Editing Richard of Saint Victor

{{Short description|Scottish philosopher, died 1173}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
[[File:Hugostv.jpg|thumb|Miniature of [[Hugh of Saint Victor]] teaching the young canons of Saint Victor's abbey]]
'''Richard of Saint Victor''' (died 10 March 1173) was a Medieval Scottish philosopher and theologian and one of the most influential religious thinkers of his time. A [[canon regular]], he was a prominent [[Mystical theology|mystical theologian]], and was [[Prior (ecclesiastical)|prior]] of the famous Augustinian [[Abbey of St. Victor, Paris|Abbey of Saint Victor]] in Paris from 1162 until his death in 1173.

==Life==

Very little is known about the origins and upbringing of Richard of Saint Victor. John of Toulouse wrote a short ''Vita'' of Richard in the seventeenth century.<ref>This is reprinted in PL 196:9–14</ref> He said that Richard came from [[Scotland]].<ref>For further evidence of Richard's British origins, see Franklin T. Harkins and Frans van Liere, eds, ''Interpretation of scripture: theory. A selection of works of Hugh, Andrew, Richard and Godfrey of St Victor, and of Robert of Melun,'' (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 2012), p289.</ref> John added that Richard was received into the Abbey of St Victor by Abbot Gilduin (1114–1155) and was a student under [[Hugh of St Victor]], the most influential of all Victorine teachers (implying that Richard entered the community before Hugh's death in 1141).<ref>At this time, under the abbot Gilduin, Saint Victor was a thriving community and upon Gilduin's death, the abbey had 44 dependant houses of canons.</ref> This account of Richard's early life is not accepted by all modern scholars, however, and some have suggested that Richard entered the abbey after Hugh's death in 1141.<ref>Boyd Taylor Coolman and Dale M Coulter, eds, ''Trinity and Creation'', (2010), p198.</ref>

All scholarship agrees, however, that Richard was a magister during the 1150s,<ref>For further theorising on the state of the Abbey of t Victor in the 1150s, and the nature of Richard's teaching, see For further evidence of Richard's British origins, see Franklin T. Harkins and Frans van Liere, eds, ''Interpretation of scripture: theory. A selection of works of Hugh, Andrew, Richard and Godfrey of St Victor, and of Robert of Melun'', (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 2012), pp289-294.</ref> and was then promoted to subprior in 1159 (as stated by a document found at the abbey).  He served under [[Achard of St. Victor]]'s elected successor Ernisius, who was unworthy of the position.<ref>Feiss, p. 145</ref> Richard's life was then burdened by the frustrations of working under a man who was ill-suited for his responsibilities. Ernisius wasted the abbey's resources on overly ambitious building projects and persecuted those who attempted to resist him. Richard was allowed to keep his office but his influence was restricted. Things became so unbearable that an appeal was made to the Pope, who then visited Saint Victor in 1162.<ref>Richard p. 20</ref> Through a multitude of transactions, Ernisius was eventually removed from his position and the Pope commended Richard for his continued involvement in the matter. Letters from England written to Richard show that he was in constant touch with English affairs and give evidence of the international character of intellectual life at this time.<ref>Cahn p. 53</ref>

He was then promoted to prior in 1162, a position he held until his death on 10 March 1173.<ref>Boyd Taylor Coolman and Dale M Coulter, eds, ''Trinity and Creation'', (2010), p198.</ref>

==Writings==
[[File:Richardi Parisiensis Opera.tif|thumb|''Richardi Parisiensis Opera'' (1650)]]
Richard wrote extensively (Migne's ''[[Patrologia Latina]]'' contains 34 works attributed to him, and this is not Richard's full corpus).<ref>McGinn, ''The Growth of Mysticism'', p593 points out that ''In Cantica Canticorum'', attributed by Migne to Richard (196:0405-0524) is not by Richard, but belongs to the thirteenth century. Some of the spiritual treatises not found in PL196 have been edited in Jean Chatillon and William-Joseph Tulloch, eds, ''Richard de Saint-Victor: Sermons et opuscules spirituels inédits'', (Paris: Desclée, 1949).</ref> There are some problems with establishing the chronology of Richard's works. The earliest ones come before 1153, and the latest were written one or two years before his death.<ref>Richard p.21</ref> 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 study of purely spiritual questions. In his early writings he relies on the moral interpretations of previous theologians such as [[Augustine of Hippo]], [[Bede]], [[Pope Gregory I]] and Hugh. He later became more independent and strayed from Hugh's influence.<ref>Feiss p.145</ref> There is some debate between historians about which of Richard's texts are the most influential and important. Because Richard's work covers many spheres of thought it is somewhat difficult to categorise his work.

