The Didascalicon Of Hugh Of St. Victor: a Guide To The Art Of Reading

Hugh of Saint Victor was undoubtedly one of the most celebrated men of his time, renowned for both his virtues and his scholarship, and the most distinguished among the Victorines. Born in Saxony in 1096, he served as a teacher, headmaster of the School of Saint Victor, prior of the same monastery, and even as a bishop. Grounded in Christian tradition and the Scriptures, his entire pedagogical approach aimed to guide students toward contemplation, the highest level of Wisdom — where one “tastes in this life what will be the future reward” — fostering a comprehensive formation that leads to union with God. In his work “Didascalicon,” Hugh introduces the liberal arts and guides his students on what to read, in what order, and most importantly, how to read. By placing the emphasis on the student, this model of Christian education is not a book on how to teach, but rather on how to learn; it is not a treatise on pedagogy, but a true lesson for anyone who wishes to walk the path that leads to Wisdom.