Reginald of Orleans was an Italian Dominican friar and priest who lived from approximately 1180 to 1220. A former professor of canon law in Paris, he eventually joined the Dominican Order after a serious illness in Rome, where he met Saint Dominic. He became a prominent preacher, influencing many scholars and students at the University of Bologna and the Sorbonne. Known for his fiery eloquence, he served as a prior and was a close associate of the early members of his religious order.
Life and ministry
After teaching law at the Sorbonne, Reginald traveled to Rome, where he encountered Dominic de Guzmán. Following a recovery from illness, he joined the Dominican Order and moved to Bologna. There, his preaching inspired many to join the friars. He later served as the prior of the Dominican convent in Paris, where his sermons continued to deeply impact the academic community, including future leaders of his order.
Veneration
Reginald was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1877. His feast day is observed on February 12. For many years, people in Paris visited the crypt of Notre-Dame-des-Champs to honor his memory and pray at an altar dedicated to him.