HKB
1 passages · search this phrase →
Often appears with: love vs chastity · equity, mercy, and pardon · divine grace · conversion and faith · convent life · contracts, oaths, and obligation
Usually: letter or document (1) · crisis of belief (1) · injustice endured (1) · resignation (1) · reverence (1)
“Among those who are wedded to God I am wedded to a man; among the heroic supporters of the Cross I am the slave of a human desire; at the head of a religious community I am devoted to Abelard alone.” Peter Abelard, The love letters of Abelard and Heloise · vivid
Heloise tells Abelard she remains in a place of confinement due to “unfortunate love” and disgrace, vows she is not penitent for the past, and asks God for mercy and help renouncing desire.
where you have placed me; and then my ashes shall rest here and wait for yours in order to show to the very last my obedience and devotion to you. Why should I conceal from you the secret of my call? You know it was neither zeal nor devotion that brought me here. Your conscience is too faithful a witness to permit you to disown it. Yet here I am, and here I will remain; to this place an unfortunate love and a cruel …