SR
← Liber ad milites templi de laude novae militiae (In Praise of the New Knighthood)/Book 1 · De laude novae militiae
Chapter 4BernT.1.4

De Militibus Christi

The Soldier's Fearless Confidence

Christ's soldiers fight without fear, for killing in the Lord's cause and dying for Christ alike bring glory and gain.

But Christ's soldiers fight the battles of their Lord with complete confidence, fearing neither sin in the slaughter of the enemy nor danger in their own death: since death for Christ, whether suffered or inflicted, carries no guilt and deserves the highest glory. From one side, then, the enemy is gained for Christ; from the other, Christ is gained for the soldier: who gladly accepts the enemy's death as an act of vengeance, and even more gladly offers himself to the soldier as consolation. The soldier of Christ, I say, kills in safety, and dies in even greater safety. He gains for himself when he dies, and for Christ when he kills. For he does not carry the sword without reason.✦ He is God's minister, for vengeance upon wrongdoers and for the praise of those who do good.✦ Indeed, when he kills a wrongdoer, he is not a murderer but, if I may put it this way, an evildoer-slayer, and clearly an avenger of Christ against those who do wrong, and is counted a defender of Christians. But when he himself is killed, he is known not to have perished but to have arrived.

Death as Gain for Christ and the Soldier

Both the death of the enemy and the death of the Christian soldier serve divine justice and the protection of the righteous.

So death, when a soldier of Christ inflicts it, is a gain for Christ; when he suffers it, it is his own gain.✦ In the death of a pagan the Christian glories, because Christ is glorified; in the death of a Christian, the King's generosity is revealed, as the soldier who is to be rewarded is brought forth. Moreover, the righteous one will rejoice over that one when he sees vengeance.✦ Of this one a man will say: 'If there is indeed fruit for the righteous, then there is indeed a God who judges them on earth.'✦ LVII, 12). Indeed, pagans would not need to be killed at all, if only they could in some other way be kept from their excessive harassment and oppression of the faithful. But as it is, it is better that they be killed than that the rod of sinners be left to rest upon the lot of the righteous — otherwise the righteous might stretch out their hands toward wrongdoing.✦

The Lawfulness of Christian Arms

Bernard defends the right of Christians to bear the sword, arguing that divinely ordained defense of Zion is a fitting profession.

What then? If it is altogether not lawful for a Christian to strike with the sword, why then did the herald of the Savior declare that soldiers should be content with their own pay (Luke✦1 III, 14); and why did he not rather forbid them all military service? But if (as is true) it is lawful for all to do this, provided they are divinely ordained for this very purpose, and surely nothing better is professed than this; for whom, I ask, is it more fitting than for those by whose hands and strength the city of our fortress Zion is preserved for the defense of us all?2 so that, with the transgressors of the divine law driven away, the righteous nation may enter in safety, keeping the truth. Let the nations who want wars be scattered without harm, and let those who trouble us be cut off, and let all who work iniquity be destroyed from the city of the Lord — those who long to carry off the priceless riches of the Christian people stored up in Jerusalem, to defile what is holy, and to seize the sanctuary of God as their inheritance. Let the sword of both faithful parties be drawn against the necks of enemies, to destroy every height that lifts itself against the knowledge of God, which is the faith of Christians; lest the nations someday say: Where is their God?✦3 (Psalm

Scripture Fragments and the Desolation of the Unfaithful

A transitional citation of Psalm 115:2 noting the derision of the nations.

113, 2.)

The Prophetic Promise of Jerusalem's Restoration

A chain of prophetic texts proclaims God's redemption of Zion and the end of Israel's desolation.

Once they are driven out, he himself will return to his inheritance and his own house, about which he says angrily in the Gospel, "See, your house will be left to you desolate" (Matt.✦ XXIII, 38); and through the prophet he laments like this: "I have left my house, I have given up my inheritance" (Jerem.✦ XII, 7): and so he will fulfill that prophetic word: "The Lord has redeemed his people and set them free; and they will come and exult on Mount Zion, and they will rejoice in the good things of the Lord" (Jerem.✦ XXXI, 11, 12). Rejoice, Jerusalem, and recognize now the time of your visitation. Rejoice and praise together, desolate Jerusalem, because the Lord has comforted his people and redeemed Jerusalem; the Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations.✦ Virgin Israel, you had fallen, and there was no one to raise you up.✦ Rise now, shake the dust off, captive virgin daughter of Zion.✦

The Fulfillment of Ancient Promises

Isaiah's visions of comfort, gathering, and royal nursing are now fulfilled through the soldiers who defend God's city.

