Saint Aelred of Rievaulx
Saint Aelred of Rievaulx (also known as Ælred of Rievaulx, Ailred of Rievaulx, or the Bernard of the North; born 1110; died January 12, 1167) was an English Cistercian abbot, theologian, and spiritual writer who is considered one of the greatest mystical and theological writers of the twelfth century. As third Abbot of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire, England, he presided over one of the largest and most flourishing Cistercian communities in Christendom. His writings on friendship, spiritual life, and pastoral theology — above all his masterpieces De Spiritali Amicitia (On Spiritual Friendship) and Speculum Caritatis (Mirror of Charity) — have made him a beloved guide for Christian contemplatives across the centuries. He was formally canonized and his feast day is January 12.
Aelred was born into a priestly family of Hexham in Northumberland. He was educated at the court of King David I of Scotland and served as a royal steward before, in 1134, entering the newly founded Cistercian Abbey of Rievaulx in the North Yorkshire Moors — one of the first Cistercian foundations in England. He rose rapidly through the community, was elected Abbot of Revesby (a daughter house) in 1143, and then Abbot of Rievaulx itself in 1147. Under his abbacy, Rievaulx grew to more than 650 monks and lay brothers — an extraordinary achievement. Despite suffering increasingly from kidney stones and other ailments that left him in great pain in his later years, Aelred continued to write, preach, and direct souls until his death in January 1167. His extraordinary compassion — which allowed monks who were unable to bear the rigors of Cistercian discipline to remain in the monastery — earned him the title of "the merciful abbot."
Stored in Cargo: Saint Aelred Of Rievaulx
| Saint Aelred of Rievaulx | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 12 |
| Profession | Cistercian monk; Abbot of Rievaulx; theologian; spiritual writer |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Cistercian Order |
| Patronage | Cistercians; spiritual writers; those with disabilities; the sick; those who suffer from arthritis |
| Attributes | Cistercian habit (white); book; crozier; heart (symbol of charity) |
| Birthplace | Hexham, Northumberland, England |
| Death Place | Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire, England |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes (kidney stones, arthritis); confessor abbot |
| Primary Shrine | Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire, England (ruins) |
| Liturgical Class | Not included in the General Roman Calendar (included in the Anglican calendar; venerated in the Cistercian calendar) |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Birth
Aelred was born in 1110 at Hexham in Northumberland, England. He came from a hereditary priestly family — his father and grandfather had been priests at Hexham, in the tradition of English secular clergy before the full implementation of celibacy reform. This family background gave Aelred deep roots in northern English Christianity.
Early Life
Aelred received an excellent education and was sent as a young man to the court of King David I of Scotland, where he became a trusted member of the royal household and rose to become the royal steward (dapifer) — a position of considerable responsibility and honor. He was thus well-acquainted with the political and courtly life of twelfth-century Britain.
In 1134, on a journey south to visit the Archbishop of York, Aelred visited the recently founded Cistercian Abbey of Rievaulx in the North Yorkshire Moors — one of the first Cistercian houses in England, founded in 1132. The encounter changed his life. He entered the monastery almost immediately, leaving behind his promising courtly career.
Occupation
Aelred entered Rievaulx as a novice in 1134 and advanced rapidly through the community. Around 1141–1142, he was sent to represent Rievaulx at the General Chapter of the Cistercian Order at Cîteaux, France, where he met the great Saint Bernard of Clairvaux — the dominant figure of twelfth-century Western Christianity. Bernard encouraged Aelred to write his first major work, Speculum Caritatis (Mirror of Charity).
In 1143, Aelred was elected Abbot of Revesby Abbey in Lincolnshire, a daughter house of Rievaulx. In 1147, he returned to Rievaulx as its third Abbot. Under his abbacy, Rievaulx became one of the largest Cistercian communities in England and, by some accounts, in all of Christendom — with over 650 monks and lay brothers at its height. Aelred's abbacy was marked by his extraordinary compassion: he famously allowed monks who could not bear the full rigors of Cistercian observance to remain in the monastery and to live at a slower pace, treating them with a paternal mercy that was sometimes criticized by stricter observers but which reflected his deeply held theology of love and friendship.
Theological Writings
Aelred's principal theological contributions include:
- Speculum Caritatis (Mirror of Charity, c. 1143) — a three-book treatise on the nature of charity (love) as the foundation of the spiritual and monastic life; written at Saint Bernard's suggestion.
- De Spiritali Amicitia (On Spiritual Friendship, c. 1160–1167) — Aelred's most celebrated work, a dialogue on Christian friendship modeled on Cicero's De Amicitia but thoroughly transformed by the theology of the Gospel. It argues that true friendship, grounded in virtue and directed toward God, is a participation in the life of the Holy Trinity: "God is friendship" (Deus amicitia est).
