Bernard Of Clairvaux

by Bernard of Clairvaux

• ISBN13: 9780060750671
• ISBN10: 0060750677
• Format: Paperback
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publications

Summary

Bernard of Clairvaux holds a distinguished place in the history of Christian spirituality. During the twelfth century this gentle monk from France became the primary guide for those who follow the path of selfless love as well as a spokesman for a revival in monastic life. This collection of his most important writings provides a superb introduction to a man who has greatly shaped the Western monastic and mystical traditions.

Excerpts

Bernard of Clairvaux
Selected Works

Chapter One

That no one can be converted to the Lord unless the Lord wills it first and calls him with an inner voice

You have come, I believe, to hear the Word of God. I can see no other reason why you should rush here like this! I approve of this desire with all my heart, and I rejoice with you in your praiseworthy zeal. For blessed are those who hear the Word of God -- if, that is, they keep it. Blessed are those who are mindful of his laws, provided that they obey them [Ps. 103:18]. Such a one has the words of eternal life indeed, and the hour comes -- would it were here now! -- when the dead shall hear his voice and they who hear it shall live. For "To do his will is to live" [Ps. 30:5].

And if you would like to know what his will is: It is that we should be converted. Hear what he himself says. "It is not my will that the wicked should perish," says the Lord, "but rather that they should turn from their wickedness and live" [Ezek. 18:23].

From these words we see clearly that our true life is to be found only through conversion, and there is no other way to enter upon it. As the same Lord says, "Unless you are converted and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" [Matt. 18:3]. Truly, only little children will enter, for it is a little child who leads them, he who was born and given to us for this very end. I seek, then, the voice the dead will hear and, when they hear it, live. Perhaps it is even necessary to preach the Gospel to the dead [1 Pet. 4:6].

And meanwhile a word comes to mind, brief but full of meaning, which the mouth of the Lord has spoken, as the prophet bears witness. "You have said," he cries, undoubtedly speaking to the Lord his God, "be converted, sons of men" [Isa. 1:20; 40:5; Ps. 90:3]. It seems wholly fitting that it is conversion that is required of the sons of men; it is absolutely necessary for sinners.The heavenly spirits are told to give praise, as the same prophet says in the Psalms, "Praise your God, O Zion" [Ps. 147:12]; that is more appropriate for the righteous [Ps. 33:1].

As to the remainder of what he says, "You have said" [Ps. 90:3], I do not think that is to be passed over carelessly or heard unreflectively. For who dare compare the sayings of men with what God is said to have said? The Word of God is living and effective. His voice is a voice of magnificence and power. "He spoke and they were made" [Ps. 148:5]. He said, "Let there be light, and there was light" [Gen. 1:3]. He said, "Be converted" [Ps. 90:3], and the sons of men have been converted. So the conversion of souls is clearly the work of the divine voice, not of any human voice. Even Simon son of John, called and appointed by the Lord to be a fisher of men, will toil in vain all night and catch nothing until he casts his net at the Lord's word. Then he can catch a vast multitude [John 21:15ff; Matt. 4:19].

Would that we too might cast our net at this word today and experience what is written, "Behold he will give his voice the sound of power" [Ps. 68:33]. If I lie, that is my own fault. It will perhaps be judged to be my own voice and not the voice of the Lord if I seek what is my own and not what is Jesus Christ's. For the rest, even if I speak of the righteousness of God and seek God's glory, I can hope that what I say will be effective only if he makes it so. I must ask him to make this voice of mine a voice of power.

I admonish you, therefore, to lift up the ears of your heart to hear this inner voice, so that you may strive to hear inwardly what is said to the outward man. For this is the voice of magnificence and power, rolling through the desert, revealing secrets, shaking souls free of sluggishness [Ps. 29].

That the voice of the Lord speaks and makes itself heard to all, and presents itself even to the soul that does not want to hear

There is no need to make an effort to hear this voice.The difficulty is to shut your ears to it.The voice speaks up; it makes itself heard; it does not cease to knock on everyone's door [Rev. 3:20]. "Forty years long," he says, "I was with this generation, and I said, ‘They err constantly in their hearts'" [Ps. 95:10]. He is still with us. He still speaks, even if no one listens. He still says, "They err in their hearts"; Wisdom still cries in the streets. "Come to your senses, evildoers" [Isa. 46:8].

This is the beginning of God's speaking. And this word, which is addressed to all those who are converted in heart, seems to have run on ahead; it is a word that not only calls them back but leads them back and brings them face-to-face with themselves. For it is not so much a voice of power as a ray of light, telling men about their sins and at the same time revealing the things hidden in darkness. There is no difference between this inner voice and light, for they are one and the same Son of God and Word of the Father and brightness of glory.

So too the substance of the soul would seem to be spiritual and simple in its way, without any distinction of senses; the whole soul seems to see and hear at once, if we can speak of it in that way. For what is the purpose of the ray of light or the Word but to bring man to know himself?

Bernard of Clairvaux
Selected Works. Copyright © by Robert HarperCollins Spiritual Classics. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.

---

Excerpted from Bernard of Clairvaux: Selected Works by HarperCollins Spiritual Classics Staff, Emilie Griffin
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.