Mirror of Charity (Volume 17)

by Aelred of Rievaulx

Aelred of Rievaulx possessed a personal charm which drew friends and disciples naturally to him. 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.The Mirror of Charity gives us a solid theology of the cistercian life. Aelred's deep knowledge of Scripture, his joy in his brethren, and his love of Christ shine from every page. Because the divine nature is love, as the Bible tells us, directing our love to God-love conforms us to the image of God that has been lost through sin. All love, to Aelred, is a participation in God-love that leads us to union.The Mirror of Charity, written at the beginning of his monastic life, and Spiritual Friendship, written near its end, form a set. Together they demonstrate both the consistency of his teaching and his unswerving love of God in Christ.

Genres: Religion, Spirituality, Medieval, Nonfiction, Catholic, Christian, History

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Aelred of Rievaulx (Latin: Aelredus Riaevallensis); also Ailred, Ælred, and Æthelred; (1110 – 12 January 1167) was an English Cistercian monk, abbot of Rievaulx from 1147 until his death, and known as a writer. He is regarded by Anglicans, Catholics, and other Christians as a saint.

Aelred was born in Hexham, Northumbria, in 1110, one of three sons of Eilaf, priest of St Andrew's at Hexham, himself a son of another Eilaf, treasurer of Durham.

Aelred spent several years at the court of King David I of Scotland in Roxburgh, possibly from the age of 14, rising to the rank of echonomus (often translated "steward" or "Master of the Household") before leaving the court at age twenty-four (in 1134) to enter the Cistercian abbey of Rievaulx in Yorkshire. He may have been partially educated by Lawrence of Durham, who sent him a hagiography of Saint Brigid.

From 1142 – 1143, Aelred served as novice master at Rievaulx. of a new daughter house of Rievaulx at Revesby in Lincolnshire. In 1147, he was elected abbot of Rievaulx itself, a position he was to hold until his death. Under his administration, the abbey is said to have grown to some 140 monks and 500 conversi and laymen.

Reviews

[Brian Hohmeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not the central subject of the text (still deeply interconnected with it), Aelred has I think has far more of worth to say about friendship here than in his more famous _Spiritual Friendship_; in fact, I'm quite certain I'd recommend this for anyone new to Aelred far above _Spiritual Friendship_.

My only criticism about this edition is that I'm not sure the translation of "affectus" as "attachment" is as helpful as it's meant to be. Since it's one of Aelred's most used terms throughout the work's three books, readers may find his meaning confusing, as I did, until looking up the wider (or even more literal) semantic range.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m just so incredibly charmed by Aelred (also this is the source of my favourite hilariously overwrought, extremely homoerotic medieval take on Christ and the beloved disciple’s downright orgasmic spiritual union, so that’s fun).

[Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect outline of the Cistercian way of life, and of course, of charity.