"Consequently, I hate allegories. But if anyone wants to make use of them, let him see to it that he handles them with discretion. For first of all the historical sense must be sought. It gives us correct and solid instruction; it fights, defends, conquers, and builds. If this is genuine and pure, an allegory may be sought later, not a monastic allegory or one concerning the speculative life but one that is in agreement with the history and embraces the sacred matters pertaining to the holy cross, that is, the doctrine of the cross, of faith, of hope, of love, and of patience, not a monk who sits and speaks with Christ and boasts of visions and of having heard the voices of angels or the voice of Blessed Virgin Mary. For he sits in idleness without a cross and trial. Such a speculative life is cursed and damned."
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