Everything about John Colet totally explained
John Colet (January
1467 –
September 10,
1519) was an
English churchman and
educational pioneer.
Colet was an English scholar,
Renaissance humanist, theologian, and Dean of
St. Paul’s Cathedral,
London. Colet wanted people to see the scripture as their guide through life. Furthermore, he wanted to restore theology and rejuvenate Christianity. Colet is an important early leader of Christian humanism as he linked humanism and reform. Colet influenced
Erasmus, a key player in Christian humanism.
Childhood and education
The eldest son of Sir
Henry Colet, (
Lord Mayor of London 1486 and 1495), he was born in London in January 1467, and was educated at St Anthony's school and at
Magdalen College, Oxford, where he took his M.A. in 1490. He was already nonresident rector of Dennington,
Suffolk, and vicar of St Dunstan's,
Stepney, and now became rector of Thurning, Hunts. In 1493 he went to
Paris and then to
Italy, studying
canon and
civil law,
patristics and
Greek.
Time abroad
During his time abroad he became acquainted with Budaeus (
Guillaume Budé) and Erasmus, and with the teaching of
Savonarola. On his return to England in
1496 he took orders and settled at
Oxford, where he lectured on the epistles of
Saint Paul, replacing the old scholastic method of interpretation with one more in harmony with the new learning. Due to their influences, when he arrived back in England, he returned more than just a humanist; he returned a Christian reformer. His methods did much to influence Erasmus, who visited Oxford in
1498, and who later received an annuity from Colet.
Holding office
Since
1494, Colet had been prebendary of York, and canon of St Martin le Grand, London. In
1502 he became prebendary of Salisbury, in
1505 prebendary of
St Paul's, and immediately afterwards
its dean, having previously taken the degree of doctor of divinity. He continued to lecture on the books of the
Bible; and he soon afterwards established a perpetual
divinity lecture, three days each week, in St Paul's itself. While Dean at St. Paul’s (
1505-1519), John Colet tried to use his preaching, administration, scriptural exegesis and education to create Church reform.
In about
1508, having inherited his father's large wealth, Colet formed his plan for the re-foundation of
St Paul's School, which he completed in 1512, and endowed with estates of an annual value of £122 and upwards. The school, dedicated to the Child Jesus, was in place to give young boys a Christian education.
The celebrated grammarian
William Lilye was the first master, and the
company of mercers were (in
1510) appointed trustees, the first example of non-clerical management in education. The dean's religious opinions were so liberal that some deemed him a
heretic; but
William Warham, the
Archbishop of Canterbury, refused to prosecute him. King
Henry VIII also held him in high esteem despite his sermons against the French wars.
Besides the preferments above mentioned, he was rector of the guild of Jesus at
St Paul's Cathedral and chaplain to
Henry VIII. In
1514 he made the
Canterbury pilgrimage, and in
1515 preached at
Wolsey's installation as cardinal.
A reformer
Colet, though never dreaming of a formal breach with
Roman Catholicism, was a keen reformer, who disapproved of auricular confession, and of
clerical celibacy. He was a powerful force in the
England of his day, and helped materially to disintegrate the
medieval conditions still obtaining, and to introduce the
humanist movement. Among his works which were first collectively
nihilishet in 1867-1876, are
Absoliaissimus de octo orationis partium constructione libellus (Antwerp, 1530),
Rudimenta Grammatices (London, 1539),
Daily Devotions,
Monition to a Godly Life,
Epistolae ad Erasmum, and commentaries on different parts of the Bible.
Sermons
Colet had many distinguished sermons. One is the beginning of the Convocation of the clergy of
Canterbury province at the
London Cathedral,
February 6,
1512.
Archbishop Warham of Canterbury invited Colet to make the speech. Colet’s speech is both direct and insightful. It represents his work, or as Colet said himself, he's “speaking out of zeal, a man sorrowing for the ruin of the Church”. Furthermore, Colet stated that he came “…here today, fathers, to admonish you with all your minds to deliberate, in this your Council, concerning the reformation of the Church”.
The
Convocation sermon is one of the most well known of his sermons. Many opinions regarding Colet emerged due to this sermon, in addition to the biographical information described by Erasmus. Colet has been called a pseudo-Protestant that welcomed the Reformation back to a traditional Catholic based upon this sermon.
