Thomas of Perseigne
Thomas of Perseigne, also known as Thomas of Cîteaux, Thomas Cisterciensis, Thomas the Cistercian, Thomas of Vancelles (died c.1190), was a Cistercian monk of Perseigne Abbey, in what is now Sarthe, France. He is known for one major work, a commentary on the Song of Songs.
His theology is regarded as typical of the mystical approach current in the twelfth century.[1] The commentary contains his theories on aesthetics,[2] and is dedicated to Pons, Bishop of Clermont (in office 1170-1189), formerly Abbot of Clairvaux. It contains a number of citations from classical poets.[3]
His commentary on the Song of Songs is one of the most widely distributed medieval commentaries, with 78 surviving manuscripts, and mention of seven other lost copies. Only three other medieval commentaries, those of Bernard of Clairvaux, Honoré of Autun, and the combined commentary of Gregory the Great and Robert of Tombelaine, have been preserved in a larger number of manuscripts. Thomas's commentary was printed five times between 1521 and 1853, demonstrating its enduring popularity due to its modern style and rich content.[4]
Its style is characterised by a meticulous organisation into parts (distinctiones) and sub-parts, while its content offers a vast range of theological, moral, spiritual, mystical, ecclesiological, mariological and liturgical interpretations, drawn from a multitude of sources. It thus constitutes a veritable encyclopaedia of medieval allegory.[4]
Three main features give this commentary particular importance. Firstly, it illustrates the impressive diversity of knowledge available in a twelfth-century Cistercian cloister. Secondly, Thomas skilfully combines Cistercian and Victorian spirituality. Finally, the book is not aimed at the most advanced adepts of the spiritual path, but rather at ordinary members of a Cistercian monastic community who are aware of their ordinary status, but who nevertheless seek to rise from the earthly to the divine vision.[4]
References
[edit]- THOMAS LE CISTERCIEN, Commentaire sur le Cantique des Cantiques, 1 et 2. Introduction, traduction et notes par Pierre-Yves Émery, Frère de Taizé. — Abbaye Val Notre-Dame, Saint-Jean-de-Matha, Québec, Abbaye Val Notre-Dame Éditions, 2011, 446 p. et 533 p. (Pain de Cîteaux, Série 3; 31-32). (in French)
- Denys Turner (1995), Eros and Allegory, Medieval Exegesis of the Song of Songs
- David N. Bell, The Commentary on the Song of Songs of Thomas the Cistercian and His Conception of the Image of God, Cîteaux 28 (1977) pp. 5–25
- Pierre-Yves Emery de Taizé, "Thomas le Cistercien: Commentaire sur le Cantique des cantiques", Collectanea cisterciensia 73 (2011) pp. 375–384
- David N. Bell (2013), "Le Commentaire du Cantique des Cantiques de Thomas de Perseigne revisité", Les cisterciens dans le Maine et dans l'Ouest au Moyen Âge, Ghislain Baury, Vincent Corriol, Emmanuel Johans and Laurent Maillet (ed.), Annales de Bretagne et des Pays de l'Ouest, t. 120, n° 3, September 2013, pp. 117–131.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Giles Constable, Three Studies in Medieval Religious and Social Thought (1998), p. 168.
- ^ Wladyslaw Tatarkiewicz, History of Aesthetics (2006), p. 183.
- ^ B. Griesser, Dichterzitate in des Thomas Cisterciensis Kommentar zum Hohenlied. Cistencienser Chronik 50 (1938), pp. 11-14, 118-122; 51(1939), pp. 73-80.
- ^ a b c Bell, David (2013). "The Commentary on the Song of Songs of Thomas of Perseigne revisited". The Cistertians in Maine and the West. pp. 118–131.
External links
[edit]- At History of the Order
- Johannes Madey (2000). "Thomas von Vancelles (Thomas Cisterciensis)". In Bautz, Traugott (ed.). Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL) (in German). Vol. 17. Herzberg: Bautz. col. 1372. ISBN 3-88309-080-8.
- Online text of Cantica canticorum cum duobus cômentariis
