Praefatio
Greeting and Humble Self-Portrait
Bernard addresses Cardinal Haimericus with a Pauline blessing, then humbly confesses his lack of both the prayerful devotion and the scholarly ability his office demands.
To the illustrious Lord Haimericus, deacon cardinal and chancellor of the Roman Church, Bernard, abbot called of Clairvaux: to live in the Lord, and to die in the Lord.✦ You were accustomed to demand prayers from me, and not questions: and indeed I trust myself to be suited for neither. But that profession points to the truth, even if my daily life does not match it: and yet (to confess the truth) I see that the things which would seem most necessary are lacking in me — diligence and ability.
The Exchange of Earthly for Spiritual
Bernard notes with quiet irony that spiritual things have been sought from him in exchange for earthly ones, and wonders whether he would have consented had the request come from someone wealthier.
It pleases me, I confess, that in exchange for earthly things, spiritual things have been sought on my behalf — if truly it had pleased me to do this with someone wealthier.
Obedience Over Silence
Bernard argues that only obedience to an imposed task can reveal whether an excuse stems from modesty or inexperience, and he declines to promise a complete answer.
Because there is, after all, a custom of making excuses equally among the learned and the unlearned in matters of this kind, and it is not easily known whether an excuse truly proceeds from inexperience or from modesty, unless obedience to imposed work proves it: receive from my poverty what I have, lest by keeping silent I be thought a philosopher.1 Nor do I promise that I will have an answer for everything.
Loving God: A Gift Received
Bernard narrows his response to the single question of loving God, promising only what God himself will give, because this subject tastes sweeter, is treated more securely, and is heard more usefully.
To this one thing only — what you ask about loving God — I will respond, what he himself will give. For this both tastes sweeter, and is treated more securely, and is heard more usefully.
Entrusting the Rest to the Diligent
Bernard defers all remaining questions to those more diligent than himself.
Set aside what remains for those who are more diligent.
Read the original Latin
Viro illustri domino HAIMERICO, ecclesiae Romanae diacono cardinali et cancellario, BERNARDUS abbas dictus de Clara-Valle, Domino vivere, et in Domino mori. Orationes a me, et non quaestiones poscere solebatis: et quidem ego ad neutrum idoneum me esse confido. Verum illud indicit professio, etsi non ita conversatio: ad hoc vero (ut verum fatear) ea mihi deesse video, quae maxime necessaria viderentur, diligentiam et ingenium. Placet tamen, fateor, quod pro carnalibus spiritualia repetitis, si sane apud locupletiorem id facere libuisset. Quia vero doctis et indoctis pariter in istiusmodi excusandi mos est, nec facile scitur, quae vere ex imperitia, quaeve ex verecundia excusatio prodeat, si non injucti operis obeditio probat: accipite de mea paupertate quod habeo, ne tacendo philosophus puter. Nec tamen ad omnia spondeo me responsurum. Ad id solum quod de diligendo Deo quaeritis, respondebo quod ipse dabit. Hoc enim et sapit dulcius, et tractatur securius, et auditur utilius.
Reliqua diligentioribus reservate.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Phil.1.21 — For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Notes
- 1 ↩The phrase 'receive from my poverty what I have' plays on the humility topos — the author offers his meager contribution as a kind of spiritual gift, reversing expectations of wealth.
On Loving God companion
Fourteen days is a start. Love grows by daily practice.
Continue with a short daily portion of historic devotion in the free Chosen Portion app.
Bernard argues love of God deepens through repeated, ordinary acts of devotion — the daily portions in Chosen Portion are precisely that repeated practice.
- Finish the plan, then keep a 10-minute daily devotional habit
- Read classics like Bernard's in plain modern English, one portion a day
- Track which of the four degrees you are practicing, week by week