Goscelin of St. Bertin: The Book of Encouragement and ConsolationGoscelin of St Bertin's 'Book of Encouragement and Consolation' (Liber Confortatorius) is extraordinary both as an example of high-medieval spiritual practice and as a record of a personal relationship. Written in about 1083 by the monk Goscelin to a protegee and personal friend, the recluse Eva, it takes up the tradition of St Jerome's letters of spiritual guidance to women, and anticipates medieval advice literature for anchoresses. As a compendious treatise, incorporating numerous exempla, excerpts from theological discussions, and advice on meditative practice, it has much to tell us about the intellectual interests and preoccupations of religious people in the late eleventh century. As a personal document, it allows a fascinating and uncommonly intimate insight into the psychology of religious life, the sense of self, the construction of gender, and the relationships between men and women in the high middle ages. |
Other editions - View all
Goscelin of St. Bertin: The Book of Encouragement and Consolation Goscelin (of Saint-Bertin),Monika Otter No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
Abelard Aelred Aelred of Rievaulx anchoresses anchoritic Ancrene Wisse angels apostles Augustine beauty Bertin birth blessed body bride captive cell Christ Christina of Markyate Church Cistercian consolation cross crown David Townsend death demons Desert Fathers desire divine earth earthly enemy English eternal Eva's everything exile eyes faith fear flesh gender give glory God's Goscelin and Eva grace Guibert of Nogent hand heart heaven heavenly Helen Waddell Heloise hermit holy hope human humble humility Jerome Jesus John Katherine Group kingdom land letter Liber Confortatorius live Lord Lord's Luke martyrs Mary Medieval meditation mercy mind monastic mother Ovid Peter pray prayer psalms recluse redeemed rejoice Saint Bertin saints savior says sins Song Song of Songs soul spirit story suffer sweet Talbot tears things trans translation University Press virgin virtue Wilmart Wilton woman women words