Category Archives: Bernard of Clairvaux

Love and Rewards

Posted on September 26, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

“God is not loved without a reward, although he should be loved without regard for one.  True charity cannot be worthless, still, as ‘it does not seek its own advantage,’ it cannot be termed mercenary.  Love pertains to the will, … Continue reading →

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Medieval Passover

Posted on April 11, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

“This holy festival, Pascha, is called a Passover because just as the Hebrew people were freed through the blood of the slaughtered lamb, from the angel, passing through Egypt for striking, so the faithful people are defended  through the blood … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard of Clairvaux, Christ, Cistercian, Cross, Honorius Augustodunensis, preaching | Leave a comment

Happy Virginity

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

“O happy virginity, which humility adorns; o happy humility, which virginity honors.  Humility adorns virginity, so that it might not have pride.  Virginity honors humility, so that it may not be despised.  Therefore, virginity is humble, so that it may … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard of Clairvaux, Innocent III, Mary, medieval | Leave a comment

An Ardent Lover

Posted on January 10, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

“When that which is loved is at hand, love thrives; when absent it languishes.  This is simply that weariness of impatient desire by which the mind of the ardent lover is necessarily afflicted when the loved one is absent; wholly … Continue reading →

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The Price of Satisfaction: Bernard of Clairvaux’s View of Redemption

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“You lived, O man, in darkness and the shadow of death through ignorance of the truth; you were a prisoner and your sins were your shackles.  He [Jesus] came down to you in your prison, not to torture you but … Continue reading →

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Devout Adoration

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“We revere him in the manger, we revere him on the gibbet, we revere him in the tomb.  Devoutly do we acknowledge that he was a tender child for our sake, and blood-stained for our sake; we revere him, pallid … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard of Clairvaux, Christ, Christmas, Incarnation | Leave a comment

Who Can Marvel Enough?

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“An angel announces, power overshadows, and the Spirit startles; the Virgin believes, by faith the Virgin conceives, the Virgin gives birth, the Virgin remains a virgin: who would not marvel? Then is the Son of the Most High born, God, … Continue reading →

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Humility

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:12 (Douay-Rheims) In my last post we saw how Augustine asserted that pride began as a perverse exaltation of the self above … Continue reading →

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Pride Goes Before Destruction

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“Pride goeth before destruction and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 (Douay-Rheims) Pride (superbia) was the foundation of all sin in medieval piety and theology.  A concept well-established on the Bible and the Church Fathers, pride … Continue reading →

Posted in Augustine of Hippo, Bernard of Clairvaux, medieval, pride | 1 Comment

Bernard’s Memoria

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Matthew Phillips

“Preserve without fail the memory of all those bitter things he endured for you, persevere in meditating on him and you in turn will be able to say: ‘My beloved is to me a little bunch of myrrh that lies … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard of Clairvaux, memory, philosophy | 2 Comments