The Very Devout Meditations attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux A Translation, with Introduction and Notes, of the Meditationes piisimae de cognitione humanae conditionis David N. Bell This volume, the first complete translation in more than three-hundred years, presents one of the most important texts in the history of medieval Latin spirituality. Written between 1170 and 1190 by an unidentified Cistercian monkpriest, Meditationes piisimae, “Very Devout Meditations,” became one of the most popular and widely distributed pieces of spiritual literature in the whole of the Middle Ages. The work survives in at least 670 manuscripts with the complete English translation of the treatise published in 1701.
978-0-87907-157-8 CS298P, Paperback, 168 pp., 5½ x 8½, $29.95 e eBook
Available December 2023 David N. Bell is professor emeritus of religious studies and dean of theology at Queen’s College, St. John’s, Newfoundland, and canon theologian in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John’s. He is the author of a number of books published by Cistercian Publications.
“David Bell has brought to life a fascinating chapter in the larger-than-life image of Bernard of Clairvaux created by the misattribution of many works to this revered Cistercian author. The volume is a great introduction to the rich field of Cistercian spirituality beyond the already well-known giants like Bernard.” Anne L. Clark, Professor Emerita of Religion, University of Vermont “Who knew that the most popular work by Bernard of Clairvaux in the medieval period was not by Bernard at all? David Bell presents this influential anonymous work to modern English audiences with a thorough introduction. As usual, David Bell is as entertaining as he is effortlessly erudite.” Fr. Lawrence Morey, Abbey of Gethsemani
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