Category Archives: medieval

A Medieval Good Friday

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“Faithful cross, true sign of triumph, Be for all the noblest tree; None in foliage, None in blossom, None in fruit thine equal be; Symbol of the world’s redemption, For the weight that hung on thee!” 4th verse in Sing, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Cross, gospel, medieval, Peter Lombard, preaching | Leave a comment

Proper Digestion

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“In the process of learning, the very thing that ought to be a great help, namely, a great desire to learn, often becomes for many people an impediment.  They want to take in everything at the same time, and are … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning, medieval, memory, Pietro Paulo Vergerio, Renaissance, teaching | Leave a comment

Bringing Back What Happened

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Matthew Phillips

“It is a noble exercise to recount accurately the deeds of princes.  To do so is to consider generously all that is subject to time, to celebrate the dead, to entertain the living, and to set out a past life … Continue reading →

Posted in First Crusade, history, medieval | Leave a comment

Medieval University Students

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“They attend classes but make no effort to learn anything….Such are the limbs of Satan rather than of Christ….And these persons who go to a university but do not study cannot with clear consciences enjoy the privilege of the fruits … Continue reading →

Posted in education, Learning, medieval, teaching, university | Leave a comment

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

Martin Luther on the Good Samaritan and Charity

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“The fact is that wherever his [Christ’s] Word is welcomed and received in faith, it fashions people like the Samaritan here–gentle, compassionate, merciful people.  They cannot bear to see anyone suffering and when this happens they tender their own resources and … Continue reading →

Posted in avarice, Martin Luther, medieval, preaching, Reformation | Leave a comment

Grammar is our Mother

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“Grammar is the cradle of all philosophy, and in a manner of speaking, the first nurse of the whole study of letters.  It takes all of us as tender babes, newly born from nature’s bosom.  It nurses us in our … Continue reading →

Posted in grammar, John of Salisbury, Learning, medieval, teaching, trivium | Leave a comment

Memory and Reason

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“Memory is, as it were, the mind’s treasure chest, a sure and reliable place of safe-deposit for perceptions.  Reason, on its part, is that power of the soul which examines and investigates things that make an impression on the senses or intellect.” … Continue reading →

Posted in John of Salisbury, medieval, memory | Leave a comment

A Light to enlighten the Gentiles

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“Could anyone hold up a lighted candle in his hands on this day without at once remembering that old man who on this same day took up in his arms Jesus, God’s Word, clothed in flesh like a candle-flame clothed … Continue reading →

Posted in Cistercian, medieval, preaching | Leave a comment

Aptitude gathers wisdom, memory preserves it.

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“Those who work at learning must be equipped at the same time with aptitude and with memory, for those two are so closely tied together in every study and discipline that if one of them is lacking, the other alone … Continue reading →

Posted in Hugh of St Victor, medieval, memory | 2 Comments