patristical

But there were many cloistered Christians who studied the bible undisturbed by these shadows and doubts, and who, heedless of patristical lore and saintly wisdom, devoured the spiritual food in its pure and uncontaminating simplicity -- such students, humble, patient, devoted, will be found crowding the monastic annals, and yielding good evidence of the same by the holy tenor of their sinless lives, their Christian charity and love.

Bibliomania in the Middle Ages Frederick Somner Merryweather

But for the elucidation of his character as a student, or a bibliomaniac, we naturally turn to the huge mass of his epistles which have been preserved; and in them we find a constant reference to books which shew his intimacy with the classics as well as the patristical lore of the church.

Bibliomania in the Middle Ages Frederick Somner Merryweather

In one of his letters we find him referring to nearly all the celebrated authors of the church, and so aptly, that we conclude he must have had their works on his desk, and was deeply read in patristical theology.

Bibliomania in the Middle Ages Frederick Somner Merryweather

Here was a dilemma for the monkish student! whose vow of obedience to patristical guidance was thus sorely perplexed; he read and re-read, analyzed passage after passage, interpreted word after word; and yet, poor man, his laborious study was fruitless and unprofitable!

Bibliomania in the Middle Ages Frederick Somner Merryweather

His youthful studies, which I have said before were pursued with unconquerable energy, embraced grammar, poetry, rhetoric, history, and the exposition of the Holy Scriptures; the Bible, indeed, he read unceasingly, and drew from it much of the vital truth with which it is inspired; but he perhaps too much tainted it with traditional interpretation and patristical logic.

Bibliomania in the Middle Ages Frederick Somner Merryweather

His works can be conveniently grouped in three classes: (1) Scriptural; (2) patristical; (3) controversial.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 6: Fathers of the Church-Gregory XI 1840-1916 1913

In 1418 John de Newton, the church treasurer, bequeathed to the Chapter a number of books, including Bibles, commentaries, and patristical and historical works, as well as Petrarch's De remediis utriusque fortunae. 5.43 They were chained to the library desks, and were guarded with horn and studs, to protect them from the consequences of careless use by readers.

Old English Libraries; The Making, Collection and Use of Books During the Middle Ages 1911

3.10 About the same time Abbot Benedict ordered the transcription of sixty volumes, containing one hundred titles, for his library at Peterborough. 3.11 By 1244, in spite of losses in the fire of 1184, Glastonbury had a library of some four hundred volumes, historical books consorting with romances, Bibles and patristical works almost crowding out some forlorn classics. 3.12 Nearly half a century later

Old English Libraries; The Making, Collection and Use of Books During the Middle Ages 1911