A Benedictine studies a gem-set cross inside a church.

Between earth and heaven

Suger (c. 1081–1151) was a French Benedictine and abbot of Saint-Denis. In his account of the abbey he describes the precious objects at its altar. Returning to look at them, the man responsible for their care experiences something unexpected. For a while he can lay his cares aside.

From looking to reflection

Suger first names individual stones, including sapphire, beryl and emerald. When he begins to speak of himself, an inventory becomes an experience. The diversity of colours gives his thoughts a direction. From it he can approach the variety of the virtues.

When, out of love for the adornment of God’s house, the many-coloured beauty of the gems would sometimes call me away from outward cares, and worthy meditation persuade me to dwell on the diversity of the holy virtues, passing from material to immaterial things, it seems to me that I see myself abiding in some strange region of the world. It lies neither wholly in the dregs of earth nor wholly in the purity of heaven. From this lower realm to that higher one I seem able, by God’s gift, to pass by way of spiritual ascent.[1]

Somewhere in between

A moment of contemplation takes on the shape of a place. Suger is still at the altar, yet feels carried into unfamiliar territory. His careful “it seems to me” matters. He describes how it feels to pass from one realm towards another, and attributes the possibility of that ascent to God’s gift.