Heloise and Abelard’ is one of history’s most
passionate and romantic true love stories. The nine hundred year old love
affair of the 12th century philosopher and theologian Abelard and his student Heloise
continues to inspire and move us even today. In
twelfth century Paris, the intellectually gifted young Heloise, the niece of
Notre Dame’s Canon Fulbert, strives for knowledge, truth and the answer to the
question of human existence.
It soon becomes apparent that only one teacher in
Paris can provide the education that she seeks. Abelard, twenty years older than Heloise, quickly becomes intrigued by Heloise’s uncommon wit and intelligence.
When Canon Fulbert
arranged a secret marriage between Heloise and Abelard and they are wed, they soon discover that Fulbert really had a plan to ruin Abelard and to keep Heloise for himself. Heloise escapes to the convent at
Argenteuil.
Abelard on the other hand is brutally attacked in
Paris and left for dead. As
a result of his humiliating punishment, Abelard no longer considers himself
capable of continuing as a teacher at Notre Dame. Heloise and Abelard mutually agree that the only path open to them, is take Holy
Orders as Monk and Nun.
I remember it so well. The poem:
"Eloisa to Abelard"
In these deep solitudes and awful cells,
Where heav'nly-pensive contemplation dwells,
And ever-musing melancholy reigns;
What means this tumult in a vestal's veins?
Why rove my thoughts beyond this last retreat?
Why feels my heart its long-forgotten heat?
Yet, yet I love!—From Abelard it came,
And Eloisa yet must kiss the name.
and more ...
I remember studying this poem for an Honours paper in English literature and I can even now, years later, vividly recall how this poem and this great love story stopped my mundane world and ignited and inflamed my heart with love. Love for Heloise and for Abelard, love for poetry, for English literature, for everybody and everything.
Through
their famous correspondence of twenty years, their love continues to flourish,
in spite of their separation. After many years pass, in a chance meeting,
Heloise and Abelard briefly reunites at a ceremony in Paris. Though they
have been physically apart for years and years, at last in the sight of the other,
they realize one thing:
That the love they share is the only reason for human
existence.
The Bible teaches us that we can give ourselves up to be burned on an altar, we can speak in tongues but if we do not have love ... love for God and love for our neighbour ... we are nothing ... we are as good as a bell with a crack in it.
