Aelred was much edified with the very looks of a holy monk, called simon, who had rejected his high birth, an ample fortune and all the advantages of mind and body, to serve god in that. Carnal friendship is a mutual harmony in vice which begins when lustful eyes allow into the mind images of beautiful bodies. It seems never to have been published, as were aelreds other wordse. The spiritual status of samesex attraction governed paradoxically by a rule of celibacy is a fascinating concept.
As a cistercian monk in the middle ages, aelred of rievaulxs 11101167 life was likely filled with physical work and contemplative prayer. The idea suggests knocking on the door of a cell which will forever remain closed. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx goodreads. Spiritual friendship embraces both the quest for god and the quest for a transformed world by emphasizing the call to both contemplation and action. And here is my memory of visiting the ruin of rievaulx abbey a few years ago rounding the bend in the road from the village of thirsk in north yorkshire, your first glimpse. 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 fathers book 5 kindle. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx is one of the all time classic books of devotion to christ.
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. His answer is the famous treatise spiritual friendship, 1 three chapters written in a dialogue form examines the relationship between friendship and the love of god. Reading aelred of rievaulxs little treatise on spiritual friendship as an undergraduate was a lifechanging experience for me. Certain readings of the symposium would also assert that to ascend the sublimation ladder from physical to spiritual mean you have. Friendship as spiritual encouragement geralyn july 1, 20 at 8. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Saint aelred of rievaulx 11101167 author of spiritual friendship. Aelred of rievaulx us from gods service, as well as deluding our understanding of spiritual friendship. This he records in the preface to his book on spiritual friendship. While love is universal, freely given to all, friendship is a particular love between individuals, of which the example is jesus and john the beloved disciple. Traditions of spiritual guidance aelred of rievaulx brendan callaghan 375 c istercian spirituality and christian friendship have each fea tured in traditions of spiritual guidance, 1 so for aelred to be treated in his own right might seem unnecessary.
Why youll want to read spiritual friendsthe remedy to. During this period, aelred wrote his best known work, spiritual friendship. 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. The end result of this mutually nurturing relationship is a spiritual transformation that honors god. Stock publishers 7jtjupvs8fctjufbuxxx xjqgboetupdl dpn. Saint aelred of rievaulx, writer, historian, and outstanding cistercian abbot who influenced monasticism in medieval england, scotland, and france. The interaction between spiritual friends is a mutual love and desire to see each other become all that god intends for them to become. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx 323 ratings, 4. See all books authored by aelred of rievaulx, including spiritual friendship cistercian fathers 5, and the liturgical sermons.
I would be interested to listen to a recording of this work. They aim to learn about friendship from a friend, and in the presence. Ignatian spirituality is given through guided meditations, weekend, 8day, and 30day retreats based on the spiritual exercises of st. The letter pdf, written just a few weeks before the times article, stated without qualification that fr. What aelred discovered is that happiness does not exist without friendship. This short book was written in the form of a dialog between the author, aelred he saw that his reluctance to part from. Spiritual friendship, by aelred of rievaulx, alban books. It starts as a dialogue between aelred and ivo, with a third, christ, present with them. Pdf download spiritual friendship free unquote books.
Aelred of rievaulx download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The classic text with a spiritual commentary by dennis billy, c. Timone had never been accused of any act of sexual. 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. 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. Jan 12, 2011 during this period, aelred wrote his best known work, spiritual friendship. Speculum caritatis the mirror of charity, which aelred wrote at bernards insistence, is a treatise on monastic life. His feast day is celebrated by the cistercians on february 3. 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. Written in dialogue form, aelred of rievaulx offers wise counsel on many aspects of friendship. I went to rievaulx out of gratitude for that witness. His pastoral prayer reflects a man conscious that he is accountable to god for the souls of others.
Aelred of rievaulx books list of books by author aelred of. When i was still just a lad at school, and the charm of my companions pleased me very much, i gave my whole soul to affection and devoted myself to love amid the ways and vices with which that age is wont to be threatened, so that nothing seemed to me more. Modern readers are often amazed at the content of aelred of rievaulxs spiritual friendship. In 1095, the council of claremont had forbidden the ordination of the sons of priests.
Among spiritual writers, i think that aelred of rievaulx has been largely overlooked. Of noble birth, aelred was reared at the court of king david i of scotland, whose life. Friendship as spiritual encouragement peace theology. It is amazing to me how much has changed in regards to friendship since aelred of rievaulx wrote spiritual friendship. Aelred writes in the prologue to his best known work, the treatise on spiritual friendship, that. Aelred was a twelfth century english cistercian monk, who. Robert lentz, ofm, that some dear friends of mine gave me at christmas this year. When the friendship has these characteristics, it can be said to be a true friendship, a spiritual friendship, one which builds up both parties and helps them journey towards god. Saint aelred of rievaulx, author of spiritual friendship, on librarything. The spirituality of friendship by stuart wilde healyourlife. He may have been partially educated by lawrence of durham, who sent him a hagiography. In 14 he visited the newly founded cistercian abbey of rievaulx, and was so attracted to it that he chose to become a monk there, and was eventually elected abbot. In his writings on friendship, aelred distinguished three kinds.
