Ratherius
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Ratherius (890-974) was a teacher, writer, and bishop. His political work led to his becoming an exile and a wanderer. He is also known as Rather of Verona.
Ratherius' long life was an eventful one. He was deposed by King Hugh in 935 and imprisoned in Pavia. While a prisoner Ratherius wrote Praeloquia, a treatise about holy living and the profane condition of the Italian bishops.
As presiding bishop he once commented that if he attempted to enforce the canons against unchaste persons who administered ecclesiastical rites, the Church would be without anyone except boys. And if he put into effect canons against bastards, they would also be excluded.
His Phrensis consisted of twelve books which were composed during a later time of strife. Specifically, this was during a period when Ratherius had been forced to relinquish the See of Verona. He had also had to give up the see of his native Liège.
The bishop was restored to jurisdiction for a third time in Verona by Otto I. Again he withdrew from it.
Ratherius' writings emphasize common-sense. He wrote Latin in an eloquent form.
He was also a fine preacher. One of his strengths was his skill in reviving old ideas and making them new once again. O quam hic abyssus Veteris Testamenti abyssum invocat Novi! O quam antiquiora recentioribus concinunt.
Ratherius was one of the first to employ fables to illustrate his sermons. Like Jonathan Swift he respected ordinary intelligence. He spoke against swollen rhetoric.
References
- Ker William Paton, The Dark Ages, Mentor Books, 1st Printing, May 1958, page 117.
- The Saturday Review, Catholic Celibacy, reprinted by the New York Times, August 11, 1878, page 4.
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