Blessed Henry of Segusio

Drawn from the authors' own words; every quotation links to its place.

?–1271

In Prümmer's Catalogue and Haringer's Index

“Ostiensis (Henricus de Segusia), Italian (d. 1271), a very celebrated canonist, wrote Summa super titulis decretalium, very often edited, which because of its excellence was called golden.” — Prümmer, Catalogue of authors
“Hostiensis Henricus de Segusia, Bishop of Ostia (whence the name) and Cardinal, very celebrated doctor of both laws (Golden Summa), died 1271.” — Haringer's index of writers (Gury-Ballerini) (p. XX, sign read on the page)

His Moral System, as Our Authors Report It

Every report quoted in the author's own words and linked to its place; point at a name to see his words. Haringer's signs give St. Alphonsus's judgment as Haringer found it in St. Alphonsus's works (his notice, Gury-Ballerini, 1884, p. XI); a sign on a writer the 1884 editor added to the list is the editor's own, and is said to be his.

He wrote before the moral systems were formed (Medina first set out probabilism in 1577), so what is reported here is how each author reads the principles he followed, not a system he held.

Before the systems: cited for probabilism
Counted among them by one of our authors	Bucceroni, Commentarii, n. 111

In the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)

“Blessed Henry of Segusio”, vol. 7, by Alphonse Van Hove. Public domain; transcription at New Advent (which expands some of the print's abbreviations).

Usually called Hostiensis, an Italian canonist of the thirteenth century, born at Susa (in the ancient Diocese of Turin); died at Lyons, 25 October, 1271.

He gave himself up to the study of Roman law and canon law at Bologna, where he seems to have taught, and to have taken his degree "utriusque juris". He taught canon law at Paris, and spent some time in England, whence King Henry III sent him on a mission to Innocent IV.

Later he became Provost of Antibes, and chaplain to the pope and was soon promoted to the See of Sisteron (1244), afterwards to the Archdiocese of Embrun (1250). He became Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia and Velletri, 4 December, 1261, whence his name Hostiensis. His health forced him to leave the conclave which, after the Holy See had been vacant for three years, elected Gregory X (1271-1276).

As a canonist Hostiensis had a great reputation. His works are:

Lectura in Decretales Gregorii IX (Strasburg, 1512; Paris, 1512), a work begun at Paris but continued during his whole life

Summa super titulis Decretalium (Strasburg, 1512; Cologne, 1612; Venice, 1605), also known as Summa archiepiscopi or Summa aurea; written while he was Archbishop of Embrun, a useful work on Roman and canon law, which won for its author the title "Monarcha juris, lumen lucidissimum Decretorum". One portion of this work, the Summa, sive tractatus de poenitentia et remissionibus was very popular. It was written between 1250 and 1261

Lectura in Decretales Innocentii IV, which was never edited.

A work on feudal law has also been attributed to him, but without foundation.