Affective Spirituality: Theory and Practice in Bede and Alfred the Great
Scott DeGregorio
It is standard now in accounts of late medieval English spirituality to acknowledge the debt owed earlier Latin traditions, and just as standard, much recent scholarship proves, draw a line at year 1050, order give pride place Anselm Canterbury, Bernard Clairvaux remaining cadre eleventh- twelfth-century spiritual authors, rather than writers.1 Very notable here influence Sir Richard Southern, whose 1953 book The Making Middle Ages blazed trail for subsequent by arguing that century from 1050 1150, works St. particular, were watershed all later writing.2 Much fine work, it true, has built upon Southern's insights, but few if any scholars have (to my knowledge) expressed concern over "writing off" Anglo-Saxon period his view implies. On contrary, many otherwise studies appear content accept without question. Consider, one example, 1997 essay collection entitled Mysticism Spirituality Medieval England, edited William Pollard Robert Boenig.3 stated goal book's opening chapter situate late, mainly English, mystical writing against "rich background devotional literature."4 Reading on, however, finds "rich" defined quite narrow terms: before twelfth century, consists two writers, Augustine Gregory Great. omission Anglo-Latin material—and wider implication there are no traditions worth discussing—will doubt bewilder who work on period. For not only did Anglo-Saxons leave behind sizeable corpus vernacular texts well exploring its import; they also producers literature various kinds, least some which must, stands reason, affinities with what follows century. One could seek validate this claim number ways, I concentrate [End Page 129] select period's best known Venerable Bede King Alfred My aim highlight ways these writers anticipate currents thought practice commonly said mark literature, argue thereby more integrated approach study spirituality. Such an recognizes achievements contributions cases, we shall see, early developers concerns would become integral tradition. To begin Bede, let us start obvious affinity he shares authors post period: like Bernard, was monk and, accordingly, monastic writer. Spending whole life famed Northumbrian monastery Wearmouth-Jarrow, excelled major genres literature—hagiography, history, homily, biblical commentary, computus—and came these, moreover, through framework liturgy prayer structured Divine Office.5 And yet, while lauded modern literary achievements, especially Ecclesiastical History People, drawn virtually interest writer, ties notwithstanding.6 Again might turn explanation. In characterized Benedictine monasticism terms pre- post-Anselmian mentalité. Anselm's achievement, told, involved prioritizing acute sense "inner life," "new type ardent effusive self-disclosure" together pulled tradition belonged out "the traditional orbit life."7 Now judgment, "traditional life"—that...
Essays in Medieval Studies