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The Medieval Church · c. 1141–1144
On Precept and Dispensation
Bernard of Clairvaux · 1090–1153
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What it is
Which parts of a monastic rule bind absolutely, which may be dispensed, and what a monk owes an abbot who commands something foolish but not sinful.
Why it lasted
The standard medieval treatment of obedience and its limits, and unexpectedly subtle about conscience.
Where to read it
Public domain and free to read in full, though not held here. The archives below have it.
These open a search on each archive rather than a direct link, which is the honest way to point at an edition nobody here has checked line by line.
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