Caput LXXIV. De gloria bonorum.
The Emptiness of the World
A series of rhetorical questions exposes the lack of true beauty, honor, happiness, and security in the world.
What beauty is there in that place? What honor? What happiness? What security?
The Glory of the Saints in Love
The saints are exalted with diverse gifts—authority, martyrdom, virginity, almsgiving, and teaching—yet all are united by the one bond of love.
Some are exalted on the day of judgment with the seat of authority, others shine with the crown of martyrdom, others are bright with the flower of virginity, others are fruitful through the generosity of alms, others are distinguished by teaching and learning — yet all are joined together by the one bond of love.
The Merciful Face of Christ
The face of Jesus Christ shines upon the saints—not terrifying, but lovely, sweet, and soothing.
The face of Jesus Christ shines upon them — not terrifying, but lovely; not harsh, but sweet; not frightening, but soothing.
Read the original Latin
Quis ibi decor? quis honor? quae felicitas? quae securitas? Alii die judiciaria sede sublimes, alii martyrii corona splendentes, alii virginitatis flore candidi, alii eleemosynarum largitione fecundi, alii doctrina et eruditione praeclari, uno charitatis foedere copulantur. Lucet eis vultus Jesu Christi non terribilis, sed amabilis; non amarus, sed dulcis; non terrens, sed blandiens.
De institutione inclusarum (A Rule of Life for a Recluse) companion
A rule only lives if you keep it daily
Chosen Portion gives your new rule its anchor: one free devotional portion every day.
Aelred built his sister's day around fixed times of prayer and meditation; Chosen Portion supplies the fixed daily portion that makes a modern rule of life keepable.
- Anchor your rule with a fixed 10-minute daily portion
- Practice Aelred's threefold meditation with guided daily prompts
- Review and adjust your one-page rule after 30 days of tracked practice