===''The Book of the Twelve Patriarchs'', or ''Benjamin Minor''===
''The Book of the Twelve Patriarchs'', sometimes titled ''Benjamin Minor'', is one of Richard of Saint Victor's great works on contemplation.<ref>The Latin title of the work is sometimes given as ''De duodecim patriarchis'', and sometimes as ''De praeparatione animi ad contemplationem. Liber dictus Benjamin minor''. The Latin text is in Migne, PL196:1–64. Updated Latin text (along with French translation and notes) is found in the critical edition of Jean Châtillon and Monique Duchet-Suchaux, ''Les douze patriarches, ou, Beniamin minor'', Sources chretiennes 419, (Paris: Cerf, 1997). An English translation is in Richard of St Victor, ''Twelve Patriarchs, Mystical Ark, Book Three of the Trinity.'' Translation and introduction by Grover A. Zinn. (Toronto: Paulist Press, 1979).</ref> It is not exactly known when it was written, but it would seem to date before 1162. Richard specifies that this work is not a treatise on contemplation but rather prepares the mind for contemplation.<ref>Healy, p. 214</ref> 
<!-- unreferenced and opinative. 
He uses the story of Jacob and his clan to create a treatise on the psychology of vices and virtues. He uses the different elements of the tale to bring to light the relationship between the mind and the body, the senses and reason. By doing this he wishes to establish within the younger members of his community a scheme to discern right and wrong actions through the powers of the mind. It is almost as though Richard is teaching the basic principles of psychology combined with spiritual doctrine. The whole purpose of this text is to prepare his students for contemplation and for a union with God.  Each chapter starts with a text which serves the idea of the writer and other texts are introduced to confirm his points.
-->

===''The Mystical Ark'', or ''Benjamin Major''===
''The Mystical Ark'', sometimes called ''Benjamin Major'' or ''The Grace of Contemplation'' completes this with the study of the mind in relation to prayer.<ref>The Latin title is ''De gratia contemplationis...hacenus dictum Benjamin major (De arca mystica)''. The Latin text is in Migne, PL:196.63-202, with a more modern edition of the Latin text in Marc-Aeilko Aris, ed, ''Contemplatio. Philosophische Studien zum Traktat Benjamin Maior des Richard von St. Victor'', (Frankfurt: Josef Knecht, 1996). An English translation is in Richard of St Victor, ''Twelve Patriarchs, Mystical Ark, Book Three of the Trinity.'' Translation and introduction by Grover A. Zinn. (Toronto: Paulist Press, 1979), pp151-370.</ref> However, in the last chapters of ''Benjamin Major'', written later than the Minor, Richard almost abandons his topic and the discussion of the teaching of mystical theology takes up a good portion of every remaining chapter. He is still attempting to instruct his followers on a text but he has also engaged himself in creating a system of mystical theology.

