“A Benedictine Reader is an exciting volume of sources that includes key texts from the Order’s inception in 530 through the sixteenth century. These ‘Benedictine Centuries’ demonstrate the rich and varied contributions that knit together the religious, political, social, and cultural fabric of European society throughout the Middle Ages and into the Early Modern period. Translated into fresh and readable English, each text contains a concise introduction that has an almost intuitive quality. This is a welcome addition to the field and is an excellent resource for both scholars and students alike.” —Alice Chapman Associate Professor of History Grand Valley State University “Perfectae Caritatis invited religious to enter into their original sources and primitive inspirations. A Benedictine Reader achieves this by creating a fascinating world of medieval monastic doctrine. This anthology opens up for any interested person ancient sources that fashioned monastic aggiornamento through the centuries. With quite remarkable scholarship, the wealth of footnotes in this volume introduces contemporary authorities promoting this renewal. Together these ancient monastics and contemporary scholars form a valuable treasure for a rebirth in monastic wisdom and insight.” —Thomas X. Davis, OCSO Abbot Emeritus, New Clairvaux Abbey “A Benedictine Reader brings together in a single volume the Venerable Bede, John of Fécamp, Abelard, Hildegard of Bingen, and other well-known figures of Western medieval monasticism. Also included are lesser known authors and works by anonymous voices. This virtual library of medieval Benedictine texts fills a gaping hole in monastic libraries and will be an excellent resource in monastic formation programs.” —Mark A. Scott, OCSO Abbot of New Melleray Peosta, Iowa 48 42 49 44 47 46 45 50 43 41 2 17 19 18 15 51 3 40 14 16 38 1 39 20 52 13 37 21 12 9 10 11 36 22 8 32 33 34 35 53 23 7 4 6 6 30 31 5 25 27 29 24 26 28 The Plan of St. Gall (9th century). Drawing by Guadalupe E. Rodriguez. 2016. (Monastery of the Ascension) The Plan of St. Gall: Key 35. Kilns 1. Abbey church 36. Mortars 2. Sanctuary 37. Mills 3. High altar 38. Factory: shoemakers, saddlers, 4. Paradise trencher-makers, curriers, turners, 5. Entry for public cutlers 6. Towers 39. Factory: goldsmiths, smiths, 7. Entry for monks fullers 8. Almoner’s room 40. Barn and threshing floor 9. Parlor 41. Hen-house 10. Cellar with larder above 42. Ducks 11. Monks’ kitchen 43. Gardener’s house and shed 12. Brewery and bakery 44. Garden: onions, leeks, celery, 13. Refectory with clothes room coriander, dill, poppy, radish, above carrots, beets, garlic, shallot, 14. Dormitory with warming room parsley, chervil, lettuce, savory, below parsnip, cabbages 15. Toilet 45. Cemetery and orchard: apples, 16. Laundry and bathhouse for pears, plums, laurel, chestnuts, monks figs, quinces, peaches, hazelnuts, 17. Preparation of holy bread and oils almonds, mulberry, walnuts 18. Sacristy with vestry above 46. Novitiate: refectory, master, 19. Scriptorium with library above infirmary, dormitory, warming 20. Visiting monks’ rooms room, church 21. Schoolmaster’s quarters 47. Infirmary: refectory, master, 22. Porter’s rooms dormitory, warming room, 23. Entry for distinguished guests kitchen and bath, church and school; entry for poor guests 48. Physicians’ garden and workers 49. Physicians’ house 24. Farm hands 50. House for blood-letting 25. Sheep 51. Abbot’s house: sleeping room, 26. Swine sitting room; bath, cellar, kitchen 27. Goats 52. School 28. Horses 53. Guesthouse 29. Cows 30. Horses 31. Oxen 32. Coopers 33. Turners 34. Threshing floor CISTERCIAN STUDIES SERIES: NUMBER TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE A Benedictine Reader: 530–1530 Edited by Hugh Feiss, OSB, Ronald E. Pepin, and Maureen M. O’Brien Cistercian Publications www.cistercianpublications.org LITURGICAL PRESS Collegeville, Minnesota www.litpress.org A Cistercian Publications title published by Liturgical Press Cistercian Publications Editorial Offices 161 Grosvenor Street Athens, Ohio 45701 www.cistercianpublications.org Scripture texts in this work are drawn from various texts by the authors of the chapters. Permissions have been sought to quote copyrighted documents at length. © 2019 by Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, ex- cept brief quotations in reviews, without written permission of Liturgical Press, Saint John’s Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500. Printed in the United States of America. 