"The Sentences" of Peter Lombard

Peter Lombard or Petrus Lombardus; (c. 1100 — July 20, 1160 in Paris)

Initial C of the prologue with Peter Lombard writing

From Sententiae (The Sentences)

Manuscript 1158

Troyes - BM - ms. 0900 , f.001

Médiathèque de l'Agglomération Troyenne, Troyes

Peter Lombard or Petrus Lombardus; (c. 1100 — July 20, 1160 in Paris)

Initial Q of the prologue of Book 2 with God blessing Adam and Eve

From Sententiae (The Sentences)

Manuscript 1158

Troyes - BM - ms. 0900 ,

Médiathèque de l'Agglomération Troyenne, Troyes

Peter Lombard or Petrus Lombardus (c. 1100 — July 20, 1160 in Paris) was a scholastic theologian and bishop.

He was the author of Four Books of Sentences, which became the standard textbook of theology, for which he is also known as Magister Sententiarum

Lombard's text was the book in use at all schools of theology until the 16th century.

From 1140 he taught at the prestigious school of Notre-Dame in Paris.

The manuscript of the Sentences above is especially interesting

It was produced in 1158 while Lombard was still alive. It was produced at the school of Notre Dame in Paris where Peter Lombard taught and in the city of which Peter Lombard became Bishop.

It is therefore a text of some authority. The glosses and notes made are of great interest and importance.

How accurate is the portrait of Peter Lombard ? No one can really say unfortunately.

For the last audience talk of 2009 (Wednesday, 30 December 2009), Pope Benedict XVI took as his theme the life and works of Peter Lombard.

The full text of the talk is here.

Here is an extract of the Pope`s talk:

"Like all theology teachers of his time, Peter also wrote discourses and commentaries on Sacred Scripture. His masterpiece, however, consists of the four Books of the Sentences. ...

[T]he greatest of the 13th-century theologians, Albert the Great, Bonaventure of Bagnoregio and Thomas Aquinas began their academic activity by commenting on the four books of Peter Lombard's Sentences, enriching them with their reflections. Lombard's text was the book in use at all schools of theology until the 16th century.

I would like to emphasize how the organic presentation of faith is an indispensable requirement. In fact, the individuals truths of faith illuminate each other and, in their total and unitive vision appears the harmony of God's plan of salvation and the centrality of the Mystery of Christ. After the example of Peter Lombard, I invite all theologians and priests always to keep in mind the whole vision of the Christian doctrine, to counter today's risks of fragmentation and the debasement of the single truths.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, as well as the Compendium of this same Catechism, offer us exactly this full picture of Christian Revelation, to be accepted with faith and gratitude. However I would like to encourage the individual faithful and the Christian communities to make the most of these instruments to know and to deepen the content of our faith. It will thus appear to us as a marvellous symphony that speaks to us of God and of his love and asks of us firm adherence and an active response. "