Henricus Sedulius

Henricus Sedulius (1547-1621^[1]) – the Latinized name of Henri de Vroom van Kleef^[2] – was a Belgian Franciscan scholar noted for his works on religious figures such as the lives of St. Elziarius^[3] and St. Francis of Assisi.^[4] He also published works that defended the Franciscan order.

Henricus Sedulius
Henri de Vroom
Personal
Born	1547 Kleve
Died	1621 Antwerp
Religion	Roman Catholic
Nationality	Belgian
Notable work(s)	Apologeticus aduersus Alcoranum Franciscanorum, pro Libro Confirmitatum; Conformities; Historia seraphica; Icones sanctae Clarae B. Francisci Assisiatis primigeniae discipulae
Known for	Theological works
Organization
Order	Franciscan

Sedulius was also a poet.^[5]

Background

Sedulius was born in Kleve, Germany.^[6] He died in 1621 at Antwerp.^[2]

Works

Diva Virgo Mosæ-Traiectensis, a devotional booklet written by Henricus Sedulius

In 1607, Sedulius published the Apologeticus aduersus Alcoranum Franciscanorum, pro Libro Conformitatum. This is a defense of the Franciscan Order, drawing from Bartholomew Albizzi's commentary of the Scripture as well as citations from the Christian founders and ancient philosophers.^[7] Particularly, his arguments were directed against Erasmus Alber's criticisms included in the text called Conformities.^[7]

In Historia seraphica, Sedulius published a collection of quotes from famous writers who praised St. Francis and these included St. Bonaventure as well as other prominent Franciscans. In an account, Sedulius said he relied on the former's collected works (constituting eight volumes) that were published by the Typographia Vaticana from 1588 to 1596.^[8] Historia likened St. Francis to an angel, introducing the book with a quote from the Book of Revelation: "And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God."^[9] Sedulius also wrote the Icones sanctae Clarae B. Francisci Assisiatis primigeniae discipulae^[5] and the Imagines Sanctorum Francisci, which is an illustrated collection of various saints.^[10] Sedulius collaborated with Jan Moretus, the owner of Plantin Press, on the publication of several religious texts.^[7]

An account described how Sedulius' interest in history emerged during his stay in Italy and Tyrol.^[11] In addition to religious texts, Sedulius also covered historical events such as the martyr stories (e.g. Gorcum martyrs) during the Eighty Years' War.^[12] There are texts, including versions by other authors, that contained an engraved portrait of the author or portraits engraved by owners who thought that Sedulius was the author.^[13] Some of Sedulius' poems focused on miracles such as Diva Virgo Mosae-Traiectensis and his style is said to have been influenced by Justus Lipsius.^[14]

Sedulius is said to have written his works mostly in Latin and has worked with his colleague Cornelius Thielmans on translated versions.^[11]

References

1. "Old Imprints - Antiquariaat W. De Goeij". users.telenet.be. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
2. The Library of Congress. "Sedulius, Henricus, approximately 1547-1621". id.loc.gov. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
3. Gassendi, Pierre (2003). The Mirrour of True Nobility & Gentility Being the Life of Peiresc. Haverford, PA: Infinity Publishing. p. 80. ISBN 0-7414-1752-9.
4. "Franziskaner, Franziskanerinnen – RDK Labor". www.rdklabor.de. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
5. "Henricus Sedulius (Biographical details)". British Museum. 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
6. "Sedulius, Henricus". Identifiants et Referentiels. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
7. GTU, BJRT (2016). Berkeley Journal of Religion and Theology, Vol.2, No. 2. Berkeley, CA: Berkeley Journal of Religion and Theology. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-365-17158-1.
8. Imhof, Dirk (2014). Jan Moretus and the Continuation of the Plantin Press (2 Vols.): A Bibliography of the Works published and printed by Jan Moretus I in Antwerp (1589-1610). Leiden: Hotei Publishing. p. 117. ISBN 978-90-6194-581-9.
9. Muchembled, Robert; Schilling, Heinz; Monter, William; Tóth, István György (2006). Cultural Exchange in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 347–346. ISBN 978-0-521-84546-5.
10. "print / book". British Museum. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
11. Kok, Johannes Antonius de (2007). Acht eeuwen minderbroeders in Nederland: een oriëntatie (in Dutch). Hilversum: Uitgeverij Verloren. p. 155. ISBN 978-90-8704-017-8.
12. Esser, Raingard (2012). The Politics of Memory: The Writing of Partition in the Seventeenth-Century Low Countries. Leiden: BRILL. p. 293. ISBN 978-90-04-20807-0.
13. Binski, Paul; Zutshi, Patrick (31 March 2011). Western Illuminated Manuscripts: A Catalogue of the Collection in Cambridge University Library. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 450. ISBN 9780521848923.
14. Tournoy, Gilbert (2002). Humanistica Lovaniensia. Leuven: Leuven University Press. p. 271. ISBN 978-90-5867-245-2.