ALAN DE LA ROCHE - 8 SEPTEMBER

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN SEPTEMBER

Saints celebrated on the 8th of September

ALAN DE LA ROCHE, RELIGIOUS

Alanus de Rupe (Alan/Alain de la Roche) was born about 1428; he died at Zwolle in Holland, September 8, 1475. 

Some writers claim him as a native of Germany, others of Belgium; but his disciple, Cornelius Sneek, O.P., assures us that he was born in Brittany. 

EARLY IN LIFE, HE HAD ENTERED THE DOMINICAN ORDER

Early in life he entered the Dominican Order, and while pursuing his studies at St Jacques, Paris, he distinguished himself in philosophy and theology. 

From 1459 to 1475 he taught almost uninterruptedly at Paris, Lille, Douay, Ghent, and Rostock in Germany, where, in 1473, he was made Master of Sacred Theology. 

A MOST RENOWNED PREACHER

During his sixteen years of teaching he became a most renowned preacher. He was indefatigable in what he regarded as his special mission, the preaching and re-establishment of the Rosary, which he did with success throughout northern France, Flanders, and the Netherlands. 

His vision of the restoration of the devotion of the Rosary is assigned to the year 1460. 

HE PUBLISHED NOTHING DURING HIS LIFETIME

Alanus published nothing during his lifetime, but immediately after his death the brethren of his province were commanded to collect his writings for publication. 

These were edited at different times and have occasioned controversy among scholars. His relations of the visions and sermons of St Dominic, supposed to have been revealed to Alanus, are not to be regarded as historical. 

(From Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913)