Aelred of Rievaulx

Aelred of Rievaulx (1110–1167) was born in Hexham in Northumberland near the border with Scotland. In his adolescence, he pursued an education at the court of King David I of Scotland. In 1134, he gave up all of his luxuries to join the Cistercian monastery at Rievaulx where he was eventually elected abbot, a position he would hold until his death. As a writer, Aelred left behind a substantial body of work noted for its quality and breadth of insight. His most well-known work is Spiritual Friendship, which is widely considered a classic of Christian spirituality.