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Bird of Many Plumes: Conceptions and Applications of Authority in the Thought of William of SaintâThierry
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Delphine Conzelmann unpacks the rich interplay of authority, tradition, and innovation in the works of William of SaintâThierry, Benedictine abbott and Cistercian monk, whose contributions to Christian history were long overshadowed by those of his contemporaries.
The volume seeks to reconcile seemingly contradictory aspects of this distinctive 12thâcentury biography, revealing what intention unites his stark criticism of new dialectic methods, his enthusiastic embrace of monastic reform, and his quest for reclusion. Discover the spiritual depth and doctrinal genius of William of SaintâThierry in this comprehensive study.
The open access publication of this book has been published with the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation.
The volume seeks to reconcile seemingly contradictory aspects of this distinctive 12thâcentury biography, revealing what intention unites his stark criticism of new dialectic methods, his enthusiastic embrace of monastic reform, and his quest for reclusion. Discover the spiritual depth and doctrinal genius of William of SaintâThierry in this comprehensive study.
The open access publication of this book has been published with the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Delphine Conzelmann, Dr. theol (2022), University of Basel, is an independent theologian and church historian, as well as a journalist in Switzerland.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
â1 Williamâs Life and Work
â2 State of Research
â3 Main Question, Structure, and Methodology
âPart 1
Williamâs Engagement with School Theology
Introduction to Part 1
1 The Use of Authority in Williamâs Lectio Divina of Romans
â1 Exegesis of Romans in the Context of 12th-Century Education
â2 Scripture in the 12th Century
â3 The Monastic Practice of Lectio
â4 Williamâs Self-Representation in the Praefatio
â5 Reading (alongside) the Fathers
â6 Reading as a Communal Endeavor
â7 Humilitas and the Ideal Reader
â8 Interim Conclusion
2 Authority as a Tool and Topic in Williamâs Conflicts
â1 Reading Romans from Two Perspectives
â2 Abelardâs Early Critics
â3 Orthodoxy and Authority in Williamâs Disputatio
â4 Bernardâs Involvement and the Council of Sens
Conclusion to Part 1
âPart 2
Mapping Williamâs Exegetical Process: Receptivity and Originality in His Reading of the Song of Songs
Introduction to Part 2
3 Bernard, Williamâs Guide through the Song
â1 Emerging from His Shadow: The Problem with Bernard
â2 Living the Song. Spiritual Friendship as a Foundation of Cistercian Exegesis
â3 The Brevis Commentatio
4 Williamâs Florilegia of Ambrose and Gregory
â1 The Early Medieval Tradition of Anthologies
â2 Williamâs Florilegia and Their Role in His Literary Corpus
ââ2.1 Reading between the Lines: Ambrose as a Moral Authority
ââ2.2 Restoring Gregoryâs Voice
5 Williamâs Own Expositio and Its Original Contribution
â1 Origen as an (Il)legitimate Source
â2 The Different Senses of Scripture
â3 âKnow Thyselfâ. Williamâs Spiritual Anthropology and His Understanding of Image-Likeness
â4 Love. An Intellectual Principle
â5 The Breasts of God: Williamâs Sensual Spirituality
Conclusion to Part 2
Part 3
Williamâs Vision for Life in the Monastic Community
Introduction to Part 3
6 The Golden Epistle in the Context of Reform
â1 A History of Misattribution
â2 Two Perspectives on Reform
â3 William as an Author for the Carthusian Movement
7 Williamâs Monastic Ideal
â1 Innovation, Restoration, or Renewal?
â2 The Monastic Life as Christian Ideal
â3 Horizontal Authority and Loving Obedience
â4 Concepts Applied: The Monkâs Image-Likeness
Conclusion to Part 3
Through the Lens of Prayer. Concluding Thoughts
âMeditatio ii. The Possibility of Acquiring Knowledge of God
âMeditatio iii. The Sensus Amoris
âMeditatio vii. The Communal Authority of the Saints
âIntertwining the Threads
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
Introduction
â1 Williamâs Life and Work
â2 State of Research
â3 Main Question, Structure, and Methodology
âPart 1
Williamâs Engagement with School Theology
Introduction to Part 1
1 The Use of Authority in Williamâs Lectio Divina of Romans
â1 Exegesis of Romans in the Context of 12th-Century Education
â2 Scripture in the 12th Century
â3 The Monastic Practice of Lectio
â4 Williamâs Self-Representation in the Praefatio
â5 Reading (alongside) the Fathers
â6 Reading as a Communal Endeavor
â7 Humilitas and the Ideal Reader
â8 Interim Conclusion
2 Authority as a Tool and Topic in Williamâs Conflicts
â1 Reading Romans from Two Perspectives
â2 Abelardâs Early Critics
â3 Orthodoxy and Authority in Williamâs Disputatio
â4 Bernardâs Involvement and the Council of Sens
Conclusion to Part 1
âPart 2
Mapping Williamâs Exegetical Process: Receptivity and Originality in His Reading of the Song of Songs
Introduction to Part 2
3 Bernard, Williamâs Guide through the Song
â1 Emerging from His Shadow: The Problem with Bernard
â2 Living the Song. Spiritual Friendship as a Foundation of Cistercian Exegesis
â3 The Brevis Commentatio
4 Williamâs Florilegia of Ambrose and Gregory
â1 The Early Medieval Tradition of Anthologies
â2 Williamâs Florilegia and Their Role in His Literary Corpus
ââ2.1 Reading between the Lines: Ambrose as a Moral Authority
ââ2.2 Restoring Gregoryâs Voice
5 Williamâs Own Expositio and Its Original Contribution
â1 Origen as an (Il)legitimate Source
â2 The Different Senses of Scripture
â3 âKnow Thyselfâ. Williamâs Spiritual Anthropology and His Understanding of Image-Likeness
â4 Love. An Intellectual Principle
â5 The Breasts of God: Williamâs Sensual Spirituality
Conclusion to Part 2
Part 3
Williamâs Vision for Life in the Monastic Community
Introduction to Part 3
6 The Golden Epistle in the Context of Reform
â1 A History of Misattribution
â2 Two Perspectives on Reform
â3 William as an Author for the Carthusian Movement
7 Williamâs Monastic Ideal
â1 Innovation, Restoration, or Renewal?
â2 The Monastic Life as Christian Ideal
â3 Horizontal Authority and Loving Obedience
â4 Concepts Applied: The Monkâs Image-Likeness
Conclusion to Part 3
Through the Lens of Prayer. Concluding Thoughts
âMeditatio ii. The Possibility of Acquiring Knowledge of God
âMeditatio iii. The Sensus Amoris
âMeditatio vii. The Communal Authority of the Saints
âIntertwining the Threads
Bibliography
Index
The book is primarily intended for scholars and post-graduate students interested in the spiritual and doctrinal history of Medieval Christianity. Knowledge of Latin is not required.