Category Archives: memory

The Price of Satisfaction: Bernard of Clairvaux’s View of Redemption

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“You lived, O man, in darkness and the shadow of death through ignorance of the truth; you were a prisoner and your sins were your shackles.  He [Jesus] came down to you in your prison, not to torture you but … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard of Clairvaux, Christ, Cross, medieval, memory, theology | Leave a comment

The Shame of Peter Abelard

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“You know the depths of shame to which my unbridled lust had consigned our bodies, until no reverence for decency or for God even during the days of Our Lord’s Passion, or of the greater sacraments could keep me from … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross, Heloise, Love, memory, Peter Abelard | Leave a comment

Memory, Understanding, and Will

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“Now this trinity* of the mind is God’s image, not because the mind remembers, understands and loves itself; but because it has the power also to remember, understand and love its Maker.  And it is in so doing that it … Continue reading →

Posted in Augustine of Hippo, memory, will | Leave a comment

Reason and Wisdom

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“The creature of foresight, wisdom, variety, keenness, memory, endowed with reason and judgement, which we call man, was created by the supreme god to enjoy a remarkable status.  Of all the types and species of living creatures he is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicero, Intellect, memory, reason, virtue, wisdom | Leave a comment

History Kindles the Desire for Honor

Posted on September 10, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

“I have often heard that Quintus Maximus, Publius Scipio, and other illustrious citizens of our state, used to say that the sight of their ancestors’ portrait-masks fired their hearts with an ardent desire to merit honour.  Obviously they did not … Continue reading →

Posted in history, memory, Rome, Sallust | Leave a comment

Recollection and Thought

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

“The faculty of memory is both the cause and the repository of memory and recollection.  Memory is an image which has been left behind by some sensory or mental impression that has actually been received.  In other words, it is … Continue reading →

Posted in John of Damascus, memory, teaching | 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

Bernard’s Memoria

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Matthew Phillips

“Preserve without fail the memory of all those bitter things he endured for you, persevere in meditating on him and you in turn will be able to say: ‘My beloved is to me a little bunch of myrrh that lies … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard of Clairvaux, memory, philosophy | 2 Comments

Humanity as God’s Creation

Posted on April 20, 2014 by Matthew Phillips

“Nature, that is, God, made man a composite of two parts, one celestial and divine, the other most beautiful and noble among mortal things.  He provided him with a form and a body suited to every sort of movement, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Leon Battista Alberti, memory, reason, Renaissance | Leave a comment

She Has Talent without a Woman’s Weakness

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Matthew Phillips

“There are now many honorable ladies who surpass the daughters of Thomas More in all kinds of learning; but among them all the most shining star, not so much for the clarity of her mind as for the splendor of … Continue reading →

Posted in Elizabeth I, Johann Sturm, Learning, memory, Roger Ascham, teaching | 2 Comments