Keep the eyes of the soul always fixed on the serene patience of your beloved lord and saviour saturday, mar 19 2011. 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. Jun 07, 2012 open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. This page was last edited on 16 january 2016, at 00. Aelred, a 12thcentury cistercian abbot, insists that we need to test our beliefs about friendship with scripture. 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. Spiritual friendship, cistercian pubns 27 copy quote. 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. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx nook book. Carnal friendship is a mutual harmony in vice which begins when lustful eyes allow into the mind images of beautiful bodies. Friendship as spiritual encouragement peace theology. Written in dialogue form, aelred of rievaulx offers wise counsel on many aspects of friendship.
Those familiar with aelred may be surprised that i intend to use his works to reflect on a spirituality. 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. His feast day is celebrated by the cistercians on february 3. In a three book ciceronian dialogue aelred defines. Spiritual friendship cistercian fathers book 5 kindle. That, in anyones book, is quite a lot of temptation. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rielvaulx and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Spiritual friendship, by aelred of rievaulx, alban books.
I recently received a copy of wesley hills spiritual friendship. Reading aelred of rievaulxs little treatise on spiritual friendship as an. Spiritual friendship, a new translation, mark williams is published by university of scranton press. C this article has been rated as cclass on the projects quality scale. Certain readings of the symposium would also assert that to ascend the sublimation ladder from physical to spiritual mean you have. On spiritual friendship aelred of rievaulx download.
The current volume contains eighteen sermons given on feasts beginning with the nativity and concluding with a sermon for all saints. The dialogue structure of spiritual friendship immediately shows the importance of others in the spiritual life. Given that i was on vacation, i was able to dive in for. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx goodreads. Aug 10, 20 in fact, for him friendship is a sacrament of gods love. A reading log is a simple and helpful tool for studying a book and recording your favorite quotes. I will draw extensively from the works of aelred of rievaulx. At first sight, much of the book seems to consist of a tapestry of biblical texts.
Pour into our hearts, o god, the holy spirits gift of love, that we, clasping each the others hand, may share the joy of friendship, human and divine, and with your servant aelred draw many to your community of love. Spiritual friendship cistercian studies series marsha l. Spiritual friendship cistercian fathers book 5 kindle edition by aelred of rievaulx, dutton, marsha l. From line of married priests in north of england in late 11th century. This kind of friendship is important because it is humanising, and raises the two friends to love of god through their love for each other.
This sample reading log on spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx is like the ones that participants complete in our soul shepherding tlc program. Ignatian spirituality serves the contemporary world as people strive to develop a friendship with god. In fact, for him friendship is a sacrament of gods love. Spiritual friendship is contrasted with carnal or worldly friendship in this work. Aelred of rievaulx and cistercian and monastic charity, christ, christs passion, cross, forgiveness, interior life, love, patience, prayer, soul, struggles, suffering mark armitage 10. 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. Most people dont want every friendship to be like this, and its certainly fine to just want to socialize. Aelred of rievaulx asks us to carry on the everdynamic mission of the incarnation. Actually, microsoft word informs me that this is only 297 words. Tobin cistercians and cluniacs by michael casey aelred of rievaulx by aelred squire the lives of the desert fathers by norman russell. Spiritual friendship cistercian fathers by aelred, marsha l dutton, lawrence c braceland isbn.
Friendship, aelred teaches, is both a gift from god and a creation of human effort. Aelred was born in hexham, northumbria, in 1110, one of three sons of eilaf, priest of st andrews at hexham. Finding love in the church as a celibate gay christian. If you would like to participate, you can visit the project page, where you can join the project, see a list of open tasks, and join in discussions on the projects talk page.
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. 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. It seems never to have been published, as were aelreds other wordse. Aelred of rievaulx provides keen insight into the soul and into friendships between those who share the spirit of jesus christ. Reading aelred of rievaulx s little treatise on spiritual friendship as an undergraduate was a lifechanging experience for me.
Formerly a retreat director in gloucester, massachusetts. Translations of the first twentyeight of these sermons appeared in. Sep 09, 2016 formerly a retreat director in gloucester, massachusetts. It has been about 900 years, so i shouldnt be so surprised. This book is cherished by some celibate christians with same sex attraction. He is regarded by anglicans and catholics as a saint. Throughout his life, aelred took great joy in his friends and he believed that by loving and being loved by them. Spiritual friendship is today the best known and perhaps most in. Common to all is the human desire for love and companionship, and the happiness friendship brings. 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.
Tlc stands for to love christ and is a twoyear certificate training that kristi and i lead for pastors and ministry leaderscaregivers in. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. It starts as a dialogue between aelred and ivo, with a third, christ, present with them. Christmas through all saints 9780879071776 by aelred of rievaulx, marie anne mayeski, domenico pezzini. Aelred, abbot of the yorkshire cistercian abbey of rievaulx from 1147 to 1167, wrote six spiritual treatises, seven historical treatises, and 182 liturgical sermons, most of which he delivered as chapter talks to his monks. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Saint aelred of rievaulx, writer, historian, and outstanding cistercian abbot who influenced monasticism in medieval england, scotland, and france. The first clairvaux collection, adventall saints, translated by theodore berkeley and m. During this period, aelred wrote his best known work, spiritual friendship. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm, micro. Patricia carroll ocso draws our attention to aelred of rievaulx, a cistercian. Of noble birth, aelred was reared at the court of king david i of scotland, whose life. As a result of a kiss, there arises in the mind a wonderful feeling of delight that awakens and binds together the love of them that kiss. Spiritual friendship in 300 words spiritual friendship.
Start reading spiritual friendship cistercian fathers book 5 on your kindle in under a minute. Toss out your pop psychology driven books of the past century. This book sets forth a positive calling for celibate gay christians and suggests practical ways for all christians. 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. My pro posed answer for a spirituality at the junction of modernity and post modernity is a spirituality of mercy. It could also have been part of the medical treatment of the day. I was intrigued by a couple of the names that endorsed the book and felt i needed to read it immediately. It is amazing to me how much has changed in regards to friendship since aelred of rievaulx wrote spiritual friendship. 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 rievalux on spiritual friendship tango the.
However aelreds book on spiritual friendship is unique because he skilfully. Apr 16, 2009 the highest level of friendship is based on christs new commandment of love, a spiritual friendship attained through conforming to christ by wholesome interaction, without thought of gain. 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. Spiritual friendship musings on god, friendship, relationships. And, the differences are plain to see as one reads.
Friendship as spiritual encouragement geralyn july 1, 20 at 8. I have written my share of essays which use friendship as models for discussion, and in time, i too, will post them online. Spiritual friendship by saint aelred of rievaulx librarything. Ignatian spirituality is given through guided meditations, weekend, 8day, and 30day retreats based on the spiritual exercises of st. Aelred of rievaulx is within the scope of wikiproject yorkshire, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to yorkshire on wikipedia. 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. He is regarded by anglicans, catholics, and other christians as a saint. Aelred, of rievaulx, saint,11101167, friendshipreligious aspectschristianity, england, history, great britain, importance. Furthermore, his book is divided into three parts, taking the form of a dialogue between himself. Translations of the first twentyeight of these sermons appeared in the first clairvaux collection, adventall saints, published in 2001.
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. Suggest and discuss books to read all languages welcome. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading spiritual friendship cistercian fathers book 5. 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. Spiritual friendship monastic studies aelred of rievaulx on. 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. 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 a threebook ciceronian dialogue aelred defines human. The third in the series, the lord of ireland, will be release on april 5 2016.
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