The version of the Rule of St. Augustine used at the Abbey of St.Victor began with the command to love God above all things and ones neighbor as oneself. Not surprisingly, then, love was a pervasive theme in the writings produced there, many of which are introduced and translated here: (1)five lyrical essays by Hugh of St.Victor (d.1141): The Praise of Charity; The Betrothal Gift of the Soul; In Praise of the Spouse; On the Substance of Love; What Truly Should Be Loved?; (2)On the Four Degrees of Violent Love, by Richard of St.Victor (d.1173), which traces the likenesses and differences between romantic love and the love of God; (3)Achard of St.Victor (d.1170), Sermon5 and two of Adam of St.Victors sequences are examples of how these authors wove love into their writings; (4)excerpts from the Microcosmus by Godfrey of St.Victor (d.ca.1195), summarize the central place of love in his humanistic theological anthropology.

This book explores the Chain of Love, a Platonic metaphor for the invisible bond between Creator and Creation, for the space between beginnings and ends of temporal succession, and for the heard, or unheard, word between thought and deed, or between contrition and satisfaction in the process of penitence.

Notions of love intersect with ideas on personal liberty, obligation, individuality, self, and difference in this study. James Martel contends that theorists' inattention to the subject has impoverished our explorations of political discourse.

Welcome to The Chains of Conformity, a deeply personal and profoundly philosophical journey into the heart of existence. Within these pages, we embark on a quest for truth, challenging societal norms, religious dogma, and our own deepest fears. Join me on this introspective exploration as we confront the fundamental questions of human experience: Who am I? Why am I here? What lies beyond the veil of suffering and fear? Through raw, unflinching introspection and intellectual curiosity, we'll delve into the complexities of identity, belief systems, and the human condition. This isn't a guidebook or a manifesto – it's an invitation to join a shared inquiry into the mysteries of life. Together, let's venture into the uncharted territories of the self, where the boundaries of certainty blur and the horizon of possibility expands. Prepare to question, to seek, and to discover.

Much of our suffering today is because we have lost touch with the human experience, and we are disconnected and in grave danger of crossing the point of no return. So we have a choice: to reconnect with love, faith, and the beauty of the word, or to remain disconnected and only interested in our own material overindulgences. In Meditations for ActionYour Full Expression with Love, author Tim Guthrie offers us a way to choose love through a collection of teachings drawn from his own wisdom and from what he could only describe as his frequent and spontaneous discussions with God. Regardless of what form the source of these messages may takeGod, or something else entirely for youthe message is abundantly clear: we have allowed the human experience to run out of control, and we are suffering for itas is the planet. Many of the teachings may seem harsh and demanding, but they ultimately shine a light on the types of lives we should be leading. We find ourselves in a position of suffering because our love of the truth is coming in a distant second place to our love for ourselves. But if we stand up for what is right with a fire that burns in our bellies, then we can discover the peace and serenity of love and freedom that will flood our hearts.

Robert Sherlaw Johnson's pioneering work on the music of Olivier Messiaen has become the foundation stone upon which all Messiaen scholarship is based. In it he discusses all Messiaen's main works, exploring his musical language, the development of his technique, his individual approach to harmony and rhythm, the theological and symbolic aspects of his music, and his use of birdsong. The appendices include a complete chronological list of works, a bibliography and a list of bird names. Messiaen died in 1992 aged 84. In between the publication of the last edition of this book in 1989 and this final, updated version he composed a further set of masterpieces that are more than a postscript to his compositional oeuvre. This new edition brings the book fully up to date on these and other works and offers additional assessment on Messiaen's influence as a composer. Robert Sherlaw Johnson (1932-2000) was a lecturer in music at the University of Oxford and a fellow at Worchester College. He was also a composer and Pianist of note who recorded a number of Messiaen's works, including the Catalogue d'Oiseaux, of which he gave the first complete performance in Britain at Coventry Cathedral in 1973. This edition of his Messiaen study has been updated by Dr Caroline Rae.