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  • The Interpretations of the Parable of Dives and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) by Cardinal Hugh of St. Cher (†1263) and Cardinal Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (†1274)
  • Robert J. Karris (bio)

Introduction1

In three previous articles2 I have investigated St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio's dependence on and independence from Hugh of St. Cher in his Commentary on the Gospel of Luke. I concluded that Bonaventure creatively borrowed from Hugh.3 In those studies I began with Bonaventure's text and looked backwards at the commentary of his older contemporary. In this study I begin with Hugh's commentary and see what Bonaventure creatively adapted, abridged or omitted from it. From many possible texts in Luke's Gospel I have selected Luke 16:19-31, the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, which by the 13th century had a rich interpretive tradition. For example, Gregory the Great had dedicated his fortieth homily to it. John Chrysostom had preached seven homilies on it. For his part Peter of Ravenna preached four fifteen-minute homilies on it. Although Hugh does not explicitly quote his homily, he seems to be aware of the unique interpretation of Gottfried of Autun (d. 1165).4 [End Page 67]

I lay out my presuppositions. Bonaventure (d. 1274) quoted from Hugh (d. 1263). There is a critical edition of Bonaventure's Commentary on the Gospel of Luke. There is no critical edition of Hugh's Commentary on Luke.5 Hugh worked with a team of some twenty Dominican confreres, some of whose comments overlapped and sometimes collided. Since they and many in their audiences knew the Vulgate by heart, both Cardinals were wont to abbreviate biblical citations. I have had mercy on those whose memory of things biblical is not so keen and have generally given the biblical quotations in full, either in the text or in a footnote.

It is impossible to discuss all the ways in which Bonaventure is dependent on and independent of Hugh. I have singled out representative passages of Bonaventure's citation of Hugh's commentary. I have taken efforts to investigate Hugh's citation of authorities: Chrysostom, Peter of Ravenna, Gregory the Great, Damescene, Augustine, and Boethius, and Bonaventure's borrowing or failure to borrow from Hugh's references to these authorities. Further, I have emphasized Bonaventure's failure to borrow Hugh's critique of Prelates and Preachers. I also added some instances where Bonaventure does not see fit to cite Hugh's quotation. For example, he omits the exclamation of a gluttonous lecher and does not refer to the conversion story of Serlo of Wilton. In brief, I offer my readers a more than adequate sampling of how Bonaventure worked with Hugh's commentary. To make the variety of comparative material that I have assembled more accessible to my readers, I often offer suggestions about the significance of or the reason for omissions and modifications. Readers, of course, are invited to cast my reasonings aside and proffer their own reasons for Bonaventure's modifications and/or omissions.

As I give evidence of Bonaventure's borrowing from, modifications of, abridgement of, and his non-citations of Hugh's text, I provide both my own English translation of the Latin texts6 as well as the Latin texts themselves.7 When the Latin texts are relatively small, I include them in [End Page 68] the body of the text so that readers may check them more easily. A side benefit of this study is that it will provide a meaty sample of Hugh's style to readers, who may not be familiar with his exegesis or may not have ready access to his Commentary on St. Luke.8

Examples of Bonaventure's creative adaptation of Hugh's Commentary

The example of daily splendid feasting

The first example comes from the commentaries that Hugh and Bonaventure provide for Luke 16:19: The rich man "feasted every day in splendid fashion." I have underlined the references they have in common.

Cardinal Hugh of St. Cher (†1263) Cardinal Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (†1274)
Look at his voracious eating. Feasts are joyous The Glossa explains: "Behold, gluttony," which is very
meals, gathering people together for a...

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