Ailred of Rievaulx (Aelred of Rievaulx, Ethelred of Rievaulx) (1110–67), Cistercian abbot and writer. The son of a priest of Hexham, he was educated at Durham; c.1130 he joined the household of David I, king of Scotland, and became his seneschal. In 1134 he became a monk at the recently founded abbey of Rievaulx, where Bernard had appointed his secretary William abbot over the monks from Clairvaux who formed the community. In spite of delicate health, Ailred followed the austere regime and became so esteemed in his community that he was chosen as envoy to Rome in 1142 over the disputed election of William of York and, soon afterwards, as master of novices. In 1143 he was appointed abbot of Revesby (Lincs.); only four years later, he was recalled to be abbot of Rievaulx. Under his rule the house prospered exceedingly; it increased in numbers to 150 choir monks and 500 lay brothers and lay servants (the largest in England); it had made five foundations in England and Scotland.
Ailred's sensitive discretion and gentle holiness, with its strong emphasis on charity, inspired by the writings of John and Augustine, humanized the intransigence of Cistercian monasticism and attracted men of similar character to his own. Through his many friends as well as his writings he became a figure of national importance, chosen to preach at Westminster for the Translation of Edward the Confessor in 1163. This led to his writing a Life of Edward (he had already written on Ninian and on the saints of Hexham); other more characteristic writings included a treatise on Friendship, the Speculum Caritatis, and Sermons on Isaiah, often considered his finest work. A treatise on the human soul was left unfinished.
In spite of suffering agony from the stone, which obliged him to live in a hut near the infirmary towards the end of his life, he was sometimes well enough to travel. On his way to his Scottish foundations he used to visit his friend Godric of Finchale. But in the last year of his life he could do so no longer. He died at Rievaulx on 12 January and was buried in the Chapter House. Later his relics were translated to the church. In spite of the vivid and convincing portrait of him by Walter Daniel, his friend and disciple, Ailred was never formally canonized. There was, however, a local cult, which was approved by the Cistercians, who promulgated his feast in 1476. Feast: 12 January, 3 February (for Cistercians) and 3 March.
Bibliography
Click here for a list of abbreviations used in this bibliography.
- F. M. Powicke (ed.), The Life of Ailred of Rievaulx by Walter Daniel (1950); M.O., pp. 240–5, 257–66; A. Squire, St. Ailred of Rievaulx (1981); A. Hallier, The Monastic Theology of Aelred of Rievaulx (1969); P. Grosjean, ‘La prétendue canonisation d'Aelred de Rievaulx’, Anal. Boll., lxxviii (1960), 124–9. Works ed. A. Hoste and C. H. Talbot in Corpus Christianorum, Continuatio Mediaevalis (1971) and in P.L., clxxxxv. 209–796; see also A. Hoste, Bibliotheca Aelrediana (1962). Collectanea Cisterciensia (vol. xxix, 1967) marked the eighth centenary of his death
