Capuchin Scholar dies: Br. Camille (1909-2007)

Montréal, Canada – A renowned scholar in Scotistic philosophy, Br. Camille Bérubé, died at the age of 98 on September 29th in Montréal. Camille was born on July 18, 1909 in the small community of Saint-Alexandre near Québec, Canada. He was the 13th child of 21 in the family of Ludger Bérubé and Rose-Anna Tardif. Out of the 21 children, five were Capuchins and two were religious women. Br. Camille was ordained in 1934. Shortly after ordination, he went to Rome, where he obtained his doctorate in philosophy in 1938. Then, he taught philosophy in the Capuchin formation program of his province. From 1947-1966, he was a professor in the Institut d’Etudes Médiévales de l’Université de Montréal. In 1966, he transferred to Rome to the Historical Institute of the Capuchins, where he remained until 1999 at which time he returned to his province.

 

Br. Camille specialized in the Franciscan school of Philosophy, especially Blessed John Duns Scotus (1265-1308) as well as St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (1221-1274), Pietro Di Giovanni Olivi (1248-1298), Gilberto di Tornaco (1207-1284) and Roger Bacon (1214-1294). He organized various international conferences on Scotistic Thought. Among some of his works are: La connaissance de l’individuel au Moyen Age, Montreal-Paris 1964; De la philosophie à la sagesse chez saint Bonaventure et Roger Bacon, Roma 1976; De l’homme à Dieu chez Duns Scot, Henri de Gand et Olivi, Roma 1983; L’amour de Dieu selon Jean Duns Scot, Porète, Eckhart, Benoit de Canfeld et les Capucins, Roma 1997. His Capuchin confrere at the Historical Institute, Br. Octavian Schmucki, prepared a large bibliography on Camille Bérubé (Bibliographia Camilli Bérubé 1933-1990, in Mélanges Bérubé, Etudes de philosophie et théologie médiévales offertes à Camille Bérubé OFMCap à l’occasion de son 80e anniversaire, Roma 1991, 489-511).

 

The funeral of Br. Camille was on the Vigil of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct 3, 2007 in Montréal.

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