In Praise of the Virgin Mary, the God-Bearer

Translated here in its entirety for the first time, Alan of Lille'sElucidatio in Cantica Canticorumprovides a measure for the originality of his Mariology. Fifty years after the death of Bernard of Clairvaux, Alan of Lille died in 1202 or 1203 among the Cistercians at Cîteaux. Celebrated in his own time as doctor universalis, Alan made pioneering contributions in a variety of genres. Best known today for his influential epic poems, theAnticlaudianusand theComplaint of Nature, Alan also composed a theological dictionary, a handbook for preachers, a defense of the catholic faith against the Cathars, and one of the first Marian commentaries on the Song of Songs. Translated here in its entirety for the first time, Alan'sElucidatio in Cantica Canticorumillumines his other writings and provides a measure for the originality of his Mariology.