Saint aelred of rievaulx, author of spiritual friendship, on librarything. 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. Read aelred of rievaulx the historical works cistercian fathers ebooks online. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx books on. Through prayerful, guided attunement to gods activity, sacred companions provide. Right then, as a young teen, i realized two essentials about friendship. Spiritual journey, spiritual friendship with christ and. Reading aelred of rievaulx s little treatise on spiritual friendship as an undergraduate was a lifechanging experience for me. 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. The alchemist is more than a book and has taken on a life. Perhaps the flourishing of rievaulx was in part to do with how its abbot gave a christian witness to spiritual friendship. In this inviting guide, david benner introduces readers to the riches of spiritual friendship and direction, explaining what they are and how they are practiced. Sources of the spiritual friendship aelred in the tradition of monastic friendship spiritual friendship prologue book one. Saint aelred of rievaulx, writer, historian, and outstanding cistercian abbot who influenced monasticism in medieval england, scotland, and france.
And, the differences are plain to see as one reads. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx 323 ratings, 4. To aid in our understanding, we are developing and validating a new measure of sexual and religious congruence as well as validating an existing measure of religiosity. Aelred, a 12thcentury cistercian abbot, insists that we need to test our beliefs about friendship with scripture. Spiritual direction moves beyond mere moral lifestyle accountability and goes deeper than popular notions of mentoring or discipling. 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. For further reading, i recommend aelred squire op, aelred of rievaulx. At the end of his letter to maurice, his superior, walter daniel describes how near the end of his life. If youre looking to form healthy christian friendships, learn how these marks of true christian friendship can help you build strong spiritual friendships.
My pro posed answer for a spirituality at the junction of modernity and post modernity is a spirituality of mercy. Aelred of rievaulx spiritual friendship pdf what is the. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx goodreads. Spiritual friendship musings on god, friendship, relationships.
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. Aelred of rievaulx possessed a personal charm which drew friends and disciples naturally to him. Liberty christian ministries inc recommended for you. It is amazing to me how much has changed in regards to friendship since aelred of rievaulx wrote spiritual friendship. The list below is full of a wide variety of spiritual reads that will absolutely change the way you think about and view life. We come to know a man of charity and astonishing sanctity, an ailing abbot whose monks sat chatting around his bed. His own experience of human weakness in a worldly life at the court of king david of scotland made him sensitive to the doctrine of charity which he found among cistercian monks. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. Aelred of rievaulx asks us to carry on the everdynamic mission of the incarnation. Sommerfeldts new book on the thought of aelred, the great twelfthcentury abbot of rievaulx, complements his 2004 book, aelred of rievaulx. The classic text with a spiritual commentary by dennis billy, c. 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.
This is a fantastic book that connects at the intersection of neuroscience and spirituality. No medicine is more valuable, none more efficacious, none better suited to the cure of our temporal ills than a friend to whom we may turn for consolation in time of trouble, and with whom we may share happiness in time of joy. 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. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx is one of the all time classic books of devotion to christ. The best spiritual books must haves on your spiritual reading list. The book club that i am a part of recently read and discussed this work and i was surprised to hear that very few people felt that it was relevant to their relationships or even all that interesting. Written in dialogue form, aelred of rievaulx offers wise counsel on many aspects of friendship. In 1150, abbot aelred of rievaulx, a cistercian monastery in yorkshire, answered the same question posed by a monk called yves. 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.
As a writer, aelred left behind a substantial body of work noted for its quality and breadth of insight. An interpretation of the lysis with a new translation. Only in passing do we glimpse the ambitious young steward at the court of king david of scotland, the. A practical theology of spiritual direction by chatfield, adrian, rooms, nigel isbn. So ive put together a list of the top 10 best spiritual books to help you evolve and grow your spiritual practice. Contemplation as way of seeing, support of spiritual direction.
It has powerful teachings and exercises that guide you to release past patterns, emotional responses, and negativity so you can experience a powerful shift. 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. The first clairvaux collection, adventall saints, translated by theodore berkeley and m. 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. Patricia carroll ocso draws our attention to aelred of rievaulx, a cistercian. Autobiography of a yogi is a beautifully written and highly inspirational account of an exceptional life, and a profound introduction to the ancient science of yoga and meditation. 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. To have written so truthfully about friendship, he must have been a good friend to others. Spiritual friendship cistercian father series by aelred of rievaulx at. 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. That book s theme, aelreds confidence in gods infinite love, also underlies this one. Spiritual friendship cistercian studies series by marsha l. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle.
However aelreds book on spiritual friendship is unique because he skilfully. His most famous work is called spiritual friendship both it and the mirror have been published in english by the cistercian press. What magic a book can hold, it can transport you to any time or any place, real or imagined, inspire and teach you almost anything about life, love and why we are here. In his writings on friendship, aelred distinguished three kinds. The 20 best spiritual books of all time selfhealing. 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. 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. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm, micro. The laws themselves arent groundbreaking but rather, familiar, but that is precisely what makes it appealing. Aelred died in the winter of 11667, probably on 12 january 1167 at rievaulx. He is regarded by anglicans, catholics, and other christians as a saint. My ultimate reading list of wisdomfilled spiritual books that have made a huge difference in my own journey. Pdf download aelred of rievaulx spiritual friendship a new translation pdf full ebook.
