Working within a tradition that dates back to cicero and other classical authors, aelred ca. In a threebook ciceronian dialogue aelred defines human friendship as sacramental, beginning in creation, as god sought to place his own love of society in all his creatures. The writings are set up as dialogues in the style of plato. Spiritual friendship in 300 words spiritual friendship. I will draw extensively from the works of aelred of rievaulx. Written in dialogue form, aelred of rievaulx offers wise counsel on many aspects of friendship. In a three book ciceronian dialogue aelred defines. Saint aelred of rievaulx, writer, historian, and outstanding cistercian abbot who influenced monasticism in medieval england, scotland, and france. Jul 07, 2010 ailred of rievaulx spiritual friendship catholicradiodramas. He is regarded by anglicans, catholics, and other christians as a saint. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx 320 ratings, 4.
Aelred, a 12thcentury cistercian abbot, insists that we need to test our beliefs about friendship with scripture. Saint aelred of rievaulx primary author only author division. Aelred of rievaulx, abbot society of archbishop justus. A reading log is a simple and helpful tool for studying a book and recording your favorite quotes. The treatise is a series of dialogues in which three monks join aelred. My pro posed answer for a spirituality at the junction of modernity and post modernity is a spirituality of mercy. At first sight, much of the book seems to consist of a tapestry of biblical texts. Aelred of rievaulx quotes author of spiritual friendship. Spiritual friendship by marsha l dutton english essays from a french pen by j.
Aelred says that friendship begins with christ, is advanced through christ, and is perfected in christ. Marsha l dutton the abbot of the english cistercian abbey of rievaulx from 11471167 explores the spiritual nature of human friendship, defining it as sacramental and as a vehicle for god to transmit his love to all. Spiritual friendship, by aelred of rievaulx, alban books. Spiritual friendship cistercian studies series by marsha l. Nov 24, 2008 now this new edition opens up the riches of this spiritual masterpiece to a wide audience of contemporary readers who see the spiritual life not as a solitary enterprise, but one intimately connected to relationships. Of noble birth, aelred was reared at the court of king david i of scotland, whose life. Click download or read online button to get aelred of rievaulx book now. Spiritual friendship cistercian fathers book 5 kindle.
Certain readings of the symposium would also assert that to ascend the sublimation ladder from physical to spiritual mean you have. He is regarded by anglicans and catholics as a saint. The mirror of charity, written at the beginning of his monastic life, and spiritual friendship, written near its end, form a set. Aelred was born in hexham, northumbria, in 1110, one of three sons of eilaf, priest of st andrews at hexham. Spiritual friendshipis today the best known and perhaps most influential of the thirteen surviving works of aelred, abbot of the great english cistercian abbey of rievaulx from 1147 1167. During his abbacy he built rievaulx into a place of spiritual welcome and physical prosperity, desiring to make it a mother of mercy to those in need. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rielvaulx and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Aelreds writings are discussed extensively in a 2015 book by a prominent. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Aelred of rievaulx, saint 11101167 worldcat identities. Mar 09, 2015 but in his early twenties, while on a mission to york on behalf of the archbishop at the time, aelred encountered a new monastery at rievaulx in the county of yorkshire. Those familiar with aelred may be surprised that i intend to use his works to reflect on a spirituality of mercy, rather than on spiritual friendship.
And, the differences are plain to see as one reads. We recognize that this is a very stressful time for us as a country and the world community as a whole. In his treatise on spiritual friendship, aelred of rievaulx, a 12thcentury cistercian abbot, insists that we need to test our beliefs about friendship with scripture. Have you ever had a friendship that entered into irrevocable decline.
As a writer, aelred left behind a substantial body of work noted for its quality and breadth of insight. Spiritual friendship musings on god, friendship, relationships. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Patricia carroll ocso draws our attention to aelred of rievaulx, a cistercian saint and spiritual writer who specialised in writing about friendship as an image of the relationship between god and each person. Spiritual friendship, cistercian pubns 27 copy quote. Books by aelred of rievaulx author of spiritual friendship. Aelred of rievaulx by brother robert lentz gay saint.
Wesley hill has been wondering the same and has written a thoughtprovoking book on the subject. The first clairvaux collection, adventall saints, translated by theodore berkeley and m. Aelred of rievaulx asks us to carry on the everdynamic mission of the incarnation. Many will be familiar with his first book, washed and waiting.
Are we not to think that you have taken into your friendship all those whom you thus love and by whom you are so loved. In six chapters divided into two parts hill explores the cultural. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Mar 04, 20 this book builds a dialogue on friendship, among two and three people, the effect of which is to draw you in. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx nook book. From spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx, 3. During his abbacy he built rievaulx into a place of spiritual welcome and physical prosperity, desiring to make it a mother. So, the ascent of the soul towards god is not done without gods help jesus is a friend to us and assists us with our friends.
Aelred, friendship involves love and commitment and is part and parcel of the christian life. Saint aelred of rievaulx is currently considered a single author. The book lays down the whys and hows of spiritual friendship including basic. Aelred of rievaulx has 16 books on goodreads with 1184 ratings. Three friends, meeting for two hours, once a month, usually over a meal. Spiritual friendship cistercian studies series marsha l. Aelred of rievaulx us from gods service, as well as deluding our understanding of spiritual friendship. Carnal friendship is a mutual harmony in vice which begins when lustful eyes allow into the mind images of beautiful bodies.
