Adam of Perseigne

Who was Adam of Perseigne?

Adam of Perseigne was a French Cistercian, Abbot of the monastery of Perseigne in the Diocese of Mans.

Adam was born around 1145 into a serf, or peasant, family. He is thought to have been first a canon regular, later a Benedictine of Marmoutier and then a Cistercian. In 1188, he became Abbot of Perseigne, wither his reputation for holiness and wisdom drew the great personages of his time to seek his counsel. He was for a time the confessor to King Richard Lionheart of England. He had at Rome a conference with the celebrated mystic, Joachim, Abbot of Flora, on the subject of the latter's revelations, and aided Foulques de Neuilly in preaching during the Fourth Crusade. He died in 1221.

His sermons were published at Rome in 1662 under the title Adami Abbatis Perseniæ Ordinis Cisterciensis Mariale. About half his known letters remained in circulation after the invention of the printing press in various collected formats. These collections were subsequently incorporated into the Patrologia Latina in volume CCXI.