The Benedictines and the canons
Bernard of Clairvaux and the Cistercians at times dominate the telling of twelfth-century religious history and overshadow Benedictine monasticism. Some scholars even argued that the black monks experienced a 'crisis', but as John Van Engen asserts, this false perception was based on too literal a reading of the Benedictines' critics without sufficient consideration of the context. The black monks suffered no decline in numbers during the first half of the twelfth century and only later lost...
Beverly Mayne Kienzle
'Our order is abjection it is humility it is voluntary poverty, obedience, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit', wrote the Cistercian abbot Bernard of Clairvaux 10901153 to the monks of St Jean d'Aulps who had affiliated with Citeaux. Bernard further explained in a sermon that voluntary poverty, like the fortified city into which Jesus entered Luke 10.38 , defends its inhabitants from envy, within themselves and from others. Advising Atto, bishop of Troyes, Bernard asserted that, 'The reward for...
The papacy on the periphery
An aspect of papal power in the High Middle Ages which is often overlooked involves the interactions between Rome and such 'fringe' regions as Iberia, Ireland, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Popes of the eleventh century were acutely aware of the importance of cultivating relationships with the expanding periphery. Politically, it was advantageous to encircle the often troublesome realms of Germany and France with sympathetic churches on their borders. Such a policy also continued a...
Monasticism
Monastic spirituality centres on the struggle for spiritual perfection, as the Prologue to the Rule of Benedict reads 'monks must prepare themselves in body and soul, to fight under the commandments of holy obedience'.12 A life of reading, prayer and meditation aspired to mystical union with God and citizenship among the number of the chosen in the heavenly Jerusalem. In monastic thought, the heavenly city's closest earthly parallel was the monastery, which contained, in so far as possible for...
Abbreviations
AA.SS. Acta Sanctorum, 3rd edn, Paris Palm , 1863-CCCM Corpus Christianorum Continuatio mediaevalis CCSL Corpus Christianorum Series Latina CFS Cistercian Fathers Series CSEL Corpus scriptorum ecclesiasticorum latinorum MGH Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Hanover et al. Hahn et al., 1826- PG Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Graeca, ed. J.-P. Migne, Paris PL Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina, ed. J.-P. Migne, Paris Migne, 1844-64 SBO Sancti Bernardi opera Unless otherwise specified,...
Illustrations
Fig. 14.1 The Bamberg Apocalypse, Msc.Bibl.140, folio 53r, The Last Judgement reproduced by permission of Staatsbibliothek Bamberg Fig. 14.2 Illuminated initial from a Book of Hours, folio i97r, manuscript 133 M 131 reproduced by permission of Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague, The Netherlands Fig. 15.1 Triptych of the Seven Sacraments by Rogier van der Weyden, Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp, image courtesy of Reproductiefonds Fig. 17.1 Oaken crucifix. Church of St.-Denis,...