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Sources (2/3) Several notable writers are associated with Rievaulx. Chief amongst them is Aelred, whose outpourings include a number of sermons, a letter of guidance to his sister on the solitary life, a treatise on spiritual friendship and, perhaps the most celebrated of all his writings, the ‘Mirror of Charity’. This, his first work, was written at the behest of Bernard of Clairvaux, and was, in Walter Daniel’s opinion, the greatest of Aelred’s writings (see right). Aelred also corresponded with a wide range of people by letter. Unfortunately none of his three hundred letters now survive. Until at least the fifteenth century these were stored in Rievaulx’s library.
Walter Daniel, who is best remembered for his Life of Aelred, was also a prolific writer. A number of his works survive and include his ‘Sentences’ and writings on the Virgin Mary.(4) Another notable writer is Matthew of Rievaulx, who was appointed precentor of the abbey in the late twelfth century. Matthew represents ‘a new generation of monks’ who engaged in political and ecclesiastical affairs, and has left a number of letters, hymns and poems.(5) These include hymns to saints Stephen, John the Evangelist and John the Baptist, and to the apostles Peter and Paul,(6) and a poem on the importance of singing and harmony (De disciplina Psallendi), showing Matthew’s interest in and knowledge of music. He also composed a poem on Abbot William whom he describes as ‘a rose without a thorn.’ Matthew’s letters are at times extremely personal and underline just how stressful the monastic life could be for those charged with administrative duties. Indeed, Matthew attributes his ill-health to the strains of his duties as precentor and berates himself for having undertaken such an onerous task.(7)
The
library catalogue of Rievaulx Abbey is one of only three such Cistercian
catalogues to have survived; the others belong to Meaux and Flaxley.
(8) It lists over 200 books, which
include Bibles, Psalters, saints’ Lives,
works by fellow Cistercians and also secular writings such as histories
and medical works.(9)
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