Saint Bernard
Saint Bernard
learn stones teach trees woods
You will find something more in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.
devil gained god human humble loses sin thereby
God removes the sin of the one who makes humble confession, and thereby the devil loses the sovereignty he had gained over the human heart.
deeply dwell endless glad god indeed lead sin sorrow
Sorrow for sin is indeed necessary, but it should not be an endless preoccupation. You must dwell also on the glad remembrance of God's loving-kindness; otherwise, sadness will harden the heart and lead it more deeply into despair.
accepting adequately assuming death gauge human lord majesty nature punishment revealed shame
Who is there that can adequately gauge the greatness of the humility, gentleness, self-surrender, revealed by the Lord of majesty in assuming human nature, in accepting the punishment of death, the shame of the cross?
burden delightful easy fact food joy love pleasant rest strength truth
Truly, love is delightful and pleasant food, supplying, as it does, rest to the weary, strength to the weak, and joy to the sorrowful. It in fact renders the yoke of truth easy and its burden light.
belongs direct essential nature neighbours ourselves pure seek self severe truth vision
We seek for truth in ourselves; in our neighbours, and in its essential nature. We find it first in ourselves by severe self scrutiny, then in our neighbours by compassionate indulgence, and, finally, in its essential nature by that direct vision which belongs to the pure in heart.
abundance alone herself lacks needs perfect reserves share wants
Charity never lacks what is her own, all that she needs for her own security. Not alone does she have it, she abounds with it. She wants this abundance for herself that she may share it with all; and she reserves enough for herself so that she disappoints nobody. For charity is perfect only when full.
embraced extent however lord love merciful privileged sit wretched
I myself, however wretched I may be, have been occasionally privileged to sit at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and to the extent that his merciful love allowed, have embraced with all my heart, now one, now the other, of these feet.
benefit cannot god judgment land man otherwise praised punished time
For every benefit conferred, God is to be praised in his gifts. Otherwise when the time of judgment comes, that man will be punished as an ingrate who cannot say to God: 'Your statutes were my song in the land of exile.'
christ coming god holy human lived men mind peace plans understood
Even the holy men who lived before the coming of Christ understood that God had in mind plans of peace for the human race.