It has been about 900 years, so i shouldnt be so surprised. He elevates it to a status it probably should have among us all. Some of the most noteworthy books contributing to a history of sexuality for our courses interests are. His feast day is celebrated by the cistercians on february 3. His treatise on spiritual friendship is still one of the best theological statements. He repeats this maxim with great frequency, that true friendship is for two. Spiritual friendship is today the best known and perhaps most influential of the thirteen surviving works of aelred, abbot of the great english cistercian abbey of rievaulx from 11471167. In 14, he gave up all of his luxuries to join the cistercian monastery at rievaulx where he was eventually elected abbot, a position he would hold until his death. Spiritual friendship by saint aelred of rievaulx librarything. True spiritual friendship, friendship that incarnates christ among us, perfects love. On july 26, 2018 from 15pm, spiritual friendship will host a preconference, immediately preceding the revoice conference in st. Spiritual friendship is today the best known and perhaps most in. Together they demonstrate both the consistency of his teaching and his.
Aelred of rievaulx s spiritual friendship is one of the most important treatises on friendship to emerge from the middle ages. Jan 12, 2006 in a very real way this desire is another aspect of the god of genesis decreeing that it is not good for man to be alone. Joe trout, op, the preconference will provide a theological foundation for thinking about desire, the fall, and the sanctification of human love. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Marsha l dutton, introduction, in aelred of rievaulx, spiritual friendship, collegeville, mi, 2010, p21 2 the entry on aelred in the 1905 new international encyclopedia states incorrectly that aelred was canonized in 1191 ailred. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. In spiritual friendship he means to answer questions like these. In 1147 he became abbot of rievaulx, a post which he held until his death of kidney disease twenty years later at the age of 57. Saint aelred of rievaulx cistercian monk britannica. Spiritual friendship cistercian fathers series 9780879072056 by aelred of rievaulx and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. On spiritual friendship aelred of rievaulx download. Aelred s defense of particular friendship will thus have to deal with these objections. During this time, we feel it is important to continue with research that is important for our families and loved ones as it helps us to become closer and understand each other better.
Featuring ron belgau, matthew lee anderson, johanna finegan, and br. Spiritual friendship is contrasted with carnal or worldly friendship in this work. Known best for his treatises on spiritual friendship and the mirror of charity, in which he sketched a vision for monastic community, aelred has become the unofficial patron saint of friendship, owing to his powerful depiction of the spiritual fruitfulness of samesex love. The treatise is a series of dialogues in which three monks join aelred to examine their ideas about friendship in light of their christian faith. Aelred of rievaulx download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. This sample reading log on spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx is like the ones that participants complete in our soul shepherding tlc program.
Aelred takes ciceros writings on friendship and gives them a christian perspective. Reading aelred of rievaulxs little treatise on spiritual friendship as an undergraduate was a lifechanging experience for me. It is amazing to me how much has changed in regards to friendship since aelred of rievaulx wrote spiritual friendship. His most famous work is called spiritual friendship both it and the mirror have been published in english by the cistercian press. Aelred of rievaulx, a twelfth century cistercian abbot who lived in the north of england, wrote spiritual friendship to explore the deeper meanings of this form of love particularly as it could and should exist among the monks of his order.
In his writings on friendship, aelred distinguished three kinds. Apr 01, 2010 spiritual friendship is today the best known and perhaps most influential of the thirteen surviving works of aelred, abbot of the great english cistercian abbey of rievaulx from 1147 1167. In short, monastic theology, like monastic friendship according to the exemplary account of aelred of rievaulx, is ideally a balanced activity of reason and will, profoundly christcentered, existentially grounded in both sensible and spiritual experience, and quintessentially expressed in. Unfortunately that word often is used to describe mere acquaintances or associates. Stock publishers 7jtjupvs8fctjufbuxxx xjqgboetupdl dpn. We embrace very many with every affection, but yet in such a way that we do not admit them to the secrets of friendship, which consists especially in the revelation of all our confidences and plans. Spiritual friendship cistercian fathers book 5 ebook. The classic text with a spiritual commentary by dennis billy, c.
No medicine is more valuable, none more efficacious, none better suited to the cure of all our temporal ills than a friend to whom we may turn for consolation in time of trouble, and with whom we may share our happiness in time of joy. All love, to aelred, is a participation in godlove and leads us to god. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm, micro. Aelred of rievaulx spiritual friendship thursday, april 16, 2009 share this.
Writing in the style of a platonic dialog aelred builds off of the insights of cicero, the writings of the church fathers, his own experience of life in common as well as his experience of the depths of friendship in order to present this series of dialogs on the joys of friendship. Spiritual friendship is today the best known and perhaps most influential of the thirteen surviving works of aelred, abbot of the great english cistercian abbey of rievaulx from 1147 1167. I went to rievaulx out of gratitude for that witness. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Aelred was born in hexham in the north east of england in 1110. An extremely competent administrator of rievaulx, a vast yorkshire abbey in northern england, yet even more a spiritual father to hundreds of men, had we met aelred we would identify him with pope john xxiii or carlo martini, the archbishop of milan, italy. Aelred of rievaulx by aelred of rievaulx, paperback.
Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx 9780879079703. Over the years aelred rose to considerable prominence in england, and his counsel was sought out by church. In a threebook ciceronian dialogue aelred defines human friendship as. In a three book ciceronian dialogue aelred defines human. One feels that one is part of the discussion group, like a book club. Aelred of rievaulx s most popular book is spiritual friendship. Jan 12, 2015 known best for his treatises on spiritual friendship and the mirror of charity, in which he sketched a vision for monastic community, aelred has become the unofficial patron saint of friendship, owing to his powerful depiction of the spiritual fruitfulness of samesex love. Reading aelred of rievaulx s little treatise on spiritual friendship as an undergraduate was a lifechanging experience for me. Aelred of rievaulx project gutenberg selfpublishing.