De affectu rationali et irrationali
The Sweetness of Virtue Seen in Others
A rational affection arises when we perceive another's virtue or holiness, flooding the mind with delight and stirring devotion, as when we meditate on the martyrs' triumphs.
A rational affection is one that arises from considering another person's virtue — when we have seen someone's virtue or holiness with our own eyes, or heard about it from others, or come to know it through reading — and it floods the mind with a certain sweetness of delight. This is the affection that, once we have heard of the martyrs' triumphal suffering, pierces us with the sweetest devotion and brings the memorable deeds of those who went before us before our eyes, as it were, in delightful meditation.
Paul's Sufferings as a School of Love
Paul's catalogue of hardships and his voice of contentment move the hearer to wonderful affection, showing how the contemplation of apostolic virtue draws the soul into loving desire.
Hence that voice by which the admirable athlete of Jesus — I mean Paul — commends his brave deeds: the tokens of heartfelt congratulation generally draw tears from the eyes of the listeners and, with piety suddenly poured in, stir the soul toward longing to embrace him.✦ For who, on hearing of those dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from his own people, dangers from the nations (2 Cor. 11) —✦ — and, beyond that, that voice of virtue: 'In all things and in every circumstance I have learned the secret — both to be satisfied and to hunger, both to abound and to suffer want; I can do all things in him who strengthens me' (Phil. 4) —✦ who, I say, on hearing or reading these things, would not be moved by a wonderful affection toward such a man?✦
David and Jonathan: Friendship Born of Virtue
The love between David and Jonathan was a rational affection rooted in virtue, so that Jonathan's admiration for David's courage became a bond of charity that no paternal authority could break.
This affection consecrated the first fruits of a most sacred love between David and Jonathan, and bound the social bond of grace with a covenant of most pleasing charity — so that not even paternal authority could loosen it.✦ For when the unshakable constancy of that heart was seen — by which an unarmed boy had struck down an armored giant — what would have been a seedbed of envy for another became an increase of virtue for the noble young man. For while the friend of virtue is aroused to affection toward the virtuous youth, Scripture says: 'The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, for Jonathan loved him as his own soul' (1 Kings).✦ xviii).
Christ's Merciful Gaze upon the Virtuous
Christ transforms rational affection into mercy, looking with love upon the young man who came to him, as the evangelist testifies.
This same wonderfully merciful one, transforming that affection into mercy within himself, looked upon the young man who had betrayed his own virtues to him — and, as the evangelist says, he loved him (Mark✦ x).
The Irrational Affection: Love Moved by Fault
Irrational affection is aroused not by virtue but by fault, inclining minds toward vanity, military bravado, profligacy, and the patronage of shameful men.
Contrary to this affection is the irrational one, which is moved by a certain inclination of mind toward someone after any fault whatsoever of that person has been discovered. For many have inclined the minds of certain people toward themselves on account of a most vain philosophy, or on account of a most foolish audacity in military affairs. And what is more mournful: many — because they are profligates, because they are given to luxury, because they are betrayers and persecutors of chastity, because they are patrons and favorers of the most shameful men, because they are the most vain yet most intent spectators of empty spectacles — entice and incline the affection of certain people toward themselves.
Read the original Latin
Rationalis affectus est, qui ex consideratione alienae virtutis oboritur ; videlicet cum oculis nostris cujuslibet virtus vel sanctitas explorata, vel fama divulgante, vel certe lectione comperta, mentem nostram quadam dulcedinis suavitate perfundit. Hic est affectus, qui nos, audita triumphali martyrum passione, suavissima devotione compungit, ac memorabiles praecedentium actus quasi sub oculis delectabili meditatione depingit. Hinc vox illa, qua admirabilis athleta Jesu, Paulum dico, fortia sua gesta commendat : conceptae gratulationis indices ab oculis audientium plerumque lacrymas elicit, animumque ad ejus jamjamque gestientem amplexus infusa subito pietate perstringit. Quis enim audiens pericula illa fluminum, pericula latronum, pericula ex genere, pericula ex gentibus (II Cor. xi), illam insuper vocem virtutis, Ubique et in omnibus institutus sum, et satiari et esurire, et abundare et penuriam pati ; omnia possum in eo qui me confortat (Philip. iv) : quis, inquam, haec audiens vel legens, in talem virum non mirabili moveatur affectu ? Hic affectus inter David et Jonathan sacratissimi amoris primitias consecravit, ac socialis vinculum gratiae ne paterna quidem auctoritate solvendum, foedere gratissimae charitatis innexuit. Visa namque immutabili pectoris illius constantia, qua loricatum gigantem puer inermis prostraverat, quod alteri foret invidiae seminarium, optimo adolescenti virtutis exstitit incrementum, dum virtutis amicus in virtuosi juvenis excitatur affectum, dicente Scriptura : Anima Jonathae colligata est animae David ; quia dilexit eum Jonathas quasi animam suam (I Reg.
xviii). Hunc ipse mire misericors misericorditer in se transformans affectum, intuitus adolescentem qui ei suas virtutes prodiderat, ut ait evangelista, dilexit eum (Marc. x). Huic affectui contrarius est irrationalis, qui quolibet erga aliquem comperto ejus vitio, quadam mentis inclinatione movetur. Multi enim ob vanissimam philosophiam, vel ob stultissimam in negotio militari audaciam, quorumdam sibi animos inclinarunt. Et quod lugubrius est, multi quia prodigi, quia luxuriosi, quia pudicitiae proditores et insecutores ; quia turpissimorum hominum sanctores et fautores, quia inanium spectaculorum vanissimi, sed intentissimi spectatores, aliquorum sibi alliciunt et inclinant affectum.
Scripture echoes
- ↩2Cor.11.23-2Cor.11.28 — Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking as one beside myself—I am more: in labors far more, in prisons far more, in beatings beyond measure, in deaths often. 2Cor.11.24 — Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes minus one. 2Cor.11.25 — Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. A night and a day I spent in the deep. 2Cor.11.26 — In dangers from rivers, dangers from bandits, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; 2Cor.11.27 — in toil and hardship, in sleepless nights many times, in hunger and thirst, in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness 2Cor.11.28 — Apart from what is external, there is the daily pressure on me—the anxiety for all the churches.
- ↩2Cor.11.26 — In dangers from rivers, dangers from bandits, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers;
- ↩Phil.4.12-Phil.4.13 — I know what it is to be brought low, and I know what it is to have abundance. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret — both to be filled and to go hungry, both to have plenty and to be in need. Phil.4.13 — I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
- ↩Phil.4.13 — I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
- ↩1Sam.18.1-1Sam.18.3 — And when David had finished speaking to Saul, Jonathan's soul was knit to David's soul, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 1Sam.18.2 — And Saul took him that day, and did not let him return to his father's house. 1Sam.18.3 — Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
- ↩1Sam.18.1 — And when David had finished speaking to Saul, Jonathan's soul was knit to David's soul, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
- ↩Mark.10.21 — And Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me."
Speculum caritatis (The Mirror of Charity) companion
Reorder one love at a time, daily
Use the study map with the free Chosen Portion app's daily readings to work through Aelred at a sustainable pace.
Aelred wrote the Mirror as a rule for daily interior discipline in community, and Chosen Portion carries that discipline forward as a short ordered reading each day.
- All 3 books and 102 chapters mapped into 4 weekly themes with page-level pointers
- Aelred's choice-motion-fruit test, turned into a one-page self-examination worksheet
- 16 discussion questions ready for personal journaling or a 4-session small group