Rise up, I say, and stand on the heights, and see the gladness that comes to you from your God.✦ No longer will you be called Forsaken, and your land will no longer be called Desolate, because the Lord has taken delight in you, and your land will be inhabited.✦ Lift up your eyes all around and see: all these have gathered together, they have come to you.✦ This help has been sent to you from the Holy One.✦ Truly, through these men that ancient promise is now at last being fulfilled for you: 'I will make you the pride of the ages, a joy from generation to generation, and you will suck the milk of nations, and you will be nursed at the breast of kings' (Isa.✦45 60:15, 16): and likewise, 'As a mother comforts her children, so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem' (Isa.✦ 66:13). Do you see how, by the abundant witness of the ancients, the new military service is being approved, and that just as we have heard, so we now see in the city of the Lord of hosts?✦

Spiritual Reading and Heavenly Hope

Temporal glory must not undermine spiritual meaning; the earthly city bears the likeness of the heavenly mother.

Provided, of course, that a literal reading does not undermine the spiritual meaning — so that we may indeed hope for eternity, whatever we draw from the prophets' words to point toward this present time: lest what is believed should fade away through what is seen, and the poverty of present reality should shrink the riches of hope, and the proof of things at hand should empty out the things to come. Otherwise, the temporal glory of an earthly city doesn't destroy heavenly goods — it builds them up, if at the very least we don't doubt that this city bears the likeness of that one which is in heaven and is our mother.

Read the original Latin

At vero Christi milites securi praeliantur praelia Domini sui, nequaquam metuentes aut de hostium caede peccatum, aut de sua nece periculum: quandoquidem mors pro Christo vel ferenda, vel inferenda, et nihil habeat criminis, et plurimum gloriae mereatur. Hinc quippe Christo, inde Christus acquiritur: qui nimirum et libenter accipit hostis mortem pro ultione, et libentius praebet se ipsum militi pro consolatione. Miles, inquam, Christi securus interimit, interit securior. Sibi praestat cum interit, Christo cum interimit. Non enim sine causa gladium portat. Dei etenim minister est ad vindictam malefactorum, laudem vero bonorum. Sane cum occidit malefactorem, non homicida, sed, ut ita dixerim, malicida, et plane Christi vindex in his qui male agunt, et defensor Christianorum reputatur. Cum autem occiditur ipse, non periisse, sed pervenisse cognoscitur.

Mors ergo quam irrogat, Christi est lucrum: quam excipit, suum. In morte pagani christianus gloriatur, quia Christus glorificatur: in morte christiani, Regis liberalitas aperitur, cum miles remunerandus educitur. Porro super illo laetabitur justus cum viderit vindictam. De isto dicet homo: Si utique est fructus justo: utique est Deus judicans eos in terra (Psal. LVII, 12). Non quidem vel Pagani necandi essent, si quo modo aliter possent a nimia infestatione seu oppressione fidelium cohiberi. Nunc autem melius est ut occidantur, quam certe relinquatur virga peccatorum super sortem justorum: ne forte extendant justi ad iniquitatem manus suas.

Quid enim? si percutere in gladio omnino fas non est Christiano, cur ergo praeco Salvatoris contentos fore suis stipendiis militibus indixit (Luc. III, 14); et non potius omnem eis militiam interdixit? Si autem (quod verum est) omnibus fas est, ad hoc ipsum duntaxat divinitus ordinatis, nec aliud sane quidquam melius professis; quibus, quaeso, potius, quam quorum manibus et viribus urbs fortitudinis nostrae Sion pro nostro omnium munimine retinetur? ut depulsis divinae transgressoribus legis, secura ingrediatur gens justa, custodiens veritatem. Secure proinde dissipentur gentes quae bella volunt, et abscindantur qui nos conturbant, et disperdantur de civitate Domini omnes operantes iniquitatem, qui repositas in Jerosolymis christiani populi inaestimabiles divitias tollere gestiunt, sancta polluere, et haereditate possidere sanctuarium Dei. Exeratur gladius uterque fidelium in cervices inimicorum, ad destruendam omnem altitudinem extollentem se adversus scientiam Dei, quae est christianorum fides; ne quando dicant gentes: ubi est Deus eorum? (Psal.

CXIII, 2.)

Quibus expulsis revertetur ipse in haereditatem domumque suam, de qua iratus in Evangelio, Ecce, inquit, relinquetur vobis domus vestra deserta (Matth. XXIII, 38); et per prophetam ita conqueritur, Reliqui domum meam, dimisi haereditatem meam (Jerem. XII, 7): implebitque illud propheticum, Redemit Dominus populum suum, et liberavit eum: et venient et exsultabunt in monte Sion, et gaudebunt de bonis Domini (Jerem. XXXI, 11, 12). Laetare, Jerusalem, et cognosce jam tempus visitationis tuae. Gaudete et laudate simul, deserta Jerusalem, quia consolatus est Dominus populum suum, redemit Jerusalem; paravit Dominus brachium suum sanctum in oculis omnium gentium. Virgo Israel, corrueras, et non erat qui sublevaret te. Surge jam, excutere de pulvere, virgo, captiva filia Sion.