In 1150, abbot aelred of rievaulx, a cistercian monastery in yorkshire, answered the same question posed by a monk called yves. Spiritual friendship cistercian studies series marsha l. The dialogue structure of spiritual friendship immediately shows the importance of others in the spiritual life. The treatise is a series of dialogues in which three monks join aelred to examine their ideas about. Friendship, aelred teaches, is both a gift from god and a creation of human effort. Aelred of rievaulx books list of books by author aelred. His sermons and treatises reflect aelred the monk, the novice. Sep 09, 2016 formerly a retreat director in gloucester, massachusetts. Then i was shown the deeper spiritual value of friendships and family love, and how it acts as real spiritual worth creating a forcefield of light around you.
True friends can help us to be free to be ourselves. On spiritual friendship aelred of rievaulx download bok. The notion of a religious guide to mentor someone through the process of becoming more familiar with god is ancient and exists throughout the worlds spiritual traditions. Download a free 25page pdf based upon spiritual friends. And, the differences are plain to see as one reads. Friendship is the part of my life which i feel provides me with the most spiritual encouragement.
Spiritual friendship in 300 words spiritual friendship. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Aelred takes ciceros writings on friendship and gives them a christian perspective. Ignatian spirituality serves the contemporary world as people strive to develop a friendship with god. On spiritual friendship aelred of rievaulx download. Close friends ground us and keep us from thinking that what we have is our own accomplishment. Over the years aelred rose to considerable prominence in england, and his counsel was sought out by church. Download pdf spiritualfriends free online new books.
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. Spiritual friendship cistercian studies series by marsha l. 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. Saint aelred is one of the most lovable saints, the patron saint of friendship and also, some say, gay. Modern readers are often amazed at the content of aelred of rievaulx s spiritual friendship. Today is the feast day of aelred of rievaulx, often called the patron saint of friendship. Aelred was born in hexham, northumbria, in 1110, one of three sons of eilaf, priest of st andrews at hexham, himself a son of another eilaf, treasurer of durham. 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 christianity, spiritual friendship is a text from the 12th century by cistercian monk saint aelred of rievaulx. Log in to get better recommendations with a free account. An excerpt from spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx aelred. This was done in part to end the inheritance of benefices. The first clairvaux collection, adventall saints, translated by theodore berkeley and m.
Here is my reading log from aelred of rievaulxs classic devotional book on spiritual friendship. Click to read more about spiritual friendship by saint aelred of rievaulx. In buddhism, spiritual friendship is a translation for the pali term, kalyana mittata. It enhances what you are in very special way, linking you to the divine. Saint aelred of rievaulx cistercian monk britannica. Spiritual friendship is contrasted with carnal or worldly friendship in this work. Friendships provide me with the most resources for hopeful and creative living. Aelred s ideas are a challenge to many modern concepts of the spiritual life. Jun 14, 2016 formerly a retreat director in gloucester, massachusetts. It has been about 900 years, so i shouldnt be so surprised. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading spiritual friendship cistercian fathers book 5.
Aelred of rievaulx spiritual friendship john protevi. Immediately people may ask what would a twelfth century cistercian abbot have to say about friendship. Meditation on christs humanity and a letter of instruction on a disciplined spiritual life for his sister epitomize aelred s gentle spirituality. Aelred entered the newly founded abbey of rievaulx in 13, after serving at the scottish royal court. Here we are, you and i, and i hope that christ makes a third with us. Aelred, a 12thcentury cistercian abbot, insists that we need to test our beliefs about friendship with scripture. As novice master and abbot, this bernard of the north composed works of history and theology, and among the great medieval spiritual writers remains even today the easiest and plainest guide to the practical question of how to begin to pray. Certain readings of the symposium would also assert that to ascend the sublimation ladder from physical to. Spiritual friendship musings on god, friendship, relationships. Aelred, of rievaulx, saint,11101167, friendshipreligious aspectschristianity, england, history, great britain, importance. Discovering the catholic tradition of spiritual friendship mary deturris. Let me begin by giving friendship a definition, in doing so we separate what is and isnt a friend and we also give it proper biblical honor. No one can interrupt us now, no one can spoil our friendly conversation.
Formerly a retreat director in gloucester, massachusetts. What therefore is more pleasant than to unite oneself to the spirit of another and the two to form one the conversation at first seems to be slow. Meditation on christs humanity and a letter of instruction on a disciplined spiritual life for his sister epitomize aelreds gentle spirituality. Spiritual friendship by saint aelred of rievaulx librarything. 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. Aelred of rievaulx was an heir of saxons living under norman rule, a native speaker of english daily speaking french and latin, a descendant of generations of married priests in an age when priests were forbidden to wed, an english monk in a french order, an abbot bred to service in the church but trained for service in the court. The provision is made for spiritual friendship which promotes a mutual journey throughout life. What is a spiritual friendship and why does the bible say its so important. St rievaulx yorkshire, son of a priest, educated at durham and in the household of king david of scotland. Spiritual friendship cistercian fathers book 5 kindle edition by aelred of rievaulx, dutton, marsha l.
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