Amid political skullduggery, as well as the demands of pastoral and administrative duties, Bishop Amadeus managed to write 'perhaps to preach 'these eight homilies in praise of Mary. In them he expresses not only the monastic devotion he had learned in the Order which dedicated 'and still dedicates 'each of its churches in her honor, but also the more popular devotion which was sweeping western Europe in the mid-twelfth century. Formed as a monk under the charismatic influence of Saint Bernard, Amadeus retained a distinctive piety which finds eloquent expression in this series of sermons, almost all that survives from his pen.