Tag: Aelred of Rievaulx
For the Feast of St. Benedict
3. Behold, today we celebrate the feast of our holy Father Benedict. What was Saint Benedict? Without a doubt a man like you, like him, like me. His flesh is the same as your flesh. You and he are both of the same material. Why therefore was he able to do what you are not?… Read More ›
The Three Loves
Although there is an evident distinction between love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self, a marvelous bond nevertheless does exist among the three, so that each is found in all, and all in each. None of them can be possessed without all, and when one wavers they all diminish. Someone who does… Read More ›
I am that prodigal son
I am that prodigal son who took to himself his share of the inheritance, for I did not wish to preserve my strength for you and set out for a distant land, the region of unlikeness, behaving as one of the dumb beasts and made like them. There I squandered all I owned in riotous… Read More ›
We are miserable as we think that happiness is something it is not
The blind perversity of our misery is lamentable indeed. Although we desire happiness ardently, not only do we not do those things by which we may obtain our desire but rather, with contrary disaffection, take steps to add to our misery. In my opinion, we would never do this, if a false image of happiness… Read More ›
Under the hue of happiness we grasp at real unhappiness
The blind perversity of our misery is lamentable indeed. Although we desire happiness ardently, not only do we not do those things by which we may obtain our desire but rather, with contrary disaffection, take steps to add to our misery. In my opinion, we would never do this, if a false image of happiness… Read More ›
Self-centeredness
By abusing free choice, man diverted his love from the changeless good, God, and, blinded by his own self-centeredness, he directed his love to what was inferior. Thus withdrawing from the true good and deviating toward what of itself was not good, where he anticipated gain he found loss, and by perversely loving himself he… Read More ›
Love of God, neighbor, and self
Although there is an evident distinction between love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self, a marvelous bond nevertheless does exist among the three, so that each is found in all, and all in each. None of them can be possessed without all, and when one wavers they all diminish. Someone who does… Read More ›
Love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self
Although there is an evident distinction between love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self, a marvelous bond nevertheless does exist among the three, so that each is found in all, and all in each. None of them can be possessed without all, and when one wavers they all diminish. Someone who does… Read More ›
Attainment of peace of heart
Aelred of Rievaulx lists six stages to be passed through in the attainment of peace of heart and tranquility of mind. The rejection of worldly standards, particularly the search for pleasure or possessions and the ambition for honors. The setting aside of self-love, vanity, pride, and the comparison of self with others. Reflection on the… Read More ›