In addition, Colet gave a notable sermon before the royal court on
Good Friday, 1513. He gave this speech in the wake of political tension; specifically, an English push for war against
France. In his speech, Colet condemned war and prompted Christians to fight only for Christ.
A Christian Humanist
While Colet isn't as well known a Christian humanist as Erasmus, his writings are reflective of Christian humanism. In his writings, Colet refers to
Italian humanists and Platonists
Marsilio Ficino and
Pico della Mirandola.
Erasmus said of Colet: “When I listen to Colet it seems to me that I'm listening to Plato himself”.
Erasmus likely portrayed Colet to show that one could be highly critical of the Church while still a loyal priest. His depiction of Colet was partly a depiction of himself.
Studied over time
Colet has been studied frequently over time and has experienced resurgences in popularity. Bishop Kennett studied Colet during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Kennett passed his notes to Samuel Knight who utilized them to write a biography of Colet which was published in
1724. During the nineteenth century, interest in Colet increased. Several editions of his works and an additional biography were published during that time. Scholars believed Colet strongly impacted Erasmus and the English Reformation. Later critics went on view Colet as Protestant-like, though historical revisionists believe that Colet was a reform preacher that wanted to improve the quality of the Church.
Colet died in
1519. Colet died of the "sweating sickness", and was buried on the south side of the choir of St Paul's, where a stone was laid over his grave, with no other inscription than his name. Erasmus stated that Colet was a man for the ages and a true Christian.
Lasting influence of Colet
To this day, Colet's achievement is celebrated by
St Paul's School,
St Paul's Girls' School and
Colet Court on
John Colet Day at
St Paul's Cathedral.
There is also a road named after him in the
London suburb of
Hammersmith,
W6,
Colet Gardens.
Colet's convocation sermon (1512)
In the introductory paragraph, Colet concludes by stating that his presence is due to the need for the Council to consider a Church reformation. First, Colet criticizes the living style of the priests. Colet explains that the priests should set an example for others as be a beacon of light, because if they're instead figures of darkness, the Church will be engulfed by darkness. Colet cites four evils, referencing the Apostle, that constitute the corrupt, priestly living: devilish pride, carnal concupiscence, worldly covetousness, and worldly occupations.
First, in regard to pride of life, Colet believes that priests of the day were more consumed by the honor and dignity one could receive by being a part of the priesthood. Service to the Church must be only humble service.
Secondly, many priests take part in the lust for the flesh: feasting and banqueting, vain conversation, sports, plays, hunting, and hawking. They are “drowned in the delights of this world” and “patronize those who cater for their pleasure”.
Thirdly, covetousness is the third worldly evil, which is also known as lust. Colet calls this a plague that has overtaken many priests and blinded many. Many take part in the Church only for the hope of riches and promotions. Priests forget that they should be interested in the good they can do more than the amount of riches that they stand to gain. Paul called covetousness the root of all evils. From it, benefices stack up, including pensions and tithes. Colet states that: “every corruption, all the ruin of the Church, all the scandals of the world, come from the covetousness of priests”.
The fourth evil arises because priests have become more servants of men than servants of God. According to
Paul, priests are supposed to be an intermediary between men and God. As such, warfare should only be spiritual in nature and reflective of Jesus. In addition, they need to pray, read, and meditate regarding the
Scriptures. They must deliver the word of God, give the sacraments of salvation, make sacrifices for people, and hold masses for people’s souls.
Colet then moves on to discuss the needed
Reformation. Paul orders that people must “be reformed into a new mind”. People should turn to humility, sobriety, charity, and spiritual occupations. Reform must begin with the priests so that it can spread throughout the Church. Colet disagrees with the creation of new laws; instead he thinks that the old laws must simply be enforced.
Colet believes several things are important: a good, pure, and holy life, approved morals, moderate knowledge of the Scriptures, knowledge of the Sacraments, the fear of God and love of the heavenly life.
Finally, Colet urges people to “return to the God of love and peace; return to Christ, in whom is the true peace of the Spirit which passeth all understanding; return to the true priestly life”. “Be ye reformed in the newness of your minds, that ye may know those things which are of God; and the peace of God shall be with you”.
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