Meet "Idiot" – A Real Tenth Century Theologian

We don’t often think of “idots” as being theological geniuses – but Catholic Church History knows of one such “Idiot.”

According to Saint Robert Bellarmine, Idiota or “The Idiot” flourished about the year 902. The writings of “The Idiot” are written in “a simple, clear, and pure style – replete with Christian wisdom.”  Idiota’s published works are:

“Treatise on the Blessed Virgin”
“Treatise on the Religious Life”
“Spiritual or Mystical Eye”
“Commentary on Psalm 15”
“Meditations” in six books:

1. De amore divino;
2. De Virgine Maria;
3. De vera patientia;
4. De continuo conflictu carnis et animæ
5. De innocentia perdita;
6. De morte.

Some scholars speculate that “The Idiot” of the tenth century is the French theologian Raymund Jordan – the once abbot of Selles-sur-Cher. No knows for sure.

So next time someone calls you an “idiot” – take it as a compliment – and pray to that pious, anonymous man: “The Idiot.”

We don’t often think of “idots” as being theological geniuses – but Catholic Church History knows of one such “Idiot.”

According to Saint Robert Bellarmine, Idiota or “The Idiot” flourished about the year 902. The writings of “The Idiot” are written in “a simple, clear, and pure style – replete with Christian wisdom.”  Idiota’s published works are:

“Treatise on the Blessed Virgin”
“Treatise on the Religious Life”
“Spiritual or Mystical Eye”
“Commentary on Psalm 15”
“Meditations” in six books:

1. De amore divino;
2. De Virgine Maria;
3. De vera patientia;
4. De continuo conflictu carnis et animæ
5. De innocentia perdita;
6. De morte.

Some scholars speculate that “The Idiot” of the tenth century is the French theologian Raymund Jordan – the once abbot of Selles-sur-Cher. No knows for sure.

So next time someone calls you an “idiot” – take it as a compliment – and pray to that pious, anonymous man: “The Idiot.”