William of Saint-Thierry

Guillelmus abbas S. Theodorici

Biography

William was born no later than 1075 in the vicinity of Liège. After receiving his first education in this city, he went to Rheims after 1091 with Simon, probably his brother. They entered the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Nicaise in Rheims. In 1121, William was elected Abbot of Saint-Thierry, where he remained until 1135. There he played an important role in attempts at reform within Benedictine monasticism, and wrote several treatises (Contemplation, Nature and Dignity of Love, Sacrament of the Altar). The year 1125 marked a turning point in his life: having fallen ill, he was invited by Bernard to come to Clairvaux for treatment. The talks that the two Abbots had at that time on the Song of Songs would be decisive to both for the development of their mystical work. In 1135, William, eager for a more contemplative life, retired to the newly founded Cistercian abbey of Signy (Ardennes). There he completed or composed most of his writings, especially his Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. The theological writings of Abelard and William of Conches, however, forced him to abandon his reserve: he wrote polemical texts against them, and others aiming to present a sound trinitarian faith. In 1144-1145, returning from a long retreat at Mont-Dieu, he dedicated to the Carthusians of that place his most famous text, the Golden Letter, a treatise on spirituality that would be widely disseminated in the monastic world. When he died on September 8, 1148, he left the Life of St. Bernard unfinished.

An exegete, theologian and mystic, William develops a theology strongly imbued with Augustinianism yet not lacking originality, especially by the place he gives to the Holy Spirit in the spiritual life.

Works

• Life of St Bernard of Clairvaux (Vita prima, Book I)

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Quotations

• [Vg] Ge 2:7
• [Vg] Ge 25:27
• [Vg] Ge 27:28
• [Vg] Ge 27:39
• [Vg] Ge 3:15

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