Exegetical and Spiritual Writings

The influence of Hugh’s Didascalicon on Richard is significant, as he relies on the division ofthe sciences and theory of exegesis that Hugh established. This is evident in Richard’s Liber exceptionum and De Emmanuele. the former is an introductory work of Scriptural exegesis, the latter a significant response to the ‘‘Judaizing’’ exegetical practices of the students of Andrew of St. Victor. Richard’s theory of exegesis is perhaps best approached through two of his most influential tropological and spiritual works. De duodecim patriarchis (The Twelve Patriarchs/also referred to as Benjamin minor) and De arca mystica ( The Mystical Ark/also referred to as Benjamin major).

The Twelve Patriarchs is a tropological and spiritual exegesis of the Genesis account of Jacob, his four wives (Leah, and her handmaiden Zelpha; Rachel, and her handmaiden Baal), and their twelve offspring (patriarchs). The work is an analysis of the soul’s affective and rational powers. Jacob representing the rational soul, with Leah and Rachel symbolizing affection (affectus) and reason (ratio) respectively. The other aspects of the rational soul are represented by Zelpha and Baal, who symbolize bodily sense and imagination. Further, the 12 sons of Jacob represent various aspects of the above rational powers. (1) Leah’s six sons represent the virtues that discipline the will; (2) Zelpha’s two sons represent the governing of deeds; (3) Rachel’s two sons represent contemplation and asceticism; (4) and Baal’s two sons represent the governing of thoughts. For Richard, when the soul’s affective and rational powers (four wives) are properly governed by their respective virtues (12 children/patriarchs), the soul is properly ordered and fit for contemplation.

Richard develops in The Twelve Patriarchs a sophisticated philosophical psychology that is substantially expanded in The Mystical Ark. The latter work, influenced by the Pseudo-Dionysius’ Celestial Hierarchy, lays out six degrees of contemplation; the first two degrees are located in the imagination, the second two in reason, and the final two transcend reason. The work traces the soul’s spiritual ascent and the various objects of speculation that are present to the soul in its ascent. The result is an epistemological as well as spiritual analysis of the human soul and its objects of knowledge and contemplation.