David N. Bell (1943-2025) was professor emeritus of religious studies and dean of theology at Queen's College, St. John's, Newfoundland, and canon theologian in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's. He is the author of a number of books published by Cistercian Publications, including The Very Devout Meditations attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, Handmaid of the Lord: Mary, the Cistercians, and Armand-Jean de Rancé (CS293, 2021), Everyday Life at La Trappe under Armand-Jean de Rancé (CS274, 2018), and A Saint in the Sun: Praising Saint Bernard in the France of Louis XIV (CS271, 2017).

"In this collection of spiritual sayings, now in its first English translation, Armand-Jean de Rancé reflects on spirituality as lived faith that realizes relationship with God through the obliteration of one's own will and self-love. The Pensées are brief and practical, yet deeply thoughtful. David N. Bell provides a thorough and engaging context for the spiritual background and contributions of the Pensées. It is fitting that Rancé, who would have once seemed an unlikely author of spiritual edification, and whose Pensées made their way through the world in several haphazard editions, now finds a home in a series dedicated to a variety of spiritual thought."R. Jacob McDonie, Associate Professor of Literatures and Cultural Studies, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley

• ContentsAbbreviations viiPreface ixPart OneIntroductionChapter OneArmand-Jean de Rancé, Abbot of la Trappe 3Chapter TwoJacques Marsollier and the Publication of the Pensées 15Chapter ThreeSpirituality without Mysticism 26Chapter FourRancé’s Spirituality 37Chapter FiveRancé’s Monasticism 50Chapter SixThe Spirituality of the Pensées 65 Part TwoThe TranslationAbbreviations 81The Three Editions and the Translation 83Thoughts and Reflections on Various Subjects of Piety 85Selected Bibliography 165Index to the Pensées 168Index to Part One 183

David N. Bell (1943-2025) was professor emeritus of religious studies and dean of theology at Queen's College, St. John's, Newfoundland, and canon theologian in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's. He is the author of a number of books published by Cistercian Publications, including The Very Devout Meditations attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, Handmaid of the Lord: Mary, the Cistercians, and Armand-Jean de Rancé (CS293, 2021), Everyday Life at La Trappe under Armand-Jean de Rancé (CS274, 2018), and A Saint in the Sun: Praising Saint Bernard in the France of Louis XIV (CS271, 2017).

"In this collection of spiritual sayings, now in its first English translation, Armand-Jean de Rancé reflects on spirituality as lived faith that realizes relationship with God through the obliteration of one's own will and self-love. The Pensées are brief and practical, yet deeply thoughtful. David N. Bell provides a thorough and engaging context for the spiritual background and contributions of the Pensées. It is fitting that Rancé, who would have once seemed an unlikely author of spiritual edification, and whose Pensées made their way through the world in several haphazard editions, now finds a home in a series dedicated to a variety of spiritual thought."R. Jacob McDonie, Associate Professor of Literatures and Cultural Studies, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley

• ContentsAbbreviations viiPreface ixPart OneIntroductionChapter OneArmand-Jean de Rancé, Abbot of la Trappe 3Chapter TwoJacques Marsollier and the Publication of the Pensées 15Chapter ThreeSpirituality without Mysticism 26Chapter FourRancé’s Spirituality 37Chapter FiveRancé’s Monasticism 50Chapter SixThe Spirituality of the Pensées 65 Part TwoThe TranslationAbbreviations 81The Three Editions and the Translation 83Thoughts and Reflections on Various Subjects of Piety 85Selected Bibliography 165Index to the Pensées 168Index to Part One 183

David N. Bell (1943-2025) was professor emeritus of religious studies and dean of theology at Queen's College, St. John's, Newfoundland, and canon theologian in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's. He is the author of a number of books published by Cistercian Publications, including The Very Devout Meditations attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, Handmaid of the Lord: Mary, the Cistercians, and Armand-Jean de Rancé (CS293, 2021), Everyday Life at La Trappe under Armand-Jean de Rancé (CS274, 2018), and A Saint in the Sun: Praising Saint Bernard in the France of Louis XIV (CS271, 2017).

"In this collection of spiritual sayings, now in its first English translation, Armand-Jean de Rancé reflects on spirituality as lived faith that realizes relationship with God through the obliteration of one's own will and self-love. The Pensées are brief and practical, yet deeply thoughtful. David N. Bell provides a thorough and engaging context for the spiritual background and contributions of the Pensées. It is fitting that Rancé, who would have once seemed an unlikely author of spiritual edification, and whose Pensées made their way through the world in several haphazard editions, now finds a home in a series dedicated to a variety of spiritual thought."R. Jacob McDonie, Associate Professor of Literatures and Cultural Studies, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley

• ContentsAbbreviations viiPreface ixPart OneIntroductionChapter OneArmand-Jean de Rancé, Abbot of la Trappe 3Chapter TwoJacques Marsollier and the Publication of the Pensées 15Chapter ThreeSpirituality without Mysticism 26Chapter FourRancé’s Spirituality 37Chapter FiveRancé’s Monasticism 50Chapter SixThe Spirituality of the Pensées 65 Part TwoThe TranslationAbbreviations 81The Three Editions and the Translation 83Thoughts and Reflections on Various Subjects of Piety 85Selected Bibliography 165Index to the Pensées 168Index to Part One 183