Suger of Saint-Denis (1081-1151) report - Book Report/Review Example

Suger of Saint-Denis According to Abbot Suger, or nts have precious and valuable functions in the church as they make the worshippers have a heightened spiritual awareness. He elucidates the importance of the cross to the old church and wishes to extend the same meaning in the modern church. Specifically, the cross is a precious pathway to salvation; therefore, require decoration with precious pearls and gems. Suger contemplates that the loveliness of the many-colored gems call him from external cares and its worth meditation induced him to think and reflect by transferring that which is material to that which is immaterial.

In other words, he asserts that the reflection of the precious material relics promotes the meditation of the spiritual awareness achieved through righteousness.Suger’s perspective regarding the use of ornaments in church contrasts Saint Bernard of Clairvaux’s opinion on the same. Precisely, the two differ in the function of the ornaments as Suger says that they help the worshippers reflect on the religious mission, thus heightening their spiritual awareness. On the other hand, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux claims that the ornaments distract the worshippers (poor) from the search for righteousness.

Therefore, it is clear that the two clergies have different understanding and interpretation of the ornaments in the churches.Although both arguments provide practical evidence, Suger provides a more substantial case that reflects the mainstream reasoning on the same. For this reason, I align with his assertion that ornaments in the church, including the cross, the statue of Marry and other religious statutes aim at drawing the worshippers to the sacred journey of piety. Precisely, they help the followers to evoke the memories of salvation, the history of the church and Christianity, thus making them more aware of the religious calling and devotion.