THE CORRESPONDENCE OF ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX AND AELRED OF RIEVAULX (Korespondencja Bernarda z Clairvaux i Aelreda z Rievaulx)

The one of the most important works of Aelred of Rievaulx is his first work - written at St. Bernard's insistence - 'De speculo caritatis'. Saint Bernard's letter is found at the beginning of Aelred's treatise. The letter was mistakenly and unconditionally ascribed to Gervase, abbot of Louth Park. André Wilmart has proved finally that the sender of it is St. Bernard. In his letter abbot of a Cistercian monastery in Clairvaux commands Aelred to write some little thing about the excellence charity, its fruit and its proper order. Aelred fulfilled his master's command but it seems little probable that this rank thinker how Bernard signed under work which earlier did not see. Therefore his letter is rather friendly review of Aelred's book. In the Preface of the work 'De speculo caritatis' Aelred has apparently shown the principal aim of his book, namely the image of Christian love (caritas). He divided the whole work into three parts. In the first chapter Abbot of Rievaulx writes about the excellence charity and the blameworthiness of its opposite - cupidity (cupiditas). The second chapter is reply to the inappropriate complaints of certain people. In the third chapter he shows how charity should be practised.