SAINT AELRED, Abbot of Rievaulx (1109-1167) was born in England in 1109. The youngest of three brothers born to a married priest of St. Andrews Church in Northern England; Aelred apprenticed as a squire, steward and ultimately was designated 'Master of the House' to King David I of Scotland. He left the service of the king to enter the service of God, ordained priest in 1134. Aelred became a monk at the Catholic monastery at Rievaulx (pronounced ree-VO) in Yorkshire, England. His reputation as a great teacher and theologian, prompted his election to Abbot. During his tenure the monastery became home to 650 Friars, monks and religious brothers; attributed to his great friendship and charity. He became known as "the Saint Bernard of England", having caused his Order of Cistercian monks to grow in number and influence throughout Great Britain and northern Europe. In his later years, Aelred was to preach at Westminster Abbey; invited by King Edward the Confessor of Great Britain and to record the King's biography. Following a prolonged illness, which was thought to be tuberculosis, Aelred was called home to God on January 12, 1167. He was canonized saint by the Roman Catholic Church (Cistercian Order) in 1476. Pope John Paul called Aelred, "a defacto Saint of the Church as we continue to endorse the Cistercian Order and respect their endorsement of their beloved mentor." Saint Aelred's life is celebrated on February 3rd.
Though known as a historian, writing the biographies of King Henry II and King Edward the Confessor; Saint Aelred wrote extensively with regard to human relationships, often citing the friendships among the monks at his Abbey. His two most notable works, Speculum caritatis (Mirror of Charity c.1142) and De Spirituali Amicita (Our Spiritual Friendships c.1164), Saint Aelred proclaims that our friendships are proof of God's love for us. Citing scripture; "He who abides in friendship, abides in God and God in him; for God is friendship." (1 John 4:7-21), Aelred charged his monks to "come to love and be charitable to each other, so then will the love and grace of God be blessed upon you." (Mirror of Charity) It is speculated that Aelred was homosexual, which may have been why the Roman Church is hesitant to proclaim a Saint "equal to others".
"It is no small consolation in this life to have someone you can unite with you in an intimate affection and the embrace of a holy love. Someone in whom your spirit can rest, to whom you can pour out your soul, to whose pleasant exchanges, as to soothing songs, you can fly in sorrow. To the dear breast of whose friendship, amidst the many troubles of the world, you can safely retire. A person who can shed tears with you in your worries- be happy with when things go well, search out with you the answer to your problems- whom with the ties of charity you can lead into the depths of your heart. A person who- though absent in body- is yet present in spirit, where your heart can talk to him- where the sweetness of the Spirit flows between you- where you join yourself and cleave to him, that souls mingles with the soul as two are one.
"And so praying to Christ for your friends, and longing to be heard by Christ for your friend's sake- you reach out with devotion to Christ himself. And suddenly and insensibly- as though touched by the gentleness of Christ close at hand- you begin to taste how sweet He is and to feel how lovely He is. Thus from that holy love by which you embrace your friend- you rise to that love by which you have indeed embraced Christ." (Our Spiritual Friendships)
Throughout his life, Saint Aelred maintained that the only visible evidence of a living God, beyond the beauty and wonder of creation- was the love and compassion exchanged in friendship. In friendship, God lives with us and through us. "Only with genuine friendship and fidelity, can we truly know God and His love for us!" (Mirror of Charity 1:29:132) Click on the picture of Saint Aelred below to see a short video about him.
Reference. Aelred of Rievaulx-The Way of Friendship. by Fr. M. Basil Pennington, OCist. (c) 2001. New City Press. Hyde Park, NY 12538
Ruins of The Catholic Monastery at Rievaulx, built in 1132. One of the wealthiest monasteries in England until looted and closed by King Henry VIII in 1538.
Under Aelred as Abbot, it saw its growth to more than 50 buildings and home to more than 650 monks. Saint Aelred is buried on the campus.
Under Aelred as Abbot, it saw its growth to more than 50 buildings and home to more than 650 monks. Saint Aelred is buried on the campus.