Prologus
The Heart's Reluctance to Write
Bernard feels both urged and restrained from writing to Pope Eugene, torn between reverence for his office and the intimacy of enduring love.
An impulse comes over my mind to dictate something that might build you up, or delight you, or comfort you, most blessed Pope Eugene. But somehow my mind wants to, and doesn't want to, let the words go out: the thought is eager enough, yet the speech is slow, as majesty and love each press contradictory commands on it at the same time. Of course, the one urges forward, the other holds back. But your graciousness steps in, through which you do not command this, but ask — though it would befit you rather to command.1 Since, then, majesty yields with such great graciousness, why shouldn't hesitation yield as well? What difference does it make if you have ascended the chair? Not even if you walk on the wings of the winds do you withdraw from affection.✦2 Love knows no lord; it recognizes a son, even one in episcopal vestments.3
True Obedience and Unfailing Love
Genuine obedience flows from willing devotion rather than fear or self-interest, and a mother's love persists through every change of station.
The person who is subject through their own willing devotion freely and willingly complies, obeys without constraint, and reverences with genuine respect. But not everyone acts from the same source: some are driven to obedience by fear, others by self-interest. There are those who speak blessing to your face while holding evil in their hearts; they flatter you to your face, but fail you when you need them. But love never fails. To speak the truth, I've been freed from a mother's duty toward you, but not robbed of a mother's love. Once you were deeply rooted in my heart; you won't be torn out of it so easily. Ascend to the heavens, descend into the depths — you won't depart from me, and I will follow you wherever you go. I have loved you as a poor man; I will love you as the father of the poor and of the rich alike.
A Mother's Counsel to the Pope
Bernard trusts that Eugene's promotion has deepened his poverty of spirit, and she claims the right to advise him not as a teacher but as one who loves.
Not if I know you well — for having become a father to the poor, you are not therefore poor in spirit.✦ I trust this change has taken place in you, not against you; and that it has not brought promotion to your former state, but drawn you closer. I'll advise you accordingly — not as a teacher, but as a mother; or rather, plainly, as one who loves. Let me seem foolish, then — but only to the one who does not love, to the one who feels no force of love.
Read the original Latin
Subit animum dictare aliquid, quod te, papa beatissime Eugeni, vel aedificet, vel delectet, vel consoletur. Sed nescio quomodo vult, et non vult exire laeta quidem, sed lenta oratio: dum certatim illi contraria imperare contendunt majestas, atque amor. Nempe urget ille, inhibet illa. Sed intervenit tua dignatio, qua hoc ipsunt non praecipis, sed petis, cum praecipere magis te deceat. Majestate igitur tam dignanter cedente, quidni cedat pudor? Quid enim si cathedram ascendisti? Nec si ambules super pennas ventorum, subduceris affectui. Amor dominum nescit, agnoscit filium et in infulis.
Per se satis subjectus est, obsequitur sponte, gratis obtemperat, libere reveretur. Non sic aliqui, non sic: sed aut timore ad ista impelluntur, aut cupiditate. Hi sunt qui in facie benedicunt, mala autem in cordibus eorum; blandiuntur coram, in necessitate deficiunt. At charitas nunquam excidit. Ego, ut verum fatear, matris sum liberatus officio, sed non depraedatus affectu. Olim mihi invisceratus es, non tam facile erueris. Ascende in coelos, descende in abyssos: non recedes a me, sequar te quocumque ieris. Amavi pauperem, amabo pauperum et divitum patrem.
Non enim, si bene te novi, quia pater pauperum factus, ideo non pauper spiritu es. In te hanc mutationem factam esse confido, non de te; nec priori statui tuo successisse promotionem, sed accessisse. Monebo te proinde, non ut magister, sed ut mater: plane ut amans. Amens magis videar, sed ei qui non amat, ei qui vim non sentit amoris.
Scripture echoes
Notes
- 1 ↩'dignatio' rendered as 'graciousness' to capture the quality of condescending kindness; alternatives considered: 'dignity,' 'favor.' The unusual form 'ipsunt' is treated as a neuter singular intensifier ('this itself') and absorbed into the natural English phrasing.
- 2 ↩'super pennas ventorum' echoes Psalm 103:3 Vulg. ('qui ambulas super pennas ventorum'); candidate allusion preserved without quotation pending Moses resolution.
- 3 ↩'Amor dominum nescit' — love here is personal, devoted affection that refuses to be awed by rank. 'in infulis' refers to liturgical vestments (mitres/bishop's insignia), rendered as 'episcopal vestments' for clarity.
De consideratione (On Consideration) companion
Make consideration a daily appointment
Bernard told Eugene to set aside time every day. Chosen Portion holds that time for you, free.
Bernard's core prescription — a fixed daily time reserved for examining the soul — is exactly the habit Chosen Portion installs with its daily devotional portion.
- One 10-minute daily portion for self-examination and prayer
- Reflection prompts drawn from historic texts, not improvised journaling
- A visible streak that protects the daily interval Bernard insisted on