is a distinct form of Christian wisdom. oft-cited the Victorine Reduction the Arts Theology. ¹ There, surveying the luminaries of recent remote Christian the Seraphic Doctor special tribute Hugh. Franciscan three ’ .²