Honorius of Autun

(Augustodunensis), surnamed "the Solitary," a scholastic theologian of the first half of the 11th century, is generally supposed to have been born in France, and was connected with a church at Autun, in Burgundy. His personal history is rather obscure; but if he be really the author of the Elucidarium, a summary of theology, published in France as the work of Anselm (Paris, 1560, 8vo), he deserves to be ranked among the most celebrated men of his century. The Elucidarium shows that Honorius was devoted to a practical mysticism, and in his work he seems to have followed the new Platonic-Augustinian theology. He condemned the Crusades and pilgrimages to Jerusalem, all decorations of the altar, the extreme unction, etc. On the doctrine of the Trinity, he held that the godhead consists of three distinct powers. He is also said to have been the author of a work, De Praedestinatione et libero arbitrio (Col. 1552; also found in Cassander's Works, p. 623 sq.). In this work he holds that "God's foreknowledge has no compelling influence upon our actions, nor his predestination any necessitating power over our fate; for, as all futurity is present to an omnipresent Being, he knows our future acts, because he sees them as already done; and his predestination to either life or death is the consequence of his foreknowing the line of conduct which his creatures would choose to pursue." In many respects he agreed with Abelard (q.v.). Honorius also wrote several Biblical works, among which his Introduction to the Explanation of Solomon's Song is considered as his best production. All his theological and philosophical works are collected in the Bibl. Max. Patr. vol. 20. See Dupin, Bibl. Nouv. des ant. eccl. 9, 154; Oudin, De Script. Ecclesiastes; Schröckh, Kirchengesch. 24, 361 sq.; 28, 335, 416 sq., 427 sq.; 29, 341; Ritter, Gesch. der Philos. 7, 435 sq.; Clarke, Succession of Sacred Lit. 2, 680; Waterland, Works (see Index); Fuhrmann, Handwörterb. d. Kirchengesch. 2, 342; Aschbach, Kirchen- Lex. 3, 321 sq.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé, 25, 19 sq.; Darling, Encyklop. Bibliog. 1, 1526. (J. H.W.)