A Grace of Sense - theological aesthetics

Roman de la Rose , or "The Romance of the Rose" was arguably the most read book in late medieval Europe. It is a courtly romance manifesting troubadour world view and suggestive of the erotic poetry of Decamerone.  The French allegorical poem tells about the pursuit of a woman and the final enjoyment of her favors. The book has two authors. Guillaume de Lorris wrote the first part in twelfth century and Jean de Meun continued in the thirteenth century. Generally speaking, the first part is still innocent, but the stanzas written by Jean de Meun are more graphic in their sexual imagery. No wonder that Roman de la Rose alarmed church officials and aroused heated discussions. When the chancellor of the University of Paris, Jean Gerson (1363-1429), one of the foremost theologians of his day, decided to enter into the discussion on  Roman de la Rose in the beginning of the 15th century,   the book had been around for a hundred years. Perhaps the book had not achieved an ep...