Tag: Bernard
Not Only for Monks: Bernard of Clairvaux’s Monastic Sermons
As a Cistercian abbot, St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) had the responsibility of teaching monks through commentary on the Rule of Benedict and Scripture. In partially meeting this responsibility the founder of Clairvaux Abbey, and subsequently named Doctor of the Church, wrote more than 700 sermons in his life. Monastic Sermons, translated by Daniel Griggs… Read More ›
A sword has pierced your heart
The martyrdom of the Virgin is set forth both in the prophecy of Simeon and in the actual story of our Lord’s passion. The holy old man said of the infant Jesus: He has been established as a sign which will be contradicted. He went on to say to Mary: And your own heart will… Read More ›
The Heart Must Be Cleansed to See God
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8). This is a great promise, my brothers, and something to be desired with all one’s heart. For to see in this way is to be like God, as John the Apostle says, “Now we are all sons of God, but it has… Read More ›
The Sacrament (of Advent)
(St.) Bernard sees that the Sacrament (of Advent) is the Presence of Christ in the world as Savior. In his theology Advent does not merely commemorate the Incarnation as a historical event, nor is it a mere devotional preparation for the Feast of Christmas, nor an anticipation of the Last Judgment. It is above all… Read More ›
Advent is here again
As is so often pointed out we often over look this season approaching because of the seculization of Christmas. Advent has been descibed as many things, a season of hope, preparation, a reminder of the end times. But how many have thought of it as a “sacrament?” But that was what St. Bernard taught as… Read More ›
Learn to have a perfect abandonment of yourself
My son, as much as you can abandon yourself and your own will so much will you enter into Me. And as to desire nothing outwardly brings peace to a man’s soul, so a man, by an inward forsaking of himself, joins himself to God. It is My will, therefore, that you learn to have… Read More ›
The Most Holy Rosary
Because the Immaculate Virgin was chosen to be the Mother of God, cooperating with him in the work of man’s salvation, she has a favor and power with her Son greater than any human or angelic creature … it is her greatest pleasure to grant help and comfort to those who seek her. The month of… Read More ›
The Secret of the Spiritual Life: Humility
The secret of the spiritual life, and the whole secret of the heights of mysticism, is in humility. Saint Benedict knew it. There was no need for him to write a treatise on the mystical life. Rather, he wrote his rule to regulate the life of the monastery in order to lead monks to humility…. Read More ›
Devotion to Mary profoundly biblical
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug 15, 2012 / 04:09 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Archbishop Jose Maria Arancedo of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz, Argentina said devotion to the Virgin Mary has solid biblical and ecclesial roots that culminate in an encounter with Christ. “Devotion to the Virgin Mary has its most solid foundation in the Sacred… Read More ›
Suggested Reading for Lent
“On the days of Lent, from morning until the end of the third hour let them apply themselves to their reading, and from then until the end of the tenth hour let them do the work assigned them. And in these days of Lent they shall each receive a book from the library, which they… Read More ›