===''De Trinitate''===
One of Richard's greatest works was the ''De Trinitate'' which was probably written while Richard was prior, between 1162 and 1173.<ref>For the question of dating, see Coolman and Taylor, ''Trinity and Creation'', (2010), p200.</ref><ref>The Migne version of the Latin text is in PL 196:887–992, and is a reprint of the 1650 edition of John of Toulouse. A modern critical edition of the Latin text is in Jean Ribaillier, ed, ''Richard de Saint-Victor. De Trinitate. Texte critique avec introduction, notes et tables'', (Paris: Vrin, 1958). A bilingual (Latin text with French translation) was published by Sources Chrétiennes (no. 63; Textes Monastiques d' Occident, III) in 1959. Full English translations are available in two works: Boyd Taylor Coolman and Dale M Coulter, eds, ''Trinity and creation: a selection of works of Hugh, Richard and Adam of St Victor'', (Turnhout: Brepols, 2010), and R. Angelici, ''Richard of Saint Victor: On the Trinity. English Translation and Commentary'' (Eugene: Cascade, 2011).</ref> This is known because it incorporates pieces of theological text which editors are now finding in earlier works.<ref>Richard, p.21</ref> ''De Trinitate'' is Richard's most independent 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.

Since this work was not available in any English translation until recently, its diffusion has been limited and its influence has seldom gone beyond 'Book III'.<ref>Angelici, p.6</ref> In 2011, the first full English translation of Richard's ''De Trinitate'' was published by Ruben Angelici.<ref>{{cite book|translator-last=Angelici|translator-first=R.|year=2011|author=Richard of Saint Victor|title=On the Trinity|place=[[Eugene, Oregon]]|publisher=[[Wipf & Stock]]}}</ref>

===Other treatises and works===
Richard wrote a massive handbook of biblical education entitled ''Liber Exceptionum'' (''Book of Selections/Book of Notes''),<ref>The Latin text is in Jean Chatillon, ed, ''Richard de Saint-Victor. Liber Exceptionum. Texte critique avec introduction, notes et tables'', (Paris: Vrin, 1958). Selections exist as an English translation in Franklin T. Harkins and Frans van Liere, eds, ''Interpretation of scripture: theory. A selection of works of Hugh, Andrew, Richard and Godfrey of St Victor, and of Robert of Melun'', (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 2012), pp289-326</ref> important scriptural commentaries, and many treatises.

''The Four Degrees of Violent Charity'',<ref>A critical edition of the Latin text is Gervais Dumeige, ed, ''De quatuor gradibus violentae caritatis'', in ''Ive, Épître à Séverin sur la charité. Richard de Saint-Victor. Les quatre degrés de la violente charité'', (Paris: J Vrin, 1955). An abridged English translation is in ''Richard of St Victor, Selected Writings on Contemplation''. Translated with an introduction and notes by Clare Kirchberger. (London: Faber and Faber, 1957), pp213-33, with a full translation in Hugh Feiss, ed, ''On Love'', (2011), pp300.</ref> composed about 1170,<ref>See Hugh Feiss, ed, ''On Love'', (2011), p263.</ref> with its description of how vehement love leads to union with God and more perfect service of neighbour, has been of interest to writers interested in Christian mysticism.<ref>Bernard McGinn, ''The Growth of Mysticism'', (1994), p398.</ref>

Richard's other treatises are a number of short works which mainly deal with textual difficulties and theological issues.<ref>A helpful list, including modern editions of each text, can be found in Hugh Feiss, ed, ''On Love'', (2010), pp22-6. They include ''De questionibus regule sancti Augustini solutis'', whose Latin text is in ML Colker, ed, ‘Richard of St Victor and the anonymous of Bridlington’, ''Traditio'' 18 (1962), 181–227.</ref> Many of them can be grouped together with larger works. Some of them are correspondence between Richard and his students while others seem to have been written at the request of friends.<ref>Richard, p.22</ref> Although short, they are often interesting because they allow the modern 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 style attributable to the second half of the twelfth century.<ref>Cahn, p.53</ref>

==Historiographical contributions==
What makes Richard of Saint-Victor stand out from other theologians of his time is that he approaches theological problems as more of a psychologist, contributing to 'a careful analysis of contemplative experiences.'<ref>Zinn p2</ref>

