CHAPTER I THE BENEDICTINE SCHOOL AND AFFECTIVE PIETY IN THE MIDDLE AGES ORIGIN OF THIS SCHOOL CLUNY, cITEAUX AND CLAIRVAUX-ST BERNARD-THE ABBEY OF BEC AND ST ANSELM. THE school of spirituality which we meet with in history on the threshold of the Middle Ages is that of the Benedictines. It is characterized first of all by its affective and practical piety. Benedictine writers arc the exponents of affective spirituality, the importance of which, in the Middle Ages, was at least as great as that of speculative spirituality. They resolutely discarded high theories, subtle arguments and lofty abstractions, in order to adhere to that which speaks to the heart and unites with God. They were affected neither by the influence of scholastic theology nor by thG writings of Dionysius the Areopagite. Their ascetic and mystical reflections had for their immediate object the cultivation of the love of God and not discussion of the nature of that love; they led to mystical union
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About the Publisher
Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.
Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the difficult to read text. Read books online for free at http://www.forgottenbooks.org
