Richard of Saint Victor On the Trinity: English Translation and Commentary

Very few in the history of the church have not struggled with the dogma of the Trinity. Those who have not dismissed it as incomprehensible gibberish have found it a battlefield for division and misunderstanding. Even Christians who adhere to the faith of the Creeds have often found such dogma difficult to grasp. Richard of Saint Victor a twelfth-century Scottish monk and Prior in the Abbey of Saint Victor is emblematic in this struggle: I have often read that there is . . . [only] one God . . . I have also read . . . that he is one and triune . . . But I do not remember having read anything on the evidences for these assertions. Richards theological response stems from a profoundly mystical life of prayer which in the Spirit seeks to involve the mind in continuation with the great Augustinian and Anselmian tradition. Ultimately he presents a trinitarian model intelligible to a Western context but which could also awake admiration from Greek theologians. Today Richards dogmatics could represent a bridge for dialogue between different traditions. For the first time this theological masterpiece is being made available unabridged in English to allow a broader theological public to benefit from Richards accomplishments. The translation offered here attempts to provide a clear and flowing text while remaining as literally faithful as possible to the original Latin. This first English translation of Richard of St. Victors De Trinitate is a notable publishing event. Ruben Angelicis helpful introduction is both lively and learned. It is to be hoped that this project will renew the interest of theologians and philosophers in the stimulating theology of Richard of St. Victor. --Paul Helm Teaching Fellow Regent College Vancouver Ruben Angelici deserves great credit for his commentary and translation of Richard of St. Victors On the Trinity. His scholarship is impeccable and insightful and his translation is accurate and lucid. This is a most welcome and much needed contribution to the theological academy. --Thomas Weinandy O.F.M. Executive Director of the Secretariat for Doctrine United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Ruben Angelici is a Graduate of the University of Manchester. He holds degrees and expertise in theology philosophy biology and music. He has been a sessional lecturer in dogmatic and historical theology at Nazarene Theological College University of Manchester.