M.B. Pranger

Bernard of Clairvaux and the Shape of Monastic Thought

This book examines the way Bernard of Clairvaux, in his writings, shapes the monastic existence as a subtle blend of biblical and liturgical texts and scenes on the one hand and uncontrollable events and emotions on the other.

Mystical Tropology in Bernard of Clairvaux.

Summary In this essay I take as point of departure De Lubacs description of twelfth century monastic exegesis as ‘mystical tropology’ (‘tropologie mystique’). Applying this concept to Bernard of Clairvaux, I analyse his use of the sensus moralis in sermon 4 In resurrectione. In this sermon Bernard reflects not only on the Resurrection but on the applicability of all central facts in sacred history to monastic life. It appears that there is no fixed order of importance in the succession of those sacred events. The monastic community can be compared with the apostles waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. In this spiritual state their looking back at the sacred past is at liberty to select the most appropriate moment of the life of Christ in order to have it reenacted in the liturgical setting of the monastery. De Lubac, on his part, thinks that Bernards discourse, being organised in so loose a fashion, is in danger of falling apart into a ‘broderie mystique’. I try to demonstrate that this is not the...

Eternity's Ennui

This book examines the nature of Augustinian time as the unfathomable yet permanent focus of the present. What are the implications for Augustine’s confessional discourse? How to reconcile the brevity of time’s focus with eternity’s longueur and the rhetoric of digression?

Augustine and Bernard of Clairvaux on Tears and the Self

How can we interpret Bernard of Clairvaux’s burst of emotion upon the death of his brother? To answer this question it is instructive to compare Augustine’s grief over the loss of his mother, a grief kept very private. Both write about their loss but Bernard’s discourse makes it possible to view and assess his grief from different angles, whereas Augustine’s tears have never been seen and known by anyone but God. This paper examines how these two authors take the reader into their confidence and what this tells us about them.

The Persona of the Preacher in Bernard of Clairvaux

Abstract This article discusses the way Bernard of Clairvaux introduces himself as preacher in his own work. To demonstrate this process M. B. Pranger take as his point of departure Erich Auerbachs definition of figura. Whereas Auerbachs concept of figura is still characterized by a certain degree of bipolarity (foreshadowing versus fulfilment) Bernards persona of the preacher, in Prangers view, is based on full reciprocity between the scriptural facts he is preaching about and his own handling of those details including his self-identification with biblical persons and facts. The thesis of this paper is illustrated with the help of passages from Bernards sermons on the Ascension and the Resurrection.

TERRET ME VITA MEA EEN ANALYSE VAN ANSELMUS' Ie MEDITATIE

Summary In this article an analysis is given of Anselms first Meditation. First of all attention is paid to Anselms use of language in his dialectical works, especially in the Proslogion (the famous ontological argument) and his Cur deus homo. It appears that the way in which Anselm plays language games with dialectical means originates from his intention and ability to use arguments within a literary context. As a result it becomes obvious that the gap between Anselms dialectical and his more meditative works is not as big as some scholars have suggested. A close reading of the first Meditation e.g. shows that its train of thought as well as its literary structure somehow reflect tensions and questions which have been raised and resolved in the dialectical works. There is one problem, however, which asks for special attention and that is the way in which the Meditation is supposed to be read. Anselm himself gives some indications with regard to this question in the prologue to his Meditations and Pray...

Barokke Vroomheid; dynamiek en beweging bij Pierre de Bérulle.

Summary In this article a rough outline is given of baroque devotion as it is to be found in the works of Pierre de Berulle. In this context “baroque” as applied to religious themes is defined as the coincidence of articulated and unarticulated elements within the framework of one religious design, the combination of which causes both dynamic movements and tensions. First a comparison is made between Berulle and Bonaventura. In spite of the similarities between the two men, it appears that the main difference is to be found in the anthropological concept of the imago dei. The terms in which Berulle defines the human position towards God reminds one of the ways in which Bonaventura describes the apex of mystical experience. In other words, Berulle tends to narrow the space which is reserved—in medieval anthropology—for the human mind, into a situation in which the human position only can be expressed in strong terms of adherence to God: liaison, servitude. Next attention is paid to the cosmic position of C...