Lament for Modern Students

Pythagoras quoque hanc in studiis suis consuetudinem servasse legitur, ut usque ad septenium, secundum numerum videlicet septem liberalium artium, nullus discipulorum suorum de his quae ab ipso dicebantur rationem poscere auderet, sed fidem dare verbis magistri quousque omnia audivisset, sicque iam per semetipsum rationem eorum posset invenire. has septem tanto studio quidam didicisse leguntur, ut plane omnes ita in memoria tenerent, ut, quascunque scripturas deinde ad manum sumpsissent, quascumque quaestiones solvendas aut comprobandas proposuissent, ex his regulas et rationes ad definiendum id de quo ambigeretur folia librorum revolvendo non quaererent, sed statim singula corde parata haberent. hinc profecto accidit tot eo tempore fuisse sapientes ut plura ipsi scriberent quam nos legere possimus. scholares vero nostri aut nolunt aut nesciunt modum congruum in discendo servare, et idcirco multos studentes, paucos sapientes invenimus. mihi vero videtur non minori cura providendum esse lectori, ne in studiis inutilibus operam suam expendat quam ne in bono et utili proposito tepidus remaneat. malum est bonum negligenter agere, peius est in vanum labores multos expendere.  Hugonis De Sancto Victore, Didascalicon, Lib III, Cap III

Pythagoras, too, is said to have maintained the following practice in his studies: for seven years, doubtless to accord to the number of the seven liberal arts, not one of his pupils dared demand the reason for the things he said, instead the student was to trust the words of the master until he had heard everything because only then would he himself be capable of discovering the reason for all those things. We read that certain men studied the seven arts with such industry that they held them all in their memory, so that whatever writings they next took up in their hands, or whatever questions were proposed for solution or proof, they did not seek to turn the pages of books to hunt for rules and reasons which might resolve a doubtful matter, but instantly they had it ready in their minds. Indeed in that time there were so many wise men that they wrote more than we are able to read. But our students are either averse to a fitting method of learning or ignorant of it and therefore we find there are many who study but few who are wise. Certainly it seems to me that the student should have no less care to avoid expending effort in useless studies than he should to guard against tepidity in good and useful ones. It is bad to seek the good negligently; it is worse to expend much effort on a vain thing. Hugh of St Victor, Didascalion, Book 3, Chapter 3

Scholars And Martyrs

Videmus quam angusta porta et arcta via sancti martyres vitam ingressi sunt sempiternam. Nos vero, fratres, faciliori via, et leviori cursu ad ejusdem vitae possumus pervenire beatitudinem, ipsa dicente Veritate: Multae masiones sunt in domo Patris mei. Propter merita diversa, mansiones multae: tamen omnibus beata aeternitas et aeterna beatitudo erit. Quia quisquis ibi erit, beatus erit et gloriosus, ubi justi fulgebunt sicut sol in regno Patris eorum. Sicut enim sanctorum martyrum persecutores fuerunt, diabolo instigante, impii homines saeculi concupiscentia et carnalis delectatio, et animi inconstantia et Dei negligentia mandatorum. Et veluti illi martyres sancti, gratia adjuvante divina, impios constanter vicerunt tyrannos, palmam aeternae acceperunt gloriae: sic et nos, si nostros, Deo auxiliante, superamus adversiones, et diabolicis viriliter resistimus suggestionibus, coronam perpetuae laudis et palmam aeternae beatitudinis accepturi erimus. Alcuinus Eboracensis, Epistola VII, Ad Fratres Eboracenses Source: Migne PL 100.148b-c

We see that the gate is narrow and the way is difficult 1 by which the martyrs entered into eternity. Certainly, brothers, the way we have by which we will enter into blessedness is easier and we run at a lighter pace, with Truth itself saying, ' Many are the mansions in my Father's house.' 2 On account of differing merits there are many mansions; but to all there shall be blessed eternity and eternal blessings. For whoever shall be there will be blessed and glorious, there where the just shall blaze like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Just as the devil driven persecutors of the holy martyrs were impious and worldly men impelled by corporeal desire and delight, and faithless souls who neglected the commandments of God, and just as those holy martyrs, with the assistance of Divine grace, by constancy conquered impious tyrants and received the palm of glory, so even we, if with God's help we triumph over adversaries and manfully resist the temptations of the devil, shall receive the crown of perpetual praise and the palm of eternal beatitude. Alcuin of York, from Letter 7, To the Brothers at York. 1 Mt 7.14 2 Jn 14.2