==Bibliography==

===Translations===
*Franklin T Harkins and Frans van Liere, eds, ''Interpretation of scripture: theory. A selection of works of Hugh, Andrew, Richard and Godfrey of St Victor, and of Robert of Melun'', (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 2012) [includes translation of selections from ''The book of notes'', and selections from ''On the Apocalypse of John'']
*Hugh Feiss, ed, ''On love: a selection of works of Hugh, Adam, Achard, Richard and Godfrey of St Victor'', (Turnhout: Brepols, 2011) [includes A.B. Kraebel's translation of ''On the Four Degrees of Violent Love'']
*R. Angelici, ''Richard of Saint Victor: On the Trinity. English Translation and Commentary'' (Eugene: Cascade, 2011)
*Boyd Taylor Coolman and Dale M Coulter, eds, ''Trinity and creation: a selection of works of Hugh, Richard and Adam of St Victor''. (Turnhout: Brepols, 2010) [includes translation of Richard of St Victor, ''On the Trinity'']
*Richard of St Victor,  ''Twelve Patriarchs, Mystical Ark, Book Three of the Trinity''.' Translation and introduction by Grover A. Zinn. Paulist Press, Toronto 1979. xviii + 425pp.  [Translations & 50page introduction]
*Richard of St Victor, ''On the Trinity'', Book One, trans. Jonathan Couser. [A translation of Book One of ''On the Trinity''] http://pvspade.com/Logic/docs/StVictor.pdf
*Richard of St Victor, ''Selected Writings on Contemplation''. Translated with an introduction and notes by [[Clare Kirchberger]]. (London: Faber and Faber, 1957) [Contains extracts from the ''Twelve Patriarchs'', ''The Mystical Ark'', some notes on the Psalms and the ''Four Degrees of Charity''.]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*P. Sicard. ''Iter Victorinum. La tradition manuscrite des œuvres de Hugues et de Richard de Saint-Victor. Répertoire complémentaire et études'' (''Bibliotheca Victorina'' 24), Turnhout: Brepols Publishers, 2015 ({{ISBN|978-2-503-55492-1}})
*J. Bougerol. 'The Church Fathers and Auctoritates in Scholastic Theology to Bonaventure', in ''The Reception of the Church Fathers in the West'', 1997, pp.&nbsp;289–335.
*W. Cahn, 'Architecture and Exegesis: Richard of St.-Victor's Ezekiel Commentary and Its Illustrations' in ''The Art Bulletin'',76, no.1, pp.&nbsp;53–68.
*O. Davies. 'Later Medieval Mystics', in ''The Medieval Theologians'', 2001, pp.&nbsp;221–232.
*K. Emery. 'Richard of Saint Victor', in ''A Companion to Philosophy in the Middle Ages'', 2003, pp.&nbsp;588–594.
*H. Feiss, 'Heaven in the Theology of Hugh, Achard and Richard of Saint Victor', in ''Imagining Heaven in the Middle Ages'', 2000, pp.&nbsp;145–163.
*P. Healy. 'The Mysticism of the School of Saint Victor' in ''Church History'' 1, 1932, pp.&nbsp;211–221.
*Spijker, 'Learning by Experience: Twelfth Century Monastic Ideas' in ''Centres of Learning'', 1995, pp.&nbsp;197–206.

==External links==
* {{CathEncy|wstitle=Richard of St. Victor}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Richard of Saint Victor}}
* {{Librivox author |id=9840}}
*[https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/scrc/findingaids/view.php?eadid=ICU.SPCL.MS102 Guide to Richard, of Saint Victor, Religious Treatises. With: Hugo, Argentinensis, Compendium Theologicae Veritatis Manuscript, circa 1400] at the [https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/scrc/ University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richard of St. Victor}}
[[Category:1173 deaths]]
[[Category:12th-century Christian mystics]]
[[Category:Scottish expatriates in France]]
[[Category:12th-century Scottish Roman Catholic clergy]]
[[Category:Catholic philosophers]]
[[Category:Canonical Augustinian scholars]]
[[Category:Canonical Augustinian theologians]]
[[Category:Scottish philosophers]]
[[Category:Canonical Augustinian abbots and priors]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic mystics]]
[[Category:Medieval Scottish theologians]]
[[Category:12th-century Scottish writers]]
[[Category:12th-century philosophers]]
[[Category:Characters in the Divine Comedy]]