The exorbitant restoration cost for the abbey of Saint-Denis, commissioned and directed by Suger (the Abbot of Saint-Dennis), is understandable and justifiable. Suger’s endeavour found support from both the local officials and monks. This undertaking was done in accordance with the divine inspiration that he received from God. He accomplished the ideal of creating the abbey as a place worthy for God and holy items. With this new beauty, the abbey would be able to direct the mind to an immaterial place, through the use of the material world. This ultimately created a place of worship that is closer to heaven then the rest of earth, as it recreates divine beauty and inspires all those who visit. Suger is justified in his endeavor to improve the
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The very first recorded improvement to the church, the rebuilding and decoration of the old walls is said to have, “begun under the inspiration of God” (Suger, 145). From this account we are able to appreciate that the first alteration, and subsequent improvements, are done in accordance with God’s intentions for the abbey. Therefore God is inspiring Suger, so that the abbey can become closer to God’s divine intentions. In Suger’s account, we are told that God’s inspiration made it necessary for the walls to be, “painted in gold and precious colors” (Suger, 145). The first of the improvements to the abbey already required a large sum, but subsequent expenses are required for Suger to replicate his divine inspiration. Choosing to ignore, or intentionally fall short of God’s suggestion, would have reflected badly on Sugar’s legitimacy as a churchman. He acknowledged the irrelevance of expense, when he writes, in regards to the first addition to the abbey, “while this was being completed at great expense, I found myself, under the inspiration of the Divine Will” (Suger, 145). Suger justifies the cost of this addition, citing the inspiring nature of God’s divine will is the cause and origin of this expense. With these costly additions Suger was able to make the abbey worthy of
The very first recorded improvement to the church, the rebuilding and decoration of the old walls is said to have, “begun under the inspiration of God” (Suger, 145). From this account we are able to appreciate that the first alteration, and subsequent improvements, are done in accordance with God’s intentions for the abbey. Therefore God is inspiring Suger, so that the abbey can become closer to God’s divine intentions. In Suger’s account, we are told that God’s inspiration made it necessary for the walls to be, “painted in gold and precious colors” (Suger, 145). The first of the improvements to the abbey already required a large sum, but subsequent expenses are required for Suger to replicate his divine inspiration. Choosing to ignore, or intentionally fall short of God’s suggestion, would have reflected badly on Sugar’s legitimacy as a churchman. He acknowledged the irrelevance of expense, when he writes, in regards to the first addition to the abbey, “while this was being completed at great expense, I found myself, under the inspiration of the Divine Will” (Suger, 145). Suger justifies the cost of this addition, citing the inspiring nature of God’s divine will is the cause and origin of this expense. With these costly additions Suger was able to make the abbey worthy of