St Aelred was born in Hexham, Northumbria and was a Cistercian monk and a keen writer. Aelred left school (at around the age of fourteen) and became the steward to King David of Scotland. When he was twenty-four he decided to leave this job and enter the Cistercian Abbey of Rievaulx in North Yorkshire. In 1147 Aelred became the abbot of Rievaulx (the abbey was seized under Henry VIII during the dissolution of monasteries in 1538). St Aelred influenced monasticism in England, Scotland, and France. Under his administration, the abbey grew to some 140 monks. Aelred wrote several influential books on spirituality, among them "The Mirror of Charity," and "On Spiritual Friendship".
Prayer St Aelred
Almighty God, as we reflect on St Aelred,
we give thanks for his successful mission
influencing monasticism in
England, Scotland and France.
We pray that through his knowledge
and writings we ourselves can deepen
our understanding of the Faith.
We continue to pray for an increase
in vocations to the Religious Life and
ask for the intercession of St Aelred,
for those discerning this state of life.
We make this prayer through Christ, Your Son, Our Lord.
Amen
St Aelred of Rievaulx. Pray for us.
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