Epilogue
Epilogue Bernard's great contribution was to remind people that God not only came into this world at the incarnation and will come again at the end of time, but that he also comes daily, by grace, into the hearts of all those who will welcome him.
His work of salvation has never halted and it will continue as long as there are men and women to work out their salvation. This work still goes on in our world, the modern world we know, which is sinful, greedy, and often too proud to be honest with itself. But it is a world where there are many who are hurt, lost, seeking, longing for they know not what. (That 'I don't know what' for which John of the Cross was prepared to gamble his all.) It is this world which Bernard also knew and wrote about, for like Jesus he was concerned with human nature, which does not change very much. But he had grasped the fact that wherever there is a spark of free-will, wherever there is an atom of love, there also is the capacity, the potential for union with the God for whom we were made and without whom no individual will be complete. Bernard reminds us that we are not on our own; it is in this world of luxury and squalor, of violence and great beauty, of suffering and indescribable love, that Christ seeks the sinners he came to save, that he knocks on the hearts of ordinary people. If they will open to him, then together he and they may make the living of the ups and downs of human life the vehicle of salvation, and life as a fully human being and as a follower of Christ may become one and the same. It is a life's work but it results in human completeness and a share in the glorious life and love of the Blessed Trinity.
God's glory is in living men and women and full life for
Epilogue them is in the vision of God. It is this kind of life and union with God — being fully human and being fully Christian — that was preached and practised by St Bernard of Clairvaux.
Sources Source references are abbreviated as follows:
CFI The Works of Bernard of Clairvaux: Treatises I, Cistercian Fathers Series no 1. (Cistercian Publications, Massachusetts,
1970) The Works of Bernard of Clairvaux: On the Song of Sons I, Cistercian Fathers Series no 4, trans. Kilian Walsh ocso.
(Cistercian Publications, Massachusetts, 1971) The Works of Bernard of Clairvaux: On the Song of Songs II,
Cistercian Fathers Series no 7, trans. Kilian Walsh ocso (Cistercian Publications, Michigan, 1983)
The Works of Bernard of Clairvaux: On the Song of Songs III, Cistercian Fathers Series no 31, trans, Kilian Walsh ocso &
Irene Edmonds. (Cistercian Publications, Michigan, 1974) CF4 CF7 Crt The Works of Bernard of Clairvaux: On the Song of Songs
IV, Cistercian Fathers Series no 40, trans. Irene Edmonds.
(Cistercian Publications, Michigan, 1980) The Works of Bernard of Clairvaux: Treatise II, Cistercian
Fathers Series no 13. (Cistercian Publications Consortium Press, Washington DC, 1974) CF40 The Works of Bernard of Clairvaux: Treatises III, Cistercian
Fathers Series no 19. trans. D. O'Donovan ocso. (Cistercian Publications, Michigan, 1977)
CFI9 The Works of Bernard of Clairvaux: Sermons on Conversion, Cistercian Fathers Series no 25, trans. Marie-Bernard Said oss. (Cistercian Publications, Michigan, 1981)
CE25 CS9 Thomas Merton on St Bernard, Cistercian Studies Series no 9. (Mowbray, London, 1980) On Loving God by Bernard of Clairvaux, Hugh Martin (ed).
(SCM Press, London, 1959) St Bernard on the Christian Year. (Mowbray, London, 1954)
St Bernard's Sermons for the Seasons and Principal Festivals of the Year, Vol I. (Browne & Nolan, Dublin, 1921)
LG BCY rer
Sources LII ibid, Vol II. (Browne & Nolan. Dublin, 1923) LIV ibid, Vol Ill. (Browne & Nolan. Dublin, 1925)
CIl St Bernard's Sermons on the Canticle of Canticles. Vol I.
(Browne & Nolan, Dublin 1920).
LB The Letters of St Bernard of Clairvaux, trans. Bruno Scott James. (Burns & Oates, London, 1953) AST Author's translation Works of St Bernard are abbreviated as follows:
SoS On Song of Songs Lov God On Loving God Conv On Conversion Pre On Precept and Dispensation GVM On Glories of the Virgin Mother Ps 90 On Psalm 90 Ad Sermons for Advent Nat Sermons for Christmas Pent Sermon for Pentecost Nat BVM For Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Hum Steps of Humility and Pride Gra Grace and Free-choice Apol Apologia Lett Letters 1 The Mystery of Christ What the Blessed Trinity has Done for Us
Pent II, 2; LII 297 Charity is the Law of God Lett 12, 4; LB 44 The Law of the Slave Lett, 12, 5; LB 44 Christ our Saviour Ad VII; LI 51 ff Our Need of Christ Ad VII; LI 51 ff.
