Liber Quartus, Caput VII. Epilogus seu summa eorum quae in pontifice requiruntur.
A Summing Up Before the Close
Bernard announces a final review and summary before closing the book.
I'd like to close this book here as well, but first I want to go back over a few things before the end, as if summing them up, or to add what I've left out.
The Bishop's Place Among the Churches
The pope presides over the Roman Church as mother, not mistress, and is a brother and partner among bishops.
Before all else, consider that it is with God as author that you preside over the holy Roman Church, which is the mother of churches, not their mistress: and that you are not the lord of bishops, but one of them; further, a brother of those who love God, and a partner of those who fear him.
A Mirror of Many Callings
Bernard catalogs the many roles and titles required of the pontiff, then asks the Lord to grant understanding.
For the rest, you must consider yourself called to be a model of justice, a mirror of holiness, an example of piety, a defender of truth, a protector of the faith, a teacher of the nations, a leader of Christians, a friend of the Bridegroom, a friend of the Bride, an orderer of the clergy, a shepherd of the people, a teacher of the unwise, a refuge for the oppressed, an advocate for the poor, hope for the wretched, a guardian of orphans, a judge of widows, eyes for the blind, a voice for the mute, a staff for the old, an avenger of crimes, a terror to the wicked, glory for the good, a rod of power, a hammer of tyrants, a father of kings, a moderator of laws, a steward of canons, salt of the earth, light of the world, a priest of the Most High, a vicar of Christ, the anointed of the Lord: and finally, the God of Pharaoh. Understand what I'm saying: the Lord will give you understanding.
Power and the Gaze of Judgment
Where power meets malice, the pontiff must presume beyond mere humanity, fixing his gaze on evildoers.
Where malice is joined with power, there's something you'll need to presume beyond your humanity. Your gaze is upon those who do evil.
The Wrath and Prayer of the Shepherd
Those who scorn earthly warnings must fear the pontiff's wrath and his prayer alike.
Let them fear the breath of your wrath, those who don't fear man and don't dread the sword. Let them fear your prayer, those who have scorned your warning.
God Hears Through His Vicar
The pontiff's anger is God's own; those who ignore him must tremble before the God who will judge them.
Who are you angry with, thinking that God is angry with Himself, not with humanity? Whoever hasn’t listened to you should tremble at the God who is about to hear him and tremble against himself.
A Promise to Continue
Bernard promises to address remaining matters in a future book, fulfilling his vow with God's help.
As for what remains, the discussion about these matters that are beyond you now weighs on you: I hope to resolve it in one book, with God's help, and also to fulfill my promise.
Read the original Latin
Libet jam et hunc claudere librum: sed in calce aliqua velim vel ante dicta quasi epilogando repetere, vel addere praetermissa. Consideres ante omnia sanctam Romanam Ecclesiam, cui Deo auctore praees, Ecclesiarum matrem esse, non dominam: te vero non dominum episcoporum, sed unum ex ipsis; porro fratrem diligentium Deum, et participem timentium eum. De caetero oportere te esse considera formam justitiae, sanctimoniae speculum, pietatis exemplar, assertorem veritatis, fidei defensorem, doctorem gentium, Christianorum ducem, amicum Sponsi, Sponsae paranymphum, cleri ordinatorem, pastorem plebium, magistrum insipientium, refugium oppressorum, pauperum advocatum, miserorum spem, tutorem pupillorum, judicem viduarum, oculum caecorum, linguam mutorum, baculum senum, ultorem scelerum, malorum metum, bonorum gloriam, virgam potentium, malleum tyrannorum, regum patrem, legum moderatorem, canonum dispensatorem, sal terrae, orbis lumen, sacerdotem Altissimi, vicarium Christi, christum Domini: postremo deum Pharaonis. Intellige quae dico: dabit tibi Dominus intellectum. Ubi malitiae juncta potentia est, aliquid tibi supra hominem praesumendum. Vultus tuus super facientes mala. Timeat spiritum irae tuae, qui hominem non veretur, gladium non formidat. Timeat orationem, qui admonitionem contempsit.
Cui irasceris tu, Deum sibi iratum, non hominem putet. Qui te non audierit, auditurum Deum, et contra se paveat. Quod reliquum est, de his quae supra te sunt, incumbit jam disputatio: quam uno libro, Deo adjuvante, solvere spero, et me pariter absolvere promissione mea.
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