Anselm House Lecture: "Against the Swirling Thoughts: Hugh of St. Victor’s Spiritual Reading of Noah’s Ark"

On September 30, 2021 Dr. Boersma spoke at the Anselm House’s 26th Annual Paul Holmer Lecture in Christianity and the Humanities.

Lecture Description
Loss of memory means loss of identity. The reason is simple: memory provides continuity and stability. In this lecture, Professor Hans Boersma discussed the 12th-century spiritual master Hugh of Saint Victor’s approach to memory and identity through contemplation. Professor Boersma showed how Hugh’s mural painting of Noah’s Ark, which he devised for the cloister walls to protect his monks against the distractions of swirling thoughts, teaches us to meditate upon Christ in Scripture to calm the waves and strengthen our identity.