Peripateticus Palatinus (14)
Peter wrote a most wonderful letter to Heloise on the occasion of Abelard's
death. He writes, 'The nature and extent of the saintliness, humility and
devotion of his life among us, to which Cluny can bear witness, cannot
briefly be told. I do not remember seeing anyone, I think, who was his
equal in conduct and manner: St Germain could not have appeared more lowly
nor St Martin himself so poor . . . His reading was continuous, his prayer
assiduous, his silence perpetual, except when informal conference amongst
the brothers or a public sermon addressed to them in assembly on sacred
subjects compelled him to speak. He was present at the holy Sacraments,
offering the sacrifice of the immortal Lamb to God whenever he could, and
indeed, almost without interruption, after he had been restored to apostolic
grace through my letter and efforts on his behalf. What more need I say?
His mind, his speech, his work were devoted to meditation, to teaching and
to profession of what was always holy, philosophic and scholarly.' You
can't say fairer than that.
Peter concludes his letter, 'Thus did Master Peter end his days, He who was
known nearly all over the world for his unique mastery of knowledge and who
won fame everywhere as a disciple of one who said, "Learn from me, for I am
gentle and humble-hearted," steadfast in his own gentleness and humility,
thus passed over to him, as we must believe. Him, therefore, venerable and
dearest sister in the Lord, him to whom after your union in the flesh you
are joined by the better, and therefore stronger, bond of divine love, with
whom and under whom you have long served God: him, I say, in your place, or
as another you, God cherishes in his bosom, and keeps him there to be
restored to you through his grace at the coming of the Lord, at the voice of
the archangel, and the trumpet-note of God descending from heaven.'
Peter allowed Heloise to collect the body of Abelard to bury in her own
convent, as Abelard had particularly asked her to do in the course of their
correspondence, and sent her a copy of the absolution he had given Abelard
for all his sins, together with a promise to say a trental of masses for the
repose of his soul, and another promise to try to obtain preferment for her
son Astralabe. A sympathetic character was Peter the Venerable.
* * * * *
The Supple Doctor
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