The Time of our Saviour's Coming Ad I; AT The Road by which the Saviour Comes Ad I; AT The Kindness of God Ad I; LI 10 Why the Son of God Came to Us_ Ad I; LI 10 & 17.
2 Love Love SoS 83.4; CF40 184 How God Should be Loved Lov God VI 16; CF13 109 Why We Should Love God Lov God I; LG 16 Christ First Loved Us SoS 20.2; CF4 148 How We Ought to Love Christ SoS 20.4; CF4 149 Degrees of Love SoS 83 5; CF40 184 ff.
Sources True Love Lov God VII 17; CF13 110 Steps in our Love for God Lett 12 8; LB 46 3 Our Lady Mary our Advocate Ad II; LI 20 ff The Annunciation
GVM IV 8; LI 124
Mary's Consent
GVM IV 8; LI 126
Star of the Sea GVM II; AT The Second Eve Nat BVM 6; LIII 286 For Our Lady's Birthday Nat BVM 6; LIII 284 Mary gives us Jesus our Brother Nat BVM 7; LIII 288 Mary, the Garden Nat BVM 6, 7; LIII 287 ff 4 Made in God's Image and Likeness The Image and Likeness SoS 80 2; CF40 146 The Capacity for God SoS 80 3, 4; CF40 146 ff Lord, Who is Like You?
SoS 82 7; CF40 178 The Likeness and the Vision SoS 82 8; CF40 179 Made in God's Image and Likeness Gra IX; CF19 84 Free Choice SoS 81 6; CF40 162 Simplicity SoS 81 2; CS9 111 ff Our Unlikeness to God SoS 82 2; CS9 112 ff 5 Conversion Come Home Without Fear SoS 83, 1; CF40 180-1 Conversion I Conv 1, 24; CF25 31, 35 Conversion II Conv 5, 7, 8, 10; CF25 37, 44
Conversion III Conv 11, 12; CF25 45-6 The Desire for Contemplation Conv 23, 24, 25; CF25 58, 61 The Soul Wedded to the Word SoS 83, 23; CF40 182 6 Humility A Deep Heart Hum 15, 16, 17; CF13, 43, 45 Self-Knowledge SoS 37.1; CS9 123-4 Humility of Heart Ad IV; LI 35 Humiliations Lett, 90, 11; LB 134 Three Degrees of Truth Hum 6, 9; CF13, 34, 37 Blessed are the Merciful Conv 29; CF25 65 The Taste of Wisdom SoS 85 7, 8; CF40 202, 204
Sources 7 Our Need for God's Help Renewal SoS 21 6; CF7 8 God Gives Us the Power SoS 84 3; CF40 190 The Search for God SoS 84 5; CF40 191-2 Returning to God SoS 84 6; CF40 192-3 The Goodness of God Lett 90 6; LB 132 To be Re-formed by the Word SoS 83 2; CF40 181-2 The Help of the Word SoS 85 5; CF40 200-1 The Bride of the Word SoS 85 12; CF40 208-9 8 Finding God in the Church The Church SoS 12, 11; CF4 86 The Robe of Christ Apol. III, 6; CF1 40-1 The Robe of Unity Apol. IV, 7-9; CF1 41, 44 The Lord Jesus SoS 20. 1; CF4 147, 149 Human Affection for Christ SoS 20. 6; CF4 152 God's Self-emptying SoS 11, 7; CF4 74, 75 The Three Unions Nat III, 7, 9, 10; LI 337, 340 Reconciliation Epiph. I. 1-4; BCY 38-9 9 The Lord Jesus The Name of Jesus SoS 15. 6; CF4 110 The Healing Power of the Name of Jesus SoS 15. 8; CF4 111 I Am the Way Hum I. 1; CF13 29 Christ Feeds Us and is Fed by Us_ SoS 71. 4, 5; CF40 51-2 Lent with the Church Lent I, 1, 2; BCY 64-5 The Palm Sunday Procession Pa I 2; LII 113, 114 The Sufferings of Christ SoS 43.3; CF7 221-2 The Wounds of Christ SoS 61. 3. 4; CII 196 Resurrection Res I; BCY 92-3 Passing Beyond SoS 79.3; CF40 139 Christ our Companion SoS 32.4; CF7 136-7 The Gift of the Spirit Lett 109; AT Faith Res. II; AT St Peter and St Paul Sts P & P I; LIII 194, 196 The Pharisee and the Publican Annum III 10; LIII 171-2 The Holy Angels St. Michael. I. 6; LIII 320 Guardian Angels Ps 90. 12, 6; CF25 217 The Cross —St.,And. 1) BEY 112
