Geoffrey of Clairvaux, or Geoffrey of Auxerre, was the secretary and biographer of Bernard of Clairvaux and later abbot of a number of monasteries in the Cistercian tradition.
He was born between the years 1115 and 1120, at Auxerre. At an early age he entered the ranks of the clergy, and followed for some time the course of lectures given by Abelard.[1]
In 1140 Bernard of Clairvaux came to Paris, and before the assembled scholars preached a sermon "De conversione ad clericos",[2] in which he dwelt on the vanities of a life in the world, on the necessity of a sincere conversion, and on the peace to be found in the monastic profession. Geoffrey, with several others, followed St. Bernard and joined the monastic community of Clairvaux.
Soon he became his notarius, or secretary, and his permanent companion. In 1145 he accompanied him to Toulouse and other cities of Southern France, where the saint preached against the Albigensian heresy of a certain Henry and his partisans. During the years 1146-47 he travelled with Bernard through France and Germany, where the saint aroused people for a crusade to the Holy Land.[1]
In the political events of the time he had only a small share; thus, in 1167 and 1168, he took part in the negotiations tending towards the reconciliation of Pope Alexander III (1159–81) with the Emperor Frederic Barbarossa and King Henry II of England.
Most of the literary activity of Geoffrey has reference to the life and work of St. Bernard. Thus, while still notarius of the saint, he collected the letters of his abbot, variously estimated at 243 or 310[3] He was the chief author of a life of St. Bernard in five books, furnishing materials for the first two books, revising them, and adding three of his own [4] He also wrote fragments of a life of St. Bernard, probably used in the first books of the complete life;[5] an account of the saint's journey to Toulouse, in a letter to his teacher Archenfredus;[6] an account of the saint's journey through Germany, the third part of the sixth book of St. Bernard's life;[7] a panegyric delivered in 1163 on the anniversary of Bernard's death;[8]Declamationes de colloquio Simonis cum Jesu,[9] an ascetical work compiled from the sermons of St. Bernard; Libellus contra capitula Gilberti Pictaviensis Episcopi,[10] a refutation of the errors of Gilbert de la Porrée; a letter to Albinus, Cardinal Bishop of Albano, on the same subject;[11] a life of St. Peter of Tarentaise (1175);[12] a letter to the above-named Cardinal of Albano, as to whether the water added to the wine in the chalice is changed into blood of Our Lord;[13] sermons and commentaries on books of Scripture, partly in print and partly manuscript.
References
^ abcSchaefer, Francis. "Geoffrey of Clairvaux." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 5 January 2019
^In P.L., CLXXXV, 395 sqq.; this description and the parts in the life of St. Bernard relating to Germany were edited also by Waitz, in Mon. Germ. Hist.: Script., XXVI, 109-20, 133-37.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Geoffrey of Clairvaux". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
geoffrey, clairvaux, geoffrey, auxerre, secretary, biographer, bernard, clairvaux, later, abbot, number, monasteries, cistercian, tradition, contents, life, works, references, external, linkslife, edithe, born, between, years, 1115, 1120, auxerre, early, enter. Geoffrey of Clairvaux or Geoffrey of Auxerre was the secretary and biographer of Bernard of Clairvaux and later abbot of a number of monasteries in the Cistercian tradition Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 References 4 External linksLife EditHe was born between the years 1115 and 1120 at Auxerre At an early age he entered the ranks of the clergy and followed for some time the course of lectures given by Abelard 1 In 1140 Bernard of Clairvaux came to Paris and before the assembled scholars preached a sermon De conversione ad clericos 2 in which he dwelt on the vanities of a life in the world on the necessity of a sincere conversion and on the peace to be found in the monastic profession Geoffrey with several others followed St Bernard and joined the monastic community of Clairvaux Soon he became his notarius or secretary and his permanent companion In 1145 he accompanied him to Toulouse and other cities of Southern France where the saint preached against the Albigensian heresy of a certain Henry and his partisans During the years 1146 47 he travelled with Bernard through France and Germany where the saint aroused people for a crusade to the Holy Land 1 At the council of Reims in 1148 he took an active part in the discussion concerning the errors of Gilbert de la Porree In 1159 he was made abbot of the Abbaye Notre Dame du Val d Igny in the Diocese of Reims and in 1162 he became the fourth Abbot of Clairvaux Owing to difficulties with the monks he was forced to resign in 1165 but in 1170 he was appointed to the Abbey of Fossa Nuova in the diocese of Terracina Italy and in 1176 to that of Haute Combe Savoy In the political events of the time he had only a small share thus in 1167 and 1168 he took part in the negotiations tending towards the reconciliation of Pope Alexander III 1159 81 with the Emperor Frederic Barbarossa and King Henry II of England Geoffrey died some time after the year 1188 probably at the Hautecombe Abbey Savoie 1 Works EditMost of the literary activity of Geoffrey has reference to the life and work of St Bernard Thus while still notarius of the saint he collected the letters of his abbot variously estimated at 243 or 310 3 He was the chief author of a life of St Bernard in five books furnishing materials for the first two books revising them and adding three of his own 4 He also wrote fragments of a life of St Bernard probably used in the first books of the complete life 5 an account of the saint s journey to Toulouse in a letter to his teacher Archenfredus 6 an account of the saint s journey through Germany the third part of the sixth book of St Bernard s life 7 a panegyric delivered in 1163 on the anniversary of Bernard s death 8 Declamationes de colloquio Simonis cum Jesu 9 an ascetical work compiled from the sermons of St Bernard Libellus contra capitula Gilberti Pictaviensis Episcopi 10 a refutation of the errors of Gilbert de la Porree a letter to Albinus Cardinal Bishop of Albano on the same subject 11 a life of St Peter of Tarentaise 1175 12 a letter to the above named Cardinal of Albano as to whether the water added to the wine in the chalice is changed into blood of Our Lord 13 sermons and commentaries on books of Scripture partly in print and partly manuscript References Edit a b c Schaefer Francis Geoffrey of Clairvaux The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 6 New York Robert Appleton Company 1909 5 January 2019 Patrologia Latina CLXXXII 832 sqq P L CLXXII 67 sqq P L CLXXXV 225 sqq P L CLXXXV 523 sqq P L CLXXXV 410 sqq In P L CLXXXV 395 sqq this description and the parts in the life of St Bernard relating to Germany were edited also by Waitz in Mon Germ Hist Script XXVI 109 20 133 37 P L CLXXXV 573 sqq P L CLXXXIV 437 sqq P L CLXXXV 595 sqq P L CLXXXV 587 sqq Published in Acta Sanctorum May II 330 sqq Baronius Annales Ecclesiastici ad an 1188 n 27 Attribution This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Geoffrey of Clairvaux Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company External links EditBibliography Archived 2012 10 17 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geoffrey of Clairvaux amp oldid 1126122715, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
