Chapter 1
Dedication To the illustrious Lord Haimeric, Cardinal Deacon of the Roman Church, and Chancellor; Bernard, called Abbot of Clairvaux, wishes long life in the Lord and death in the Lord.
Hitherto you have been wont to seek prayers from me, not the solving of problems; although I count myself sufficient for neither. My profession shows that, if not my conversation; and to speak truth, I lack the diligence and the ability that are most essential. Yet | am glad that you turn again for spiritual counsel, instead of busying yourself about carnal matters: I only wish you had gone to someone better equipped than I am. Still, learned and simple give the same excuse and one can hardly tell whether it comes from modesty or from ignorance, unless obedience to the task assigned shall reveal. So, take from my poverty what
I can give you, lest I should seem to play the philosopher, by reason of my silence. Only, I do not promise to answer other questions you may raise. This one, as to loving God, I will deal with as He shall teach me; for it is sweetest, it can be handled most safely, and it will be most profitable. Keep the others for wiser men.
Chapter 1
WHY WE SHOULD LOVE GOD
AND THE MEASURE OF THAT LOVE
You want me to tell you why God is to be loved and how much, I answer, the reason for loving God is God Himself; and the measure of love due to Him is immeasurable love. Is this plain? Doubtless, to a thoughtful man; but I am debtor to the unwise also. A word to the wise is sufficient; but [3]
SAINT BERNARD OF
CLAIRVAUX
I must consider simple folk too. Therefore I set myself joyfully to explain more in detail what is meant above.
Weare to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable.
When one asks, Why should I love God?, he may mean, What is lovely in God? or What shall I gain by loving God?
In either case, the same sufficient cause of love exists, namely, God Himself.
And first, of His title to our love. Could any title be greater than this, that He gave Himself for us unworthy wretches? And being God, what better gift could He offer than Himself? Hence, if one seeks for God's claim upon our love here is the chiefest: Because He first loved us."
Ought He not to be loved in return, when we think who loved, whom He loved, and how much He loved? For who is He that loved? The same of whom every spirit testifies:
"You are my God: my goods are nothing unto You."
And is not His love that wonderful charity which "seeks not her own"? But for whom was such unutterable love made manifest? The apostle tells us: "When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son." " So it was
God who loved us, loved us freely, and loved us while yet we were enemies. And how great was this love of His? St.
John answers: "God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." St. Paul adds: "He
"1 Jn 4:19.
"Ps 16:2, Vulgate. tor 138:
*Rom 5:10.
Tn 3:16.