Mindy caliguire is the founder of soul care, a spiritual formation ministry that exists to increase soul health in the body of christ. One feels that one is part of the discussion group, like a book club. Certain readings of the symposium would also assert that to ascend the sublimation ladder from physical to spiritual mean you have. This journey is worth understanding and undertaking as it can and should lead to what chervin accurately depicts as a foretaste of heaven. I went to rievaulx out of gratitude for that witness. Of noble birth, aelred was reared at the court of king david i of scotland, whose life. At the end of book 1, aelred agrees with cicero that true friendship is. 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.
What aelred discovered is that happiness does not exist without friendship. God is friendship church life journal university of notre dame. Spiritual friendship by saint aelred of rievaulx librarything. Aelred was a monastic who wrote a guidebook about the selection and cultivation of spiritual friendships. 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. Grows out of his work with the shalem community and their use and promotion of spiritual friendship as a means of faith development. He references cicero and his treatise on friendship which i picked up for later reading, but presents his thoughts on friendship, sharing his experiencemostly from his aelred was a. Alfred of rievaulx seek ye first the kingdom of god. Mark yarhouse coauthors of costly obedience are interested in learning about the path of reconciling sexual and religious identity conflicts.
A book must be an iceaxe to break the seas frozen inside our soul. The dialogue structure of spiritual friendship immediately shows the importance of others in the spiritual life. Spiritual friendship cistercian fathers book 5 kindle. Weve created this list of the best spiritual books of all time based on our personal experience, as well as sourced from the worlds top most trusted experts and influencers on spirituality and enlightenment. I will draw extensively from the works of aelred of rievaulx. Spiritual friendship is contrasted with carnal or worldly friendship in this work. The life of aelred of rievaulx, written by his faithful friend walter daniel. A good book can help you progress in your spiritual journey in leaps and bounds. Perhaps the greatest gift this book provides is its inviting portraits of the process of spiritual friendship and direction. From line of married priests in north of england in late 11th century. True spiritual friendship, friendship that incarnates christ among us, perfects love. Spiritual friendship in 300 words spiritual friendship. The young monastery of rievaulx certainly needed aelred s experience in diplomacy and royal etiquette, his ability in english, latin, and the norman french.
What is said about friendship is a real eyeopener, putting friendship at the service of life moving towards god, instead of a mere passing experience. Spiritual friendship by aelred of rievaulx 9780879079703. 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. Liberty 2015 conference spiritual friendship, living in love with wesley hill duration. 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. St aelred of rievaulx english province of the order of. Aelred of rievaulx, abbot society of archbishop justus. Carnal friendship is a mutual harmony in vice which begins when lustful eyes allow into the mind images of beautiful bodies. It starts as a dialogue between aelred and ivo, with a third, christ, present with them.
It will inspire the readers own spiritual journey while simultaneously providing instruction on how to be a spiritual friend and director for others. Aelred writes in the prologue to his best known work, the treatise on spiritual friendship, that. Paulist press, 1980 a practical discussion of the why, what and how of spiritual friendships. In every true friendship christ must be in the midst. Spiritual friendship, by aelred of rievaulx, alban books. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. We had a lot of fun creating this reading list of the best spiritual books for our amazing readers at everyday power blog. Close friends ground us and keep us from thinking that what we have is our own accomplishment. Reading or listening to audiobooks is a great way to keep expanding your awareness. I can still remember the disappointment in my 14yearold cousins words. Pdf download aelred of rievaulx spiritual friendship a new.
Product title our baby boy memory book hardcover average rating. Stock publishers 7jtjupvs8fctjufbuxxx xjqgboetupdl dpn. Nathaniel peters celebrates aelred of rievaulxs unique contribution to christian theology. All these dying millions have a right to come to the knowledge of christ. Spiritual friendship cistercian studies series marsha l. In fact it is so noble, incredible and rare that one could say that he refers to intimacies between persons so great that contemporary culture would be inclined to describe such relations as being soul mates or kindred spirits. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Jul 07, 2010 liberty 2015 conference spiritual friendship, living in love with wesley hill duration. His feast day is celebrated by the cistercians on february 3. Aelred of rievalux work on spiritual friendship presents the most noble presentation of friendship i have ever read. The seven spiritual laws of success happens to be one of his best works and emphasizes the importance of success. Reading aelred of rievaulxs little treatise on spiritual friendship as an undergraduate was a lifechanging experience for me.
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. Alfred of rievaulx, from spiritual friendship circa 1150. Spiritual friendship cistercian fathers series 9780879072056 by aelred of rievaulx and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at. Ronda chervin brilliantly outlines the course, the associated bumps, and ultimate goals of authentic friendship in the spirit. 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. In this scholarly work sommerfeldt does not limit himself to aelreds doctrine of spiritual friendship but by a wide range of quotes and references to the abbots many writings he presents a comprehensive view of the cistercians religious teaching. In her book spiritual friendship, darkness and light, dr. Add them to your book bucket list, you wont regret it. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Writing shortly after aelred of rievaulx died in 1167, walter daniel, his secretary and fellow monk, has created the picture of aelred which endures to this day. Friendship, aelred teaches, is both a gift from god and a creation of human effort. 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. It has been about 900 years, so i shouldnt be so surprised.
The latest offering in the classics with commentary series invites readers to enter into one of the great works of the christian tradition that sees friendship as a key to spiritual growth and true. The mirror of charitygives us a solid theology of the cistercian life. During his abbacy he built rievaulx into a place of spiritual welcome and physical prosperity, desiring to make it a mother. Understanding spiritual friendship in aelred of rievaulx.