The Cistercian Order was born in Burgundy at the start of the twelfth century as a movement of radical renewal - an Order that survives to this day with the greater part of its written heritage preserved. This volume brings together a selection of its finest works, which speak powerfully across the centuries to modern readers. Writings by St Bernard of Clairvaux (c. 1090-1153) - including his letters, The Life of Malachy the Irishman, sermons on the Song of Songs and the sharply satirical Apologia for Abbot William - reveal him to be a highly individual and influential writer of the Middle Ages. Also included here are a charming description of Clairvaux, biographies of abbots and a series of exemplary stories, all drawing on the Scriptures to express intensely personal forms of monastic theology.
The Cistercian World
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Translated and edited with an introduction by Pauline Matarasso
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The ruins of the great Cistercian houses that sprang up all over Europe in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries stand today as silent witnesses to an Order for which silence was an integral part of the spiritual life. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The ruins of the great Cistercian houses that sprang up all over Europe in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries stand today as silent witnesses to an Order for which silence was an integral part of the spiritual life. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By Mr B
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
An excellent overview of a period of European history commonly known as the 12th. Renaissance. It was the Age of the Cathedral building right across Europe which clearly was a response to some form of religious - devotional impulse, and the Cistercian revival under Bernard of Clairvaux was very much an integral part of the whole movement. It was the age of the Crusades whose motivation seems to have been more led by European politics than any religious motive. It was also the Golden Age of Islam, where Greek Science and Philosophy was rediscovered and transmitted to the west. It was an age of contradictions, and this nice collection provides another viewpoint.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Like all Penguin books, it seems that text-to-speech is not activated, thus denying it to visually impaird Kindle users. Most of these books have been in their catalogue for many years,so why should they choose to deny themslves sales on old titles? It does not present Penguin in a good light, I think.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars
4 reviews
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating and Delightful
12 Aug 1999
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This is a brilliant and much needed book. It contains short (several page) extracts from all the great Cistercian writers (Bernard, Aelred, Gueric), which Pauline Matarasso has beautifully translated.
The book has two great strengths.
1. The best bits of these great authors have been chosen so that the reader receives a taste of their wisdom without being drownwed in thick theological tomes.
2. The subject matter is fascinating, ranging from monastery tales, even at the time of St Bernard, throught contemporary biographies of great men like Aelred of Reivaulx, to a beautiful description of Clairvaux.
This book was a joy and I thoroughly recommend it.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Wiping away the rheum of prolonged sleep..."
4 Jan 2008
By Kerry Walters
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Whenever I feel in need of a spiritual tonic, I return to this exquisite collection of writings from 12th century Cistercians. It never fails, to use the words of William of St. Thierry, one of the authors collected in it, to "wipe away the rheum of prolonged sleep."
Most of us think of medieval theology in terms of scholasticism, the method of the schools or academies (hence its name) brought to its finest point by Thomas Aquinas. Scholasticism sought to apply the logic of Aristotle to theological issues. It is rigorous, consistent, sometimes brilliant, and typically dry as dust.
But predating scholasticism, and exemplified by the 12th century Cistercians, was monastic theology, which adopted a meditative, prayerful, poetic approach. The monastic theologicans were more mystics than philosophers, more interested in wisdom than Aristotle, allegories than syllogisms, scripture than schools. The greatest among them are represented in this collection: Bernard of Clairvaux, William of St. Thierry, Guerric of Igny, Aelred of Rievaulx, Isaac of Stella (my personal favorite!), Gilbert of Hoyland, John of Ford, Adam of Perseigne, and Stephen Harding.
Reading these men is like savoring an exquisite taste. Here's a small sampling to whet your appetite:
--Bernard of Clairvaux:
"It is a cruel mercy that kills the soul while cherishing the body." (p. 48) and "You will find that it is a hoe, not a sceptre, that you want for doing a prophet's work." (p. 88)
--William of St. Thierry (speaking of God): "Sometimes I hear the voice fo your spirit, a passing whisper like the faintest breeze, and I understand it to say, 'Come to him and you will be illumined.' I hear and I am roused from my torpor." (p. 112)
--Aelred of Rievalux (from his marvelous treatise on friendship): "Some men perversely, not to say impudently, want their friends to be what they are incapable of being themselves. They are the sort who are intolerant of the slightest faults in their friends, criticize them fiercely and, with a sad want of discretion, neglect important things while making an issue of details." (pp. 183-84)
--Gilbert of Hoyland: "He who cleaves to God will become one spirit with Him." (p. 219)
Most of us think of medieval theology in terms of scholasticism, the method of the schools or academies (hence its name) brought to its finest point by Thomas Aquinas. Scholasticism sought to apply the logic of Aristotle to theological issues. It is rigorous, consistent, sometimes brilliant, and typically dry as dust.
But predating scholasticism, and exemplified by the 12th century Cistercians, was monastic theology, which adopted a meditative, prayerful, poetic approach. The monastic theologicans were more mystics than philosophers, more interested in wisdom than Aristotle, allegories than syllogisms, scripture than schools. The greatest among them are represented in this collection: Bernard of Clairvaux, William of St. Thierry, Guerric of Igny, Aelred of Rievaulx, Isaac of Stella (my personal favorite!), Gilbert of Hoyland, John of Ford, Adam of Perseigne, and Stephen Harding.
Reading these men is like savoring an exquisite taste. Here's a small sampling to whet your appetite:
--Bernard of Clairvaux:
"It is a cruel mercy that kills the soul while cherishing the body." (p. 48) and "You will find that it is a hoe, not a sceptre, that you want for doing a prophet's work." (p. 88)
--William of St. Thierry (speaking of God): "Sometimes I hear the voice fo your spirit, a passing whisper like the faintest breeze, and I understand it to say, 'Come to him and you will be illumined.' I hear and I am roused from my torpor." (p. 112)
--Aelred of Rievalux (from his marvelous treatise on friendship): "Some men perversely, not to say impudently, want their friends to be what they are incapable of being themselves. They are the sort who are intolerant of the slightest faults in their friends, criticize them fiercely and, with a sad want of discretion, neglect important things while making an issue of details." (pp. 183-84)
--Gilbert of Hoyland: "He who cleaves to God will become one spirit with Him." (p. 219)
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
monastic reform
5 Aug 2001
By Michael Stewart
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book introduces the reader, through the exploration of multiple primary sources,to the twelfth century rise of the Cistercians. It provides a wonderfull look into the mind of these dynamic individuals who attempted to escape from the increasingly complex world of twelfth-century Western Europe and create an internal relationship with God through the external bond of mutual friendship.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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