Aelred of Rievaulx

Biographical Details:
|
Biography:
Aelred of Rievaulx was a 12th-century Cistercian monk and abbot, known for his deep spirituality, theological insight, and leadership within the monastic community. Born in 1110 in Hexham, Northumbria, Aelred grew up in a noble family and was educated at the court of King David I of Scotland, where he served for a time. Despite the promising career ahead of him in secular life, he chose to join the Cistercian Order at the abbey of Rievaulx in Yorkshire around 1134. His decision was influenced by the monastic reform movement and the teachings of Bernard of Clairvaux, with whom Aelred had a close relationship.
Aelred quickly gained a reputation for his wisdom and holiness, and by 1147, he became the abbot of Rievaulx, a position he held until his death in 1167. Under his leadership, Rievaulx Abbey flourished and became one of the most important monastic centers in England. Aelred is particularly remembered for his writings on Christian spirituality, love, and friendship, which emphasized the importance of community, charity, and the love of God.
Aelred’s spirituality was deeply influenced by the ideals of Cistercian monasticism, focusing on humility, love, and personal relationship with God. His works had a lasting influence on Christian thought, especially in their exploration of the themes of friendship and charity, both central to his vision of monastic life.
His extant writings include several influential books on spirituality, among them Speculum caritatis (“The Mirror of Charity”), De spiritali amicitia (“On Spiritual Friendship”), De Jesu puero duodenni (“On the Boy Jesus at Twelve”), Genealogia regum Anglorum (“Genealogy of the Kings of the English”), De Institutione Inclusarum (“The Formation of Recluses”), and Vita sancti
Extant Writings:
- Speculum caritatis (“The Mirror of Charity”)
- De spiritali amicitia (“On Spiritual Friendship”)
- De Jesu puero duodenni (“On the Boy Jesus at Twelve”)
- Genealogia regum Anglorum (“Genealogy of the Kings of the English”)
- De Institutione Inclusarum (“The Formation of Recluses”)
- Vita sancti
Quotes and Excerpts:
On Mary, the New Eve:
“Through Mary, we were born in a better way than through Eve, since Christ was born from Mary…. She is our Mother, … the Mother of our light… Therefore she is more our Mother than our mothers in the flesh, because our better birth comes from her.” -Sermo 2 in Nativitate; PL 195, 323C.
On Mary, the Mediatrix:
“So great is her love for the human race that, just as her Son is recognized as the Mediator between his Father and man, so she stands as Mediatrix between us and her Son; she turns away his wrath, calls forth his mercy, begs his favor, defers punishment, so that she has often put back into its sheath the sword of rage that had already been drawn from its sheath to be used against the human race.” –Sermo in Annuntiatione Dominica; Talbot, 81-82.
On the Intercession of Mary:
“For it is not right that the Son should deny her anything…. She is the Mother of Mercy and so gladly stands ready, prepared to hear the desires of those who call upon her, and for them all, she obtains the result they hoped for.” -Sermo in Assumptione; Talbot, 166
On the Assumption of Mary, the Mother of God:
“No wonder that the holy Mother of God, who from his infancy stayed with him in his trials, should also be taken up to heaven in her body and lifted up above the choirs of angels.” –Sermo in Assumptione; Talbot, 162.