Edward A. Synan

Edward Aloysius Synan FRSC (13 April 1918 – 3 August 1997[4]) was a philosopher, theologian, and professor at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. In addition to authoring and editing several books, Synan published over eighty journal articles on subjects ranging from early patristics to late scholasticism.[4]

Edward A. Synan
Born
Edward Aloysius Synan[1]

(1918-04-13)13 April 1918
Fall River, Massachusetts, US
Died3 August 1997(1997-08-03) (aged 79)
Ecclesiastical career
ReligionRoman Catholic
Ordained1942
Academic background
Alma mater
Doctoral advisorAnton Charles Pegis[2]
Other advisorsÉtienne Gilson[2]
Academic work
DisciplinePhilosophy, theology
Notable studentsR. E. Houser[3]

Biography

Synan was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, but grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey and attended St. Luke's High School.[4][5] In 1938 he graduated from Seton Hall College and entered seminary for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Newark. From there he was sent to the American College of Louvain. When the outbreak of World War II forced him to return to the United States, he resumed his study of theology at the Catholic University of America.[1] In 1942 he received his license in sacred theology and was ordained to the priesthood.[4]

Synan served as a chaplain for the United States Army Air Forces from 1944 to 1948.[4] In 1948, he matriculated into the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies at the University of Toronto, where he earned his M.A. (1950), his Licentiate in Medieval Studies (1951), and his Ph.D. (1952).[1][4] During this time, Synan studied under Étienne Gilson, while his thesis was directed by one of Gilson's students, Anton Charles Pegis.[2] At Pegis's eulogy, Synan remarked, "No teacher is more truly the friend of a graduate student than is the one who insures, whether by encouragement, or by cajolery, or by severity, that the doctorate not turn into a life-time project."[2]

Synan taught philosophy at Seton Hall University until 1959, when he was invited to return to the Pontifical Institute in Toronto.[1] He taught history of medieval philosophy there until his death in 1997, and served as president of the Pontifical Institute from 1973 to 1979, and again from 1989–1990.[4][1] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1980.[6]

He is buried at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Montclair, New Jersey.

Selected works
  • The Popes and the Jews in the Middle Ages (Macmillan, 1965) ISBN 1597400947[7] LCCN 65-20172
  • (as editor) The Works of Richard of Campsall (Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 1968–1982)[8][9][10]

References
  1. "Fr. Edward A. Synan fonds". University of Toronto. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  2. Schultz-Aldrich, Janice L., ed. (2010). "Truth" is a Divine Name: Hitherto Unpublished Papers of Edward A. Synan, 1918–1997. Amsterdam: Rodopi. pp. xiii–xv. ISBN 978-90-420-3154-8.
  3. Houser, R. E., ed. (1999). Medieval Masters: Essays in Memory of Msgr. E.A. Synan. University of Notre Dame Press. ISBN 9780268042141.
  4. Noone, Timothy B. (1997). "In Memoriam: Monsignor Edward A. Synan". The Review of Metaphysics. 51 (2): 491–493. JSTOR 20130242.
  5. "Junior Class President", Bergen Evening Record, Hackensack, New Jersey, volume 42, number 119, October 24, 1936, page 10. (subscription required)
  6. "Dr. Edward Synan". Royal Society of Canada/Société royale du Canada.
  7. "Review of The Popes and the Jews in the Middle Ages by Edward A. Synan". Kirkus Revies. September 1965.
  8. Leff, Gordon (1970). "The Works of Richard of Campsall, I: Questiones super Librum Priorum Analeticorum: MS Gorwille and Caius 668*. Edited by Edward A. Synan. (Studies and Texts, 17). Pp. 326. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies1968. $10.00". The Journal of Ecclesiastical History. Cambridge University Press (CUP). 21 (3): 283–284. doi:10.1017/s002204690004906x. ISSN 0022-0469. S2CID 162357603.
  9. Sweeney, Leo (1971). ""The Works of Richard of Campsall. Vol. 1: Questiones Super Librum Priorum Analecticorum," ed. Edward A. Synan". The Modern Schoolman. Philosophy Documentation Center. 48 (3): 305–306. doi:10.5840/schoolman1971483121. ISSN 0026-8402.
  10. Stump, Eleonore (1984). "Review of The Works of Richard of Campsall, edited by Edward A. Synan". Speculum. University of Chicago Press. 59 (2): 437–439. doi:10.2307/2856427. ISSN 0038-7134. JSTOR 2856427.
Archives at
LocationUniversity of St. Michael's College Archives Edit this on Wikidata
SourceEdward A. Synan fonds
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