Humbert de Romans

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Humbert de Romans (c. 1200 – 14 July 1277 in Valence, France) was the fifth master general of the Dominican Order from 1254 to 1263.^[1]

[edit] Early career

Humbert de Romans entered the Dominican order on 30 November 1224. He was active as a lector of theology in Lyon between 1236 and 1239. He was made prior for the entire French province in 1240, and was nominated as Pope in 1241 by the majority of the Catholic cardinals. However, the nomination failed because of political resistance within the Roman government, particularly by senators from the Orsini family.

[edit] Master general

Romans became Master General of the Dominican Order in 1254, and held that office until 1263. Under his leadership, the Dominicans reorganized the Ecclesiasticum Officium, which outlined the liturgical governance of life within the order.

He also wrote the Opus Tripartitum on behalf of Gregory X. This document defended church reform, the philosophy of crusades, the relationship of the Church to Arabs, the causes and effects of the Greek Schism, the re-establishment of Christian unity, and the promotion of the heath mission. It also provided guidance for lecture and cross-lecture preparation, and suggested how to use miracle and fable literature. During the Middle Ages, study of this work became obligatory for Dominicans.