Surge, inquam, et sta in excelso, et vide jucunditatem quae venit tibi a Deo tuo. Non vocaberis ultra 547 derelicta, et terra tua non vocabitur amplius desolata, quia complacuit Domino in te, et terra tua inhabitabitur. Leva in circuitu oculos tuos et vide: omnes isti congregati sunt, venerunt tibi. Hoc tibi auxilium missum de sancto. Omino per istos tibi jamjamque illa persolvitur antiqua promissio, Ponam te in superbiam saeculorum, gaudium in generatione et generationem, et suges lac gentium, et mammilla regum lactaberis (Isa. LX, 15, 16): et item, Sicut mater consolatur filios suos, ita et ego consolabor vos, et in Jerusalem consolabimini (Isa. LXVI, 13). Videsne quam crebra veterum attestatione nova approbatur militia, et quod sicut audivimus, sic videmus in civitate Domini virtutum?

Dummodo sane spiritualibus non praejudicet sensibus litteralis interpretatio, quominus scilicet speremus in aeternum, quidquid huic tempori significando ex Prophetarum vocibus usurpamus: ne per id quod cernitur, evanescat quod creditur; et spei copias imminuat penuria rei, praesentiumque attestatio sit evacuatio futurorum. Alioquin terrenae civitatis temporalis gloria non destruit coelestia bona, sed astruit; si tamen istam minime dubitamus illius tenere figuram, quae in coelis et mater nostra.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Rom.13.4 — For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is God's servant, an avenger for wrath against the one who practices evil.
  2. ↩Rom.13.4 — For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is God's servant, an avenger for wrath against the one who practices evil.
  3. ↩Phil.1.21 — For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
  4. ↩Ps.58.10 — Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—whether green or burning—he will sweep them away.
  5. ↩Ps.58.11 — The righteous one will rejoice when he sees vengeance; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
  6. ↩Ps.58.11-Ps.58.12 — The righteous one will rejoice when he sees vengeance; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. Ps.58.12 — And a person will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth."
  7. ↩Luke.3.14 — Soldiers also asked him, 'What should we do?' And he said to them, 'Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be content with your wages.'
  8. ↩Ps.115.2 — Why should the nations say, 'Where is their God?'
  9. ↩Matt.23.38 — Look, your house is left to you desolate.
  10. ↩Jer.12.7 — I have forsaken my house; I have abandoned my heritage; I have given the beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
  11. ↩Jer.31.11-Jer.31.12 — For the LORD has ransomed Jacob and redeemed him from the hand of one stronger than he. Jer.31.12 — And they shall come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, and they shall stream to the goodness of the LORD — over grain and over new wine and over oil, and over the young of flock and herd — and their soul shall be like a watered garden, and they shall not again know grief.
  12. ↩Isa.52.9-Isa.52.10 — Break forth, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. Isa.52.10 — The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
  13. ↩Amos.5.2 — The virgin of Israel has fallen, she will not rise again; she is forsaken on her land, with no one to raise her up.
  14. ↩Isa.52.2 — Shake yourself free from the dust; rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem. Loosen the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter Zion.
  15. ↩Isa.60.1 — Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
  16. ↩Isa.62.4 — You shall no longer be called Forsaken, and your land shall no longer be called Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married.
  17. ↩Isa.60.4 — Lift up your eyes all around and see: they all gather together; they come to you. Your sons come from far away, and your daughters are carried on the hip.
  18. ↩Ps.89.20;Isa.59.20 — Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful ones, and you said: 'I have laid help upon a mighty one; I have exalted one chosen from the people.' Isa.59.20 — And a Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, declares the LORD.
  19. ↩Isa.60.15-Isa.60.16 — Instead of your being abandoned and hated, with no one passing through, I will make you an everlasting pride, a joy from generation to generation. Isa.60.16 — You will nurse the milk of nations and suck the breast of kings, and you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
  20. ↩Isa.66.13 — As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you, and in Jerusalem you shall be comforted.
  21. ↩Ps.48.8 — As with an east wind, you shatter the ships of Tarshish.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩Luke 3:14 — soldiers ask John the Baptist what they should do, and he tells them to be content with their wages.
  2. 2 ↩The argument hinges on the idea that military force is lawful when divinely ordained for the protection of the faithful community.
  3. 3 ↩The closing phrase echoes Psalm 115:2 (Vulgate 113:10): 'Where is their God?' — a taunt of the nations against God's people.
  4. 4 ↩'Omino' is an uncertain form, possibly adverbial ('truly/indeed'); rendered as an emphatic affirmation of fulfillment.
  5. 5 ↩'superbiam saeculorum' rendered as 'pride of the ages' in the positive biblical sense of exalted glory, not sinful pride.

Liber ad milites templi de laude novae militiae (In Praise of the New Knighthood) companion

Discipline needs a daily drill

The Chosen Portion app delivers a historic reading and prayer every morning, free

Bernard's insistence on daily, ordered discipline continues in the Chosen Portion app's fixed morning devotional rhythm

  • Finish Bernard's full treatise in 14 days, about 8 minutes a day
  • Then continue with 70+ works of royal and monastic devotion at no cost
  • Build a daily prayer habit measured in months, not moods
Chosen Portion — Daily Prayer (free iOS app) →