Thomas of Hales facts for kids

Thomas of Hales, also known as Thomas de Hales, was an English Franciscan friar and a writer from the 1200s. He wrote interesting prose and poetry in three languages: Latin, French, and English. Thomas was one of the few Franciscan writers of songs and poems during his time.

His work shows us a lot about the writing and culture in England in the mid-1200s. He was a leader in new ways of thinking about faith, like "affective piety," which means connecting with religious stories through feelings. He also helped make reading and writing in everyday languages more popular. His English poem, Love Rune, is still very famous today. People believe he came from Hales, Gloucestershire.

Who Was Thomas of Hales?

Thomas of Hales was a special kind of writer. He was a Franciscan friar, which means he was part of a religious group that followed the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi. Friars often lived simple lives and taught people about faith. Thomas was also an "ecclesiastical writer," meaning he wrote about religious topics.

What made Thomas stand out was his ability to write in three different languages: Latin, French, and English. Not many writers could do that back then! His writings were important because they showed how people were starting to think differently about religion and how they expressed their faith. He helped bring new ideas into the world of writing and learning.

His Important Writings

Only a few of Thomas of Hales's works are still around today. Each one gives us a peek into his mind and the ideas popular in his time.

The Life of Mary (Latin)

One of his works is a book in Latin called De vita seu genealogia Beatae Virginis Mariae. This title means "The Life or Genealogy of the Blessed Virgin Mary." It tells the story of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Thomas used many different sources for this book. He looked at the Gospels (parts of the Bible), other old writings, and even visions from a saint named Elizabeth of Schönau. This book was his most popular work. It might not have had new religious ideas, but it showed how people were thinking and organizing their thoughts in universities at the time. It also fit with the idea of "affective piety," encouraging readers to feel deeply about Mary's life.

The Anglo-Norman Sermon (French)

Another work by Thomas is a sermon written in French, with some short prayers in Latin. It's called the Anglo-Norman Sermon. A sermon is a speech given in a religious service.

This sermon is like a meditation on the life of Jesus Christ. It uses the idea of the Parable of the Talents from the Bible. In the sermon, each "talent" that a person gives back to Christ at the Last Judgment is a different event from Jesus's life, like his Incarnation (when he became human) or his Ascension (when he went up to heaven). Just like his book about Mary, this sermon encouraged people to have strong feelings about Jesus's life and his suffering.

The Love Rune (English)

His third important work is called the Love Rune or A Luve Ron. This means "a love song." It was written in English sometime between 1234 and 1272.

The Love Rune is described as a "jewel-like lyric." It's meant to be read like a riddle or a puzzle. It shares a mysterious and holy wisdom that people were supposed to learn and remember by heart. This poem is often included in collections of old English poetry.

Helping Others

Recent discoveries show that Thomas of Hales also helped people in need. He spoke with Queen Eleanor of Provence, who was the wife of King Henry III. He asked her to help people who had recently converted to Christianity and also those who were part of religious orders. This shows that he cared about people and used his influence to make a positive difference.