Aureoli (AUREOLUS, D’AURIOL, ORIOL), PETRUS.—a Franciscan philosopher and theologian, called on account of his eloquence Doctor faeundus, b. 1280 at Toulouse (or Verberie-sur-Oise); d. January 10, 1322 (Denifle; other dates assigned are 1330 and 1345). He entered the Order of Friars Minor, studied at Toulouse, taught theology there and at Paris and became (1319) provincial of his order (Province of Aquitaine). John XXII appointed him Archbishop of Aix (1321). He defended the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception in aublic disputation at Toulouse (1314), in his “De Conceptione Marine Virginis” and “Repercussorium” (reply to opponents of the doctrine), in his “Sermons” and in his commentary on St. Bernard’s teaching. His other principal works are the commentary on the “Sentences” of Peter Lombard (Rome, 1596-1605), “Quodlibeta”, and “Breviarium Bibliorum”, an introduction to the Scriptures with literal commentary, which appeared in numerous editions at Venice Paris, and Louvain. A new edition by Seeboeck was published at Quaracchi in 1896. In philosophy Aureoli was a Conceptualist and a forerunner of Occam. He criticized the doctrine of St. Thomas and defended, though not in all points, the views of Scotus. His writings on the Immaculate Conception were published by Petrus de Alva in the “Monumenta Seraphica Imm. Concept”.
E.A. PACE