John De La Rochelle

John De La Rochelle, a French theologian, was born in the early part of the 13th century, probably in the city of La Rochelle. He joined the Franciscans, and studied under Alexander de Hales, whom he succeeded in 1238, but resigned in 1253 in favor of St. Bonaventura. He died at Paris in 1271, according to Luc Wadding. John de la Rochelle was a successful teacher, yet his works did not enjoy much renown, probably because he did not follow the mystical tendency of the times. Among his works we notice commentaries on a number of the books of the Bible; sermons, preserved in the MS. collections of divers libraries, chiefly in that of Troyes, France; De Anima,

MSS. in the library of St. Victor; and he is also considered the author of some other works, but on doubtful grounds. He is especially deserving of notice as one of the first, if not the first who attempted to explain Aristotle's Περὶ ψυχῆς, a task of which he ably disposed. Thomas Aquinas probably availed himself of this work. See Cas. Oudin, De Script. Eccles.; Histoire Litt. de la France, 19, 171; B, Haureau, De la Philosophie Scolastique, 1, 475; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 26, 548. (J. N.P.)