Explanation of the Rule of St. Augustine

by Hugh of Saint-Victor

EXPLANATION OF THE RULE OF ST AUGUSTINE originally published in 1911. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. The following explanation of the rule of St Augustine, taken from the works of Hugh of St Victor, is here presented in English form to those that live under the rule of St Augustine, and to whom it is not easily accessible in the original Latin.

136 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2008

About the author

Hugh of Saint-Victor, also called Hugo of Saint-Victor was an eminent scholastic theologian who began the tradition of mysticism that made the school of Saint-Victor, Paris, famous throughout the 12th century.

Of noble birth, Hugh joined the Augustinian canons at the monastery of Hamersleben, near Halberstadt (now in Germany). He went to Paris (c. 1115) with his uncle, Archdeacon Reinhard of Halberstadt, and settled at Saint-Victor Abbey. From 1133 until his death, the school of Saint-Victor flourished under Hugh’s guidance.

His mystical treatises were strongly influenced by Bishop St. Augustine of Hippo, whose practical teachings on contemplative life Hugh blended with the theoretical writings of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. Hugh’s somewhat innovative style of exegesis made an important contribution to the development of natural theology: he based his arguments for God’s existence on external and internal experience and added a teleological proof originating from the facts of experience.

Reviews

[Michael Vinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent insight added to a class rule of the Faith.