Handmaid of the Lord

Another delightful book from David Bell's prolific pen, permeated by his seemingly effortless erudition and comprehensive knowledge of Cistercian authors - both the figureheads and those who are more obscure. Mette Birkedal Bruun, Professor of Church History, University of Copenhagen David Bell has the enviable talent of making obscure subjects not only interesting but fascinating. He ferrets out detail and anecdote to bring what we might otherwise think of as staid characters or situations to startling life, in all their living, breathing contradictions. In Handmaid of the Lord he excavates for us the place of Mary in the Cistercian tradition, touching on not only the well-known in Bernard of Clairvaux, but also the neglected, such as Stephen of Sawley and Ogier of Locedio, leading us finally to the surprising reverence given to Mary at La Trappe under the putatively stern Abbot Rance. Bell's wit, sometimes caustic, and his erudition shine out of every page. This book will be indispensable for anyone interested in Mary's role among the Cistercians, but also in the church at large. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Fr. Lawrence Morey, OCSO In this book, David Bell offers his characteristic erudition in an accessible and engaging way, leading us from the life of Mary of Nazareth to her enshrinement as model of humility and monastic life in the thought of Armand-Jean de Rance, leader of the monastic reform at la Trappe. This journey takes an extended sojourn among the Cistercians of the 12th and 13th centuries, correcting misperceptions and putting fine detail on the common generalizations about the flourishing devotion to Mary in these centuries. And like a suspense story, the conflicts about the Immaculate Conception and other Marian controversies are recounted with verve. Concluding with his new translations of Rance's conferences on Marian feasts, David Bell provides a magisterial work that can serve as a reference point for any of the many subjects covered here. Anne L. Clark, Professor of Religion, University of Vermont