The Voice of Heloise

Abstract

Peter the Venerable does not allude at all to Heloise’s early love for Abelard in this letter, written perhaps one or two years after Abelard’s death (21 April 1142).²The abbot of Cluny prefers to recall how he himself once admired her for her learning before she became a nun. His letter is a carefully tuned panegyric about the transition from philosophical inquiry to the monastic life. St. Bernard’s criticism of the theology of Peter Abelard at Sens in 1141 was still fresh in many people’s minds. He expresses delight in reports of her learning and religion and praises her as like Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons, and Deborah, a leader to her community.³ She has overcome “the proud prince of this world” and will justly receive a heavenly reward, when she will be united again with Abelard, who spent his last years as a humble monk of Cluny and whom God now keeps in his bosom.

At a time when nearly the whole world is indifferent and deplorably apathetic towards such occupations, and wisdom can scarcely find a foothold not only, I may say, among the female sex from whom it has been banished completely, but even among the minds of men, you have surpassed all women in carrying out your purpose and have gone further than almost all men. Subsequently you turned your zeal for learning to a better direction and as a wholly and truly philosophical woman you left logic for the Gospel, natural science for the Apostle, Plato for Christ, the academy for the cloister, according to the words of the Apostle: “It pleased God who had set you apart since you were in your mother’s womb to call you through his grace.” (Gal. 1.15)¹