Blessed Folquet of Toulouse
Blessed Folquet of Toulouse (born c. 1155 AD in Genoa, Liguria, Italy; died December 25, 1231 AD in Toulouse, Occitania, France) was a Genoese-born Provençal troubadour who converted from a life of courtly poetry to become a Cistercian monk, and eventually was appointed Bishop of Toulouse, where he played a major role in the Albigensian Crusade and in the founding of the University of Toulouse. He is venerated locally in Toulouse. His feast day is December 25.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Folquet of Toulouse
| Blessed Folquet of Toulouse | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | December 25 |
| Profession | Genoese-Provençal troubadour poet; Cistercian monk at Thoronet Abbey (c. 1195); Abbot of Thoronet; Bishop of Toulouse (1205-1231); opponent of the Cathar heresy; supporter of the Albigensian Crusade; co-founder of the University of Toulouse (1229); figure in Dante's Paradiso (Canto IX) |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Cistercian Order (OCist); Diocese of Toulouse; Occitan troubadour tradition; 13th-century French Church; Albigensian Crusade context; Inquisition in Toulouse |
| Patronage | Toulouse; Occitania; Provence; the Cistercian Order; troubadours who convert; bishops; the University of Toulouse; those who serve the Church in difficult circumstances |
| Attributes | White Cistercian habit (under episcopal vestments); bishop's mitre; book of troubadour poetry (pre-conversion); December 25 feast (Christmas Day death); Toulouse |
| Birthplace | Genoa (or Marseille), Liguria (or Provence), Italy/France |
| Death Place | Toulouse, Occitania, France |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died December 25, 1231 (Christmas Day), in Toulouse; Blessed Folquet of Toulouse (also Folc, Foulque, Fulk) was born in Genoa or Marseille around 1155; he was a celebrated Provençal troubadour poet in the courts of southern France; around 1195 he underwent a religious conversion; he became a Cistercian monk with his wife and sons (the family entered monastic life together); he rose to become Abbot of Thoronet Abbey; in 1205 Pope Innocent III appointed him Bishop of Toulouse; as bishop he was a passionate opponent of the Cathar heresy and a supporter of the Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229); he co-founded the University of Toulouse (1229); Dante placed him in Paradise (Paradiso, Canto IX) among the souls of the redeemed; he is venerated locally in Toulouse |
| Primary Shrine | Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, France; December 25 feast; local veneration |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman calendar; December 25 feast in Toulouse (shared with Christmas) and in the Cistercian tradition |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Folquet of Toulouse (also known as Folc or Foulque de Marseille) was born around 1155, probably in Genoa or Marseille, into a merchant family. He became a celebrated Provençal troubadour poet, active at the courts of southern France and Aragon.
Around 1195 he underwent a religious conversion, and he and his wife and sons all entered religious life: he entered the Cistercian Order and eventually became a monk at Thoronet Abbey in Provence. He rose to become Abbot of Thoronet.
In 1205 Pope Innocent III appointed him Bishop of Toulouse, the seat of the struggle against the Cathar heresy. He was a vigorous bishop and a supporter of the Albigensian Crusade (1209–1229) against Catharism. He co-founded the University of Toulouse in 1229.
He died on December 25, 1231 — Christmas Day — in Toulouse. Dante Alighieri placed him in the sphere of Venus in the Paradiso (Canto IX) as a soul of the redeemed.
He is venerated locally in Toulouse and in the Cistercian tradition. His feast day is December 25.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Genoa (or Marseille), Liguria (or Provence), Italy/France
Death location: Toulouse, Occitania, France
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Feast day
December 25
Veneration
Blessed Folquet of Toulouse (c. 1155–1231) was a Provençal troubadour who became a Cistercian monk at Thoronet Abbey and then Bishop of Toulouse, fighting the Cathar heresy, co-founding the University of Toulouse, and dying on Christmas Day 1231; he appears in Dante's Paradiso (Canto IX) and is venerated locally in Toulouse. Feast December 25.
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