Italy: Religious And Intellectual Ferment

In this chapter, Joseph C. McLelland provides details about the McNair's research on Peter Martyr Vermigli. He investigates Vermigli's academic development thoroughly, taking into consideration the intellectual and cultural conditions of the university there. Martyr gained detailed knowledge of the philosophy of Aristotle and that his basic theological training was that of the Thomist school, known as the 'via antiqua'. On the other hand, the first biographer of Vermigli, Josias Simler, expressly states in the memorial eulogy in honour of his beloved teacher that the young Augustinian canon was acquainted with the theology of Gregory of Rimini. In the year 1537 Vermigli was transferred to Naples as abbot of the influential convent of San Pietro ad Aram. This new field of activity offered him the opportunity to form close connections to the 'spirituali' grouped around Juan de Valdes who strove for a renewal of Christian life through an undogmatic religiosity. Keywords: Christian; Gregory of Rimini; Intellectual ferment; Italy; Joseph C. McLelland; McNair; Peter Martyr Vermigli; Religious ferment; Research