Aelred Quotes

Aelred  was an English writer, and saint. Aelred was born in Hexham, Northumbria, in 1110, one of three sons of Eilaf, priest of St Andrew's at Hexham and himself a son of another Eilaf, treasurer of Durham. In 1147, he was elected abbot of Rievaulx itself, a position he was to hold until his death.  Aelred was involved throughout his life in political affairs.  In 1142 Aelred travelled to Rome, alongside Walter of London, Archdeacon of York, to represent before Pope Innocent II a group of northern prelates who opposed the election of King Stephen's nephew William as archbishop of York. Aelred wrote several influential books on spirituality, among them Speculum caritatis and De spiritali amicitia. For his efforts in writing and administration Aelred was called by David Knowles the "St. Bernard of the North." Knowles, a historian of monasticism in England, also described him as "a singularly attractive figure," saying that "No other English monk of the twelfth century so lingers in the memory."