Sources
The Cistercian Way of Life The Cistercian Way Lett 151.2; LB 220 Monastic Life: a Second Baptism Pre XVII, 54; CF I 144 To the Parents of a Novice Lett 112; LB 169 Christ's Yoke is Easy Lett 75.2; LB 104 To Henry Murdac Lett. 107; LB 155 Clairvaux Lett 67; LB 91 To Aelred of Rievaulx Lett 177; LB 246 To Abbot Rainald Lett 76. 1; LB 106 Giving Thanks for God's Help SoS 1.9; CF4 5-6 Dedication of a Monastic Church Ded. I; LII 385 Against Detractors Apol V 10, 11; CFI 45-6 The Kingdom of God is Within You Apol VI 12; CFI 46, 48 The Self-opinionated Monk SoS 46.6; AT The Boaster Hum XIII 41; CFB 69 Making Excuses Hum XVII 45; CF13 73 On the Death of Archbishop Malachy at Clairvaux
Lett 386. 3; LB 456 On the Death of his Brother Gerard SoS 26.5; CF7 63 Living for God Alone Ps 90. 9; LI 210 Learn to be Merciful Hum IV 13; CF13 41
Prayer and Thanksgiving Ask and You shall Receive SoS 49. 3; CF31 23 Seeking the Word in Prayer SoS 86. 3; CF40 213-14 Thanksgiving SoS 51. 6; CF31 44-5 Gladness and Thanksgiving SoS 11, 2; CF4 70 Gratitude for God's Grace Lett 417; LB 485
God is our Refuge Ps 90. 9. 7; CF25 189-90 Tribulation Ps 90 17. 3; CF25 255-6 God is With Us in Trouble Ps 90. 16: 2, 4; CF25 248-9 12 Longing for God Seeking God SoS 84. 1; CF40 188 Dryness SoS 14. 6; CF4 102 The Complaint of the Spouse SoS 9. 1, 2; CF4 53-4 Longing for the Holy Spirit SoS 9. 3; CF4 55 The Holy Spirit: the Kiss SoS 8, 2; CF4 46 Knowing the Trinity SoS 8. 3, 5; CF4 46-7 The Man of Desires I SoS 32, 2; CF7 135 The Man of Desires II SoS 32. 2; CF7 135 Faith and Desire Lett 19. 2; LB 53
Sources Visits of the Word SoS 74. 5; CF40 89-90 The Presence of the Word SoS 74. 6, 7; CF40 91 Enjoying the Word SoS 85. 14; CF40 210 To Love with the Whole Heart SoS 83. 6; CF40 186
The Day Heaven SoS 33, 6, 7; CF7 149-50 The Mystical Noontide SoS 33. 4; CF7 147 The Day SoS 32, 5, 6; CF7 148-9
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LOVE WITHOUT MEASURE
In 1090 St Bernard of Clairvaux, a monk of the Cistercian order, was born. One of the great figures of his age, he travelled and preached widely; Cistercian abbeys were founded all over Europe. He left many writings, which included his famous treatises on humility, on the love of God, on grace and free will, and his masterpiece on the Song of Songs.
It is from these writings that this collection is drawn.
Here we see, not only a compassionate, thoughtful man, not only a scholar devoted to the Bible and to the works of the Fathers, but a Christian of €xtraordinary vision and faith. To him God's healing power, God's love, and our. acceptance of our own weakness, were central to the message of Christ.
Love Without Measure brings this message newly alive to us today, in timeless words that reach across the centuries. j Fr Paul Diemer is a Cistercian monk at Mount St Bernard
Abbey, Leicestershire.
£5.95 net
ISBN 0-232-51894-7
Darton, Longman & Todd | |
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