ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW: 'Kienzle seeks in the preaching of twelfth-century Cistercians the key to the apparent contradiction between their dedication to withdrawal and seclusion from the affairs of the world, and the increasing and prominent involvement of successive leaders of the Order in the pursuit of heresy in the Languedoc, and the organisation and leadership of the Albigensian crusade... The clarity [of her work], care for every aspect of the context of the preaching, and level-headed command of the scholarship, will make it a particularly helpful introduction to a group of key issues in twelfth-century histor still inadequately recognised.' Led by the example of Bernard of Clairvaux, Cistercian monks turned their attention to the world outside the monastery walls in response to the threat posed by heretical Christians, in particular the Cathars. The white monks, with other intellectuals, turned to pen, pulpit and popular preaching to counteract heresy, some accepting posts as bishops and papal legates, helping and even directing the Albigensian crusade, and contributing to the formulation of procedures for inquisition. Kienzle examines this important but little-studied aspect of Cistercian history to discover how and why the Order undertook endeavours that drew the monks outside their monastic vocation. The analysis of texts about the preaching campaigns and their contexts illuminate the ways in which medieval monastic authors perceived heresy, preached, and wrote against it. Professor BEVERLY MAYNE KIENZLE teaches at Harvard Divinity School.

Learned and thoughtful.'

Source: History

A particularly helpful introduction to a group of key issues in twelfth-century history still inadequately recognised.'

Source: English Historical Review