Works by St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- On Loving God
Description: What is love? In his text On
Loving God, St. Bernard surveys the four types of love
that Christians experience as they grow in their
relationship with God: loving one's self, selfish love,
loving God as God, and loving one's self in God. St.
Bernard reminds us that not only did God give us life, but He gave us
Himself. For indeed, "God deserves to be loved very much, yea,
boundlessly, because He loved us first, He infinite and we nothing,
loved us, miserable sinners, with a love so great and so free." St.
Bernard reminds us that we are indebted to God for his love and His
sacrifice. Not only should we love God because it is what He deserves,
but also because loving God does not go without reward. Loving God is to
our advantage. The Lord rewards those who love Him with the blessed
state of the heavenly Fatherland, where sorrow and sadness cannot enter.
St. Bernard's medieval prose is poetic and full of clever imagery. His
work is as beautiful as it is knowledgeable.
Emmalon
Davis
CCEL
Staff
Writer
- Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux
Description: "The letters of great and good men give us
information about them which can be derived from no other
source," say Frank Gasquet, one of the organizers of this
book. Unlike any other literature, a letter provides us
with a window into the soul of its author; it allows us to see the
author's personal characteristics, cares, emotions, gifts, and vices. It
addition to their great historical importance, the letters of Saint
Bernard give us an indicator of St. Bernard's religious and political
influence. St. Bernard exchanged letters with men and women of many
different statures--his correspondents included monk, deacons, bishops,
abbots, kings, holy virgins, countesses, popes, dukes, and duchesses.
St. Bernard was always lively in his presentation and pleasant in his
tone, even when he was fiercely defending his faith. He frequently
incorporated biblical allusions in his writing. He also relied heavily
on the trusted teachings of St. Ambrose and St. Augustine, two of his
favorite church fathers. There is much truth and warmth to be found in
the letters of St. Bernard.
Emmalon
Davis
CCEL Staff Writer
