Odo of Cheriton

Odo of Cheriton ( * ca 1185 in Kent, † 1246/47 ) was a theologian, preacher and fabulist.

Life

Odo studied theology in Paris and graduated as a Master's from. Travels took him through France and Spain. He maintained contact with the Abbey of Bomport at Louviers in Normandy. He himself, however, was not part of the Order.

After graduating, he returned to England. In contemporary records from Kent and London, he is mentioned as "Master Odo of Cheriton, Lord of the Manor of Delce ", which he inherited in 1233. From the English crown he will run as a collator of the Church of Cheriton, a district of present-day Folkestone, and taxed.

Work

In his sermons, he tied a examples and fables. His work " Parabolae ", named after the beginning of the prologue ( Aperiam in Parabolis os meum ), contained many such fables and anecdotes. It was addressed to preachers who should weave these stories in their sermons for clarity. The main focus deals with the work of moral theology and criticized from this point of clergy and laity. Here Odo goes especially with the prelates and monks into judgment, but at the same time praising the emerging mendicant orders.

The " Parabolae " have been translated into French, Welsh ( Chewdlau Odo ) and Spanish. Until the Reformation, the work was published and consequently in demand.

Other major works are the Tractatus de Penitentia, Tractatus de Passione and the Sermones de Sanctis.