123456789 Library of Congress Control Number: 2018952806 ISBN 978-0-87907-275-9 ISBN 978-0-87907-175-2 (e-book) Contents Epigraph xi Saint Anselm (1033–1109), Benedictine of Bec and Archbishop of Canterbury Oratio 18: “A Prayer for Friends” Preface xv By E. Rozanne Elder Contributors xxxvi Abbreviations xxxix Introduction xli By Hugh Feiss, OSB Acknowledgments lx I. Foundations 1. The Rule of Saint Benedict: Selected Chapters 2 Introduction and translation by Terrence G. Kardong, OSB 2. Gregory the Great: The Life of Benedict (Dialogues, Book II) [Selections] 19 Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB II. The Benedictine Centuries 3. The Venerable Bede: The Life of the Holy Abbots of the Monastery in Wearmouth and Jarrow: Benedict, Ceolfrid, Eosterwine, Sigfrid, and Hwaetbert [Selections] 34 Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin 4. Benedict of Aniane: Concordia regularum and Supplement of Aniane [Selections] 51 Introduction and translation by Colleen Maura McGrane, OSB vii viii A Benedictine Reader 5. Supplex libellus 67 Introduction and translation by Michael T. Martin 6. The Book of Nunnaminster [Selections] 78 Introduction and translation by Marie Schilling Grogan 7. Hildemar of Corbie: Commentary on the Rule of Saint Benedict [Selections] 94 Introduction by Terrence G. Kardong, OSB Translation by Albrecht Diem and Members of the Hildemar Project 8. Walafrid Strabo: Hortulus: On the Cultivation of Gardens [Selections] 113 Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin 9. Servatus Lupus of Ferrières: Selected Letters 126 Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin 10. Haimo of Auxerre: Commentary on the Song of Songs [Selections] 143 Introduction and translation by Michael T. Martin 11. Abbo of Fleury: The Martyrdom of Saint Edmund 154 Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB III. The Long Twelfth Century (1050–1215) 12. Rudolph of La Chaise-Dieu: The Life of Saint Adelelm [Selections] 184 Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB 13. John of Fécamp: The Theological Confession and Poem on the Last Things 205 Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB 14. Quid Deceat Monachum: A Versified Ideal of Monastic Life 220 Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin 15. Benedictine Monasticism and the Development of the Art of Stained Glass 254 Introduction by María Pilar Alonso Abad Translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB Contents ix 16. Abelard I: O Quanta Qualia; Planctus; and Confessio fidei ad Heloissam 272 Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin Abelard II: Prayers for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and a Letter Containing Two Prayers for Himself 283 Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB 17. The Life of Christina of Markyate [Selections] 287 Introduction and translation by Ellen E. Martin 18. The Chronicle of Petershausen [Selections] 307 Introduction by Hugh Feiss, OSB, and Ronald E. Pepin Translation by Ronald E. Pepin 19. Julian of Vézelay: Prologue and Sermon 16 [On the Works of Mercy] 330 Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB 20. Robert of Torigni: Treatise on the Change in the Monastic Order (1156) [Selections] 345 Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB 21. Hildegard of Bingen [Selections] 362 Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB 22. Peter of Celle: The Book of Breads [Selections] 380 Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB 23. Nigel of Canterbury: Speculum Stultorum [Selections] 402 Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin 24. Adam of Eynsham: The Vision of a Monk of Eynsham [Selections] 417 Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin 25. Gonzalo de Berceo: The Life of Saint Dominic of Silos 436 Introduction and translation by Carmen Wyatt-Hayes IV. Later Middle Ages (1215–1550) 26. Raymond Féraud: The Life of Saint Honoratus [Selections] 470 Introduction and translation by Christopher Callahan x A Benedictine Reader 27. Pope Benedict XII (1334–1342): Decree Summi magistri dignatio for the Black Monks [Selections] 477 Introduction by Hugh Feiss, OSB Translation by Ronald E. Pepin 28. Ranulph Higden: The Mirror for Curates [Selections] 495 Introduction and translation by Margaret Jennings 29. Melk Reforms of the First Half of the Fifteenth Century [Selections] 512 Introduction by Hugh Feiss, OSB Translation by Ronald E. Pepin 30. John Lydgate [Selections] 531 Introduction and translation by Ellen Martin 31. John Trithemius: Sermon on the True Humility of Monks 561 Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin 32. Louis de Blois: Statuta Monastica [Selections] 580 Introduction by Hugh Feiss, OSB, and Ronald E. Pepin Translation by Ronald E. Pepin Bibliography of Christian Authors 605 Bibliography of Classical Authors 617 Bibliography of Secondary Sources 619 Scriptural Index 636 Index of Classical Authors 645 Index of Christian Names and Works 648 Rule of Saint Benedict Index 663 Index of Modern Authors 666 Epigraph Saint Anselm (1033–1109), Benedictine of Bec and Archbishop of Canterbury Oratio 18: A Prayer for Friends1 [Offered for our friends and for all readers of this volume.] weet and kind Lord, Jesus Christ, no one has greater charity* than you have shown, and no one Scan have charity equal to it. You owed nothing to *John 15:13 death, and yet you laid down* your compassionate life for your servants and for sinners, and you prayed* for *John 15:13 your killers, so that you might make them your brothers *Luke 23:24 and just men, and that you might reconcile them* to your merciful Father and to yourself.