The Form of Perfect Living and Other Prose Treatises

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25856

Title

The Form of Perfect Living and Other Prose Treatises

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A devotional collection of prose treatises by Richard Rolle of Hampole, rendered into modern English. This volume explores the mystical life, emphasizing perfect love, active charity, and the discipline of daily work. With a tone of earnest piety and practical spirituality, it invites readers to pursue a life of selflessness, contemplation, and divine union, offering timeless guidance for both the contemplative and the active Christian.

Summary up to 500 words

Richard Rolle of Hampole (c. 1300–1349), one of England's earliest mystics, presents a collection of profound spiritual instructions in *The Form of Perfect Living and Other Prose Treatises*. His work rejects the coldness of scholasticism in favor of heartfelt feeling, aiming to restore the free flow of spiritual life. The volume opens with *The Form of Perfect Living*, a rule for a nun that outlines two paths: the active life of service and mercy, and the contemplative life of prayer and divine union. Rolle argues that true goodness stems from selfless love for God, free from vanity. He describes the mystical progression as heat, sweetness, and melody, achieved through prayer and the fire of love that purifies the soul. In *Our Daily Work*, Rolle addresses laypeople, urging them to avoid idleness, which opens the soul to sin. He compares earthly life to withering grass, urging readers to use their time to gather grace. The text details three graces of God: stirring, helping, and perfecting the will, explaining how divine grace enables humans to overcome the 'law of the flesh.' *An Epistle on Charity* challenges readers to love their enemies, citing Christ's example with Judas. Rolle defines perfect charity as acting with compassion even toward those who harm us, praying for their amendment rather than harboring hate. The section on *Contrition* recounts a tale of a scholar whose sorrow for his sins was so profound he could not speak them during confession; God's forgiveness was evident in the blankness of his written list. The volume concludes with *Scraps from the Arundel MS*, a poignant poem urging reflection on sin, hell, and the cross. Rolle's writing is characterized by high ideals and a sensitive temperament, offering practical guidance for both religious and secular lives to achieve perfect love.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• Christian life