Category Archives: theology

Mercy

Posted on March 9, 2023 by Matthew Phillips

“O man, if you consider carefully the mercy of God, you can possess in yourself the image of mercy.  What made Christ become incarnate, except mercy? What subjected him to our wretchedness, except his clemency? This is man’s only way … Continue reading →

Posted in Alan of Lille, gospel, medieval, theology | Leave a comment

No Word Sounds Sweeter

Posted on February 9, 2023 by Matthew Phillips

“Your word pierced me like the sharp arrow of the Mighty. As a result, I began to compare your statements with the passages of Scripture which speak of poenitentia [repentance]. And behold — what a most pleasant scene! Biblical words … Continue reading →

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Unto Us A Child Is Born

Posted on December 25, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

“Show us, Lord, your mercy, cloaked in our misery and working the cure of the miserable by a new kind mercy drawn from our very misery. For this, the art of mercy, has blended God’s beatitude and man’s misery in … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christmas, Cistercian, theology | Leave a comment

Gluttony Over Glosses

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

“For clerks of our own day follow more readily the schools of Antichrist than Christ, are rather given to gluttony than glosses; they collect pounds rather than read books…now all learning goes cheap, all reading is half-hearted; there is no-one … Continue reading →

Posted in Alan of Lille, education, liberal arts, medieval, teaching, theology | Leave a comment

Power and Justice

Posted on August 12, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

“On the remedy of the Passion others have said that it is understood in justice and mercy. For our Savior, although He was all powerful, was able to free man (hominem) from the power (potestate) of darkness by the word … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Cross, justice, medieval, Richard of St Victor, teaching, theology | Leave a comment

Martin Luther on Monastic Vows

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

“There is no doubt that the monastic vow is in itself a most dangerous thing because it is without the authority and example of Scripture.  Neither the early church nor the New Testament knows anything at all of the taking … Continue reading →

Posted in Martin Luther, Reformation, theology | 1 Comment

The Martyr Remains

Posted on July 5, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

“[The psalmist] says next: the back of his back is like pale gold.  Better pale gold than glittering brass: ‘the foolishness of God is wiser than men.’ Gold is the Word, gold is wisdom.  This gold discolored itself, concealing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard of Clairvaux, Cross, gospel, Love, martyrdom, medieval, theology | Leave a comment

A Pride So Great

Posted on June 20, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

“The third reason [for Christ’s advent] is for our advantage, so that [Christ] would make satisfaction for the first lie. Moreover, that lie was a pride so great that the man (homo) might lift up himself in the mind even … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Cross, medieval, Peter Lombard, pride, Ralph Ardent, theology | Leave a comment

The Blood of Abel

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

This painting comes from late medieval Strasbourg (c. 1410) It is currently in an art museum in Colmar, Alsace (France). Source of Image This image demonstrates the summation of medieval Christian piety with the bleeding, dying Jesus and the compassionate … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Cross, medieval, Peter of Blois, preaching, theology | Leave a comment

Winning Hearts and Minds

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

On March 6, 1522, Martin Luther returned permanently after an approximately ten-month stay in the Wartburg Castle.  The electoral duke of Saxony, Frederick the Wise, had sent Luther to the Wartburg after the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, issued the … Continue reading →

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