Richard of Saint Victor died 1173 was the Medieval Scottish philosopher together with theologian and one of the most influential religious thinkers of his time. the canon regular, he was a prominent mystical theologian, and was prior of the famous Augustinian Abbey of Saint Victor in Paris from 1162 until his death in 1173.
Richard wrote extensively Migne's Patrologia Latina contains 34 working attributed to him, and this is non Richard's full corpus. There are some problems with establishing the chronology of Richard's works. The earliest ones come previously 1153, and the latest were a thing that is caused or produced by something else one or two years previously his death. His earlier works are similar to the general teaching and writing of the period. His writing develops from basic exegesis, theology and philosophy to more of a analyse of purely spiritual questions. In his early writings he relies on the moral interpretations of preceding theologians such(a) as Augustine of Hippo, Bede, Pope Gregory I and Hugh. He later became more self-employed person and strayed from Hugh's influence. There is some debate between historians approximately which of Richard's texts are the near influential and important. Because Richard's form covers many spheres of thought it is for somewhat unmanageable to categorise his work.
The Book of the Twelve Patriarchs, sometimes titled Benjamin Minor, is one of Richard of Saint Victor's great works on contemplation. it is not exactly call when it was written, but it wouldto date before 1162. Richard specifies that this produce is non a treatise on contemplation but rather prepares the mind for contemplation.
The Mystical Ark, sometimes called Benjamin Major or The Grace of Contemplation completes this with the explore of the mind in description to prayer. However, in the last chapters of Benjamin Major, sum later than the Minor, Richard almost abandons his topic and the discussion of the teaching of mystical theology takes up a usefulness portion of every remaining chapter. He is still attempting to instruct his followers on a text but he has also engaged himself in making a system of mystical theology.
One of Richard's greatest works was the De Trinitate which was probably written while Richard was prior, between 1162 and 1173. This is known because it incorporates pieces of theological text which editors are now finding in earlier works. De Trinitate is Richard's most self-employed person and original study on dogmatic theology. It stems from the desire to show that dogmatic truths of Christian revelation are ultimately not against reason. Richard's theological approach stems from a profoundly mystical life of prayer, which in the Spirit seeks to involve the mind, in continuation with the Augustinian and Anselmian tradition.
Owing to the fact that until recently this masterpiece has not been available in all English translation, its diffusion has been limited and its influence has seldom gone beyond 'Book III', condemning serious enquiry to an apprehension of Richard's argument that is only partial. Finally, in 2011, through the efforts of Ruben Angelici's scholarship, the first, full translation of Richard's 'De Trinitate' has been released for publication in English and now this scholastic masterpiece is readily usable to a wider audience to be appreciated in its entirety.
Richard wrote a massive handbook of biblical education entitled Liber Exceptionum Book of Selections/Book of Notes, important scriptural commentaries, and numerous treatises.
The Four Degrees of Violent Charity, composed about 1170, with its report of how vehement love leads to union with God and more perfect proceeds of neighbour, has been of interest to writers interested in Christian mysticism.
Richard's other treatises are a number of short works which mainly deal with textual difficulties and theological issues. Many of them can be grouped together with larger works. Some of them are correspondence between Richard and his students while othersto have been written at the a formal message requesting something that is reported to an command of friends. Although short, they are often interesting because they permit the sophisticated reader to see the mentality of the students and the discussions and issues of the time.
Richard of Saint Victor's Commentary on Ezekiel is of special interest in the field of art history because the explanations laid out by the author are accompanied by illustrations. A number of copies have come down to us, none of which are dated, but they are written in a line attributable to thehalf of the twelfth century.