- De Anima (On the Soul) — a philosophical and theological dialogue.
- Historical and hagiographical works, including a life of Saint Edward the Confessor.
- Numerous sermons.
Vocation
Aelred's vocation as a Cistercian abbot was expressed through a remarkable integration of intellectual brilliance, personal compassion, and mystical depth. He understood the monastic life as an apprenticeship in love — in charity toward God and neighbor — and his theology of friendship as a privileged path to God became one of the most influential in medieval spirituality. Despite severe physical suffering in his last years (from arthritis and kidney stones that eventually left him bedridden), he continued to receive visitors and direct souls from his sickroom, becoming a figure of pastoral love to his monks.
Death
Saint Aelred died on January 12, 1167, at Rievaulx Abbey, surrounded by his monks. His biographer, the monk Walter Daniel, has left a vivid account of his last days and death. He was buried at Rievaulx; his tomb became a place of pilgrimage. His canonization was confirmed by Pope Celestine III in 1191–1192 at the request of the Cistercian community.
Significant events
- Born 1110 at Hexham, Northumberland; from a hereditary priestly family.
- Educated at the court of King David I of Scotland; became royal steward.
- Entered Rievaulx Abbey as a monk in 1134.
- Met Saint Bernard of Clairvaux at Cîteaux c. 1141; began writing Mirror of Charity.
- Elected Abbot of Revesby Abbey, 1143.
- Elected Abbot of Rievaulx, 1147; community grew to 650+ monks under his leadership.
- Wrote On Spiritual Friendship (c. 1160–1167) — one of the masterpieces of Christian spirituality.
- Suffered increasingly from kidney stones and arthritis; continued ministry from sickroom.
- Died January 12, 1167 at Rievaulx Abbey.
- Canonized 1191–1192 by Pope Celestine III; feast day January 12.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Hexham, Northumberland, England
Death location: Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire, England
Notable location: The Cistercian abbey he led as abbot (1147–1167); his place of death and burial (Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire, England)
Notable location: His birthplace (Hexham, Northumberland, England)
Notable location: Royal court of King David I of Scotland, where he was educated and served (Edinburgh (Dunfermline/Perth), Scotland)
Notable location: His first abbacy (1143–1147) (Revesby Abbey, Lincolnshire, England)
Notable location:
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Aelred of Rievaulx have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
List of shrines
- Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire, England — the ruins of his abbey; a major heritage and pilgrimage site managed by English Heritage.
Canonization
Servant of God
Recognized by local tradition at Rievaulx.
Venerable
Not applicable (medieval canonization process).
Beatification
Not separately beatified.
Canonization
Canonized by Pope Celestine III in 1191–1192.
Miracles
Miracles at his tomb
Multiple miracles were reported at the tomb of Aelred of Rievaulx after his death, which contributed to the cause of his canonization.
Miracle for beatification
Not applicable.
Miracle for canonization
Miracles submitted and approved 1191–1192.
Patronage
Saint Aelred of Rievaulx is venerated as a patron of Cistercians, spiritual writers, and those who suffer from physical disability, arthritis, and illness.
Feast day
January 12
Veneration
Saint Aelred of Rievaulx is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church, in the Church of England, and in the wider ecumenical Christian tradition as one of the great spiritual masters of the twelfth century. His feast is celebrated by Cistercians and Trappists on January 12 and by the Church of England on the same date.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.
Books
Written about the saint
- Daniel, Walter. The Life of Aelred of Rievaulx. Trans. F.M. Powicke. London: Thomas Nelson, 1950; repr. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978.
- Squire, Aelred, O.P. Aelred of Rievaulx: A Study. London: SPCK, 1969.
- Dutton, Marsha L. Aelred of Rievaulx: The Historical Works. Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications, 2005.
Written by the saint
- Aelred of Rievaulx. Spiritual Friendship. Trans. Lawrence C. Braceland, S.J. Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications, 2010.
- Aelred of Rievaulx. Mirror of Charity. Trans. Elizabeth Connor, O.C.S.O. Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications, 1990.
- Aelred of Rievaulx. The Soul. Trans. C.H. Talbot. Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications, 1981.
External links
- Catholic Saints Info — search for Aelred of Rievaulx
- Catholic Online — search for Aelred of Rievaulx
References
- Squire, Aelred, O.P. Aelred of Rievaulx: A Study. London: SPCK, 1969.
- Daniel, Walter. The Life of Aelred of Rievaulx. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978.
- Roman Martyrology (Martyrologium Romanum). Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004.