Benedictine Reader

Hugh Feiss, OSB, is a monk of the Monastery of the Ascension in Jerome, Idaho. He earned his licentiate in philosophy and his doctorate in theology at Sant’Anselmo and is managing editor of the series Victorine Texts in Translation (Brepols/New City Press). He published Essential Monastic Wisdom, a thematic anthology of Benedictine and Cistercian texts (HarperSan Francisco, 2000). For Cistercian Publications he has translated works of Peter of Celle and Achard of Saint Victor and collaborated on Saint Mary of Egypt: Three Medieval Lives in Verse and The Lives of Monastic Reformers,1 and 2.Ronald E. Pepin, received his PhD from Fordham University. In addition to The Lives of Monastic Reformers, 1 and 2 (in collaboration with Hugh Feiss and Maureen O’Brien), his published translations include The Vatican Mythographers (Fordham, 2008), Anselm & Becket (PIMS, 2009), and Sextus Amarcius: Satires (DOML: Harvard, 2011).Maureen M. O’Brien, is professor in the Department of History at Saint Cloud State University, where she teaches ancient and medieval European history. She edited Stephen of Muret’s Maxims and Bernard of Clairvaux’s The Parables & The Sentences; she also collaborated with Hugh Feiss and Ronald Pepin on The Lives of Monastic Reformers, 1 and 2.

"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

• ContentsEpigraph   xiSaint Anselm (1033–1109), Benedictine of Bec and Archbishop of Canterbury Oratio 18: “A Prayer for Friends”Preface   xvBy E. Rozanne ElderContributors   xxxviAbbreviations   xxxixIntroduction   xliBy Hugh Feiss, OSBAcknowledgments   lxI. Foundations1. The Rule of Saint Benedict: Selected Chapters   2Introduction and translation by Terrence G. Kardong, OSB2. Gregory the Great: The Life of Benedict (Dialogues, Book II) [Selections]   19Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSBII. The Benedictine Centuries3. The Venerable Bede: The Life of the Holy Abbots of the Monastery in Wearmouth and Jarrow: Benedict, Ceolfrid, Eosterwine, Sigfrid, and Hwaetbert [Selections]   34Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin4. Benedict of Aniane: Concordia regularum and Supplement of Aniane [Selections]   51Introduction and translation by Colleen Maura McGrane, OSB5. Supplex libellus   67Introduction and translation by Michael T. Martin6. The Book of Nunnaminster [Selections]   78Introduction and translation by Marie Schilling Grogan7. Hildemar of Corbie: Commentary on the Rule of Saint Benedict [Selections]   94Introduction by Terrence G. Kardong, OSBTranslation by Albrecht Diem and Members of the Hildemar Project8. Walafrid Strabo: Hortulus: On the Cultivation of Gardens [Selections]   113Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin9. Servatus Lupus of Ferrières: Selected Letters   126Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin10. Haimo of Auxerre: Commentary on the Song of Songs [Selections]   143Introduction and translation by Michael T. Martin11. Abbo of Fleury: The Martyrdom of Saint Edmund 154Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSBIII. The Long Twelfth Century (1050–1215)12. Rudolph of La Chaise-Dieu: The Life of Saint Adelelm [Selections]   184Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB13. John of Fécamp: The Theological Confession and Poem on the Last Things   205Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB14. Quid Deceat Monachum: A Versified Ideal of Monastic Life   220Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin15. Benedictine Monasticism and the Development of the Art of Stained Glass   254Introduction by María Pilar Alonso AbadTranslation by Hugh Feiss, OSB16. Abelard I: O Quanta Qualia; Planctus; and Confessio fidei ad Heloissam   272Introduction and translation by Ronald E. PepinAbelard II: Prayers for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and a Letter Containing Two Prayers for Himself   283Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB17. The Life of Christina of Markyate [Selections]   287Introduction and translation by Ellen E. Martin18. The Chronicle of Petershausen [Selections]   307Introduction by Hugh Feiss, OSB, and Ronald E. PepinTranslation by Ronald E. Pepin19. Julian of Vézelay: Prologue and Sermon 16 [On the Works of Mercy]   330Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB20. Robert of Torigni: Treatise on the Change in the Monastic Order (1156) [Selections]   345Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB21. Hildegard of Bingen [Selections]   362Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB22. Peter of Celle: The Book of Breads [Selections]   380Introduction and translation by Hugh Feiss, OSB23. Nigel of Canterbury: Speculum Stultorum [Selections]   402Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin24. Adam of Eynsham: The Vision of a Monk of Eynsham [Selections]   417Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin25. Gonzalo de Berceo: The Life of Saint Dominic of Silos   436Introduction and translation by Carmen Wyatt-HayesIV. Later Middle Ages (1215–1550)26. Raymond Féraud: The Life of Saint Honoratus [Selections]   470Introduction and translation by Christopher Callahan27. Pope Benedict XII (1334–1342): Decree Summi magistri dignatio for the Black Monks [Selections]   477Introduction by Hugh Feiss, OSBTranslation by Ronald E. Pepin28. Ranulph Higden: The Mirror for Curates [Selections]   495Introduction and translation by Margaret Jennings29. Melk Reforms of the First Half of the Fifteenth Century [Selections]   512Introduction by Hugh Feiss, OSBTranslation by Ronald E. Pepin30. John Lydgate [Selections]   531Introduction and translation by Ellen Martin31. John Trithemius: Sermon on the True Humility of Monks   561Introduction and translation by Ronald E. Pepin32. Louis de Blois: Statuta Monastica [Selections]   580Introduction by Hugh Feiss, OSB, and Ronald E. PepinTranslation by Ronald E. PepinBibliography of Christian Authors   605Bibliography of Classical Authors   617Bibliography of Secondary Sources   619Scriptural Index   636Index of Classical Authors   645Index of Christian Names and Works   648Rule of Saint Benedict Index   663Index of Modern Authors   666