Category Archives: Hugh of St Victor

More Than a Feeling

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Matthew Phillips

“For virtue is nothing else than an affection of the mind ordered according to reason, and such affections are said to be very numerous according to the various inclinations of the same mind, yet having one root and origin, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard of Clairvaux, Christ, Cross, Hugh of St Victor, Incarnation, Love, medieval, theology | Leave a comment

Pride Takes God from Man

Posted on June 9, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“Now these are: first, pride; second, envy; third, anger; fourth, despair; fifth, covetousness, sixth, gluttony; seventh, lust.  Of these, three despoil man (hominem); the fourth scourges him when despoiled; the fifth ejects him when scourged; the sixth seduces him when … Continue reading →

Posted in Augustine of Hippo, Hugh of St Victor, pride, university, vice | Leave a comment

Unlock the Hidden Places of Learning

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“A certain wise man, when asked concerning the method and form of study, declared: A humble mind, eagerness to inquire, a quiet life,                                   … Continue reading →

Posted in Hugh of St Victor, Learning, liberal arts, teaching | Leave a comment

Hugh of St. Victor on the Sacred Scriptures

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

“For the whole Divine Scripture is one Book, and the one Book is Christ, for the whole Divine Scripture speaks of Christ and is fulfilled in Christ.  Our purpose in reading Scripture is that, by gaining knowledge of what He … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christ, Hugh of St Victor, teaching, theology | Leave a comment

History is the Foundation of Sacred Learning

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“First you learn history and diligently commit to memory the truth of the deeds that have been performed, reviewing from beginning to end what has been done, when it has been done, where it has been done, and by whom … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Hugh of St Victor, memory | Leave a comment

Obstacles to Study

Posted on November 25, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“There are three things above all which ordinarily provide obstacles for the studies of students: carelessness, imprudence, and bad luck (fortuna).  Carelessness arises when we simply omit, or when we learn less carefully, those things which are there to be … Continue reading →

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Hugh’s Hermeneutics

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“First of all, it ought to be known that Sacred Scripture has three ways of conveying meaning–namely, history, allegory, and tropology….It is necessary, therefore, so to handle the Sacred Scripture that we do not try to find history everywhere, nor allegory … Continue reading →

Posted in Hugh of St Victor, medieval, reading | 1 Comment

Encouraging zeal for inquiry

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“Eagerness to inquire relates to practice and in it the student needs encouragement rather than instruction.  Whoever wishes to inspect earnestly what the ancients in their love of wisdom have handed down to us, and how deserving of posterity’s remembrance … Continue reading →

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The Stomach of Your Memory

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“We ought, therefore, in all that we learn, to gather brief and dependable abstracts to be stored in the little chest of the memory, so that later on, when need arises, we can derive everything else from them.  These one … Continue reading →

Posted in Hugh of St Victor, Learning, memory, reading | Leave a comment

The Good Student

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“The good student, then, ought to be humble and docile, free alike from vain cares and from sensual indulgences, diligent and zealous to learn willingly from all, to presume never upon his own knowledge, to shun the authors of perverse … Continue reading →

Posted in Hugh of St Victor, Learning, memory | Leave a comment