Richard Rolle (c. 1290-1349) was an English hermit and religious writer who lived in the late Middle Ages. He is best known for his mystical writings, which had a profound influence on later religious writers such as Julian of Norwich and Walter Hilton. Rolle’s works were written in Middle English, and they reflect the religious concerns and spiritual practices of his time.
Early Life and Education
Richard Rolle was born around 1290 in Thornton-le-Dale, a village in North Yorkshire, England. His family was relatively well-to-do, and they were able to provide him with a good education. Rolle studied at the University of Oxford, where he was exposed to the works of Aristotle, Augustine, and other classical and medieval philosophers. He also studied theology, and he was ordained as a priest around the age of twenty.
Spiritual Awakening and Religious Life
Despite his education and training, Rolle felt unfulfilled by the formal and institutionalized aspects of the Church. He began to experience a deep spiritual longing that could not be satisfied by the ordinary practices of his time. In his own words, he felt a “burning love for Jesus” that consumed him and led him to withdraw from the world.
In around 1320, Rolle left his home and family and became a hermit. He lived in various locations in the north of England, including Hampole, a community of religious women founded by the mystic Saint Aelred. Rolle devoted himself to a life of prayer, meditation, and contemplation, seeking to draw closer to God through the practice of asceticism and the cultivation of a mystical union with Christ.
Literary Works
Rolle’s life as a hermit and religious writer began in earnest in the 1330s. He wrote several works in Middle English, including The Fire of Love, The Mending of Life, and The Form of Living. These works were intended to guide readers in their spiritual lives, offering practical advice and encouragement to those who sought to deepen their relationship with God.
The Fire of Love is perhaps Rolle’s best-known work. It is a mystical treatise that describes the stages of spiritual growth and the soul’s journey towards union with God. Rolle writes about the importance of detachment from worldly concerns and the cultivation of a deep love for God. He also speaks of the “seven gifts of the Holy Spirit,” which he sees as essential for the spiritual life.
The Mending of Life is a practical guide to the spiritual life. It offers advice on how to cultivate virtues such as humility, patience, and charity, and how to avoid vices such as pride, anger, and envy. The Form of Living is a short work that offers a concise summary of Rolle’s teachings on the spiritual life.
Rolle’s works are notable for their vivid and often poetic language. He uses metaphors and images drawn from nature to describe the soul’s journey towards God. For example, he writes that the soul must be “washed in the blood of Christ” in order to be purified, and that it must be “melted and made soft” like wax in order to be shaped by God’s will.
Legacy and Influence
Rolle’s works were widely read and influential in the late Middle Ages. They were popular among both religious and lay readers, and they were translated into several languages, including Latin, French, and Dutch. Rolle’s emphasis on the importance of a personal relationship with God and his rejection of the formal and institutionalized aspects of the Church foreshadowed the Protestant Reformation, which would take place several centuries later.