Odo of Canterbury

Who was Odo of Canterbury?

Odo of Canterbury, also known as Odo Cantianus or Odo of Kent, was a theologian and abbot of Battle.

Odo was a monk of Christ Church, who later became a subprior. He was sent by his friend Thomas Becket in 1163 to attend an appeal with Pope Alexander III against the Archbishop of York, stemming from the tensions between Becket and King Henry II.

In 1173 occurred a great fire at Christ Church. After the church burned, Odo went to the Council of Woodstock on 1 July 1175, to renew the charters of the church. Instead, he was elected abbot of Battle on 19 July 1175.

Odo was known as an ardent lover of books, and a great theologian who preached in French, English, and Latin. There is some uncertainty as to his writings, owing to confusion with Odo of Cheriton and Odo of Murimund, but a list of thirteen works, chiefly writings on the Old Testament and sermons, can be ascribed to him.

The origin of the experssion "To Jesus through Mary" is generally attributed to Louis Grignion de Montfort. However, the idea of going through Mary to Jesus is much older, and was promoted by such authors as Ildephonse of Toledo, Germanus of Constantinople, John of Damascus, et al. In Odo of Canterbury is found a passage which is even closer to the expression attributed to Montfort. Odo says: "... one goes to Christ through Mary, one goes to the Son through the Mother. By means of the Mother of Mercy one reaches mercy itself."