St Aelred And The Assumption

A Number of things have been written of late on the opinion held by St Aelred on the Assumption of Mary. Since an unknown sermon of the saint, found recntly and published by Dr C. H. Talbot, contains a decisive allusion to the point, it may be interesting to resume the discussion and set it against its true background. To those who have studied the sources likely to afford some evidence for the belief, the apparent hesitation of the Cistercians seems surprising, having due regard to their outstanding devotion to our Lady. A remarkable study by Fr E. Wellens of the Abbey of Westmalle (Belgium), throws some light on the real situation.1To begin with, a charming legend told by Caesar of Heisterbach will explain the circumstances. In a monastery of our Order in Lombardy, there was a noble and well- educated monk named Bertram, who could no longer endure hearing doubts about the bodily assumption of Mary.