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The rivers of Grace cannot flow uphill, up the steep cliff of the proud man’s heart.

Bernard of Clairvaux

I know by myself how incomprehensible God is, seeing I cannot comprehend the parts of my own being.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Comprehend God Knows Own
If anyone makes himself his own master in the spiritual life, he makes himself scholar to a fool.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Fool Masters Spiritual
Let no one believe that he has received the divine kiss, if he knows the truth without loving it or loves it without understanding it. But blessed is that kiss whereby not only is God recognized but also the Father is loved; for there is never full knowledge without perfect love.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Believe Father Love
If then you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than as a canal. For a canal spreads abroad water as it receives it, but a reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Loss Water Wise
If she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Before Goal Grow Shall Shows
And truly, O man, if you concentrate hard on the state you are in it will be surprising if you have time for anything else.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Anything Concentrate Man Surprising
The three most important virtues are humility, humility, and humility.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Humility Important Three
Therefore gird yourselves manfully and take up joyful arms for the name of God.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Arms Joyful Names
Love is alone sufficient by itself, it pleases by itself and for it’s own sake. It is itself a merit, and itself it’s own recompense. It seeks neither cause, nor consequences beyond itself. It is its own fruit, its own object and usefulness. I love because I love you, I love that I may love.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Emotion Love May Recompose Sake Sufficient
With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Christian Fall Heart
Humility in furs is better than pride in tunics.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Better Fur Humility Pride
We are to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Faith God Love Profitable
He rightly reads scripture who turns words into deeds.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Deeds Hypocrisy Scripture
Inordinate love for the flesh is cruelty, because under the appearance of pleasing the body, we kill the soul.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Appearance Body Flesh Soul
Do what Jesus says… what he commands through his ministers who are in the Church [see 1 Cor 6:4]. Be subject to his vicars, your leaders, not only those who are gentle and kind, but even those who are overbearing [see 1 Pt 2:18].
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Church Command Jesus Leader Minister
As patience leads to peace, and study to science, so are humiliations the path that leads to humility.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Humility Path Study
Wherever…thou shalt be, pray secretly within thyself. If thou shalt be far from a house of prayer, give not thyself trouble to seek for one, for thou thyself art a sanctuary designed for prayer. If thou shalt be in bed, or in any other place, pray there; thy temple is there.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Art Christian Prayer
Hell is full of good wishes or desires.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Catholic Desire Wish
From the best bliss that earth imparts, we turn unfilled to Thee again.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Bliss Earth Thee
Thus understanding and love, that is, the knowledge of and delight in the truth, are, as it were, the two arms of the soul, with which it embraces and comprehends with all the saints the length and breath, the height and depth, that is the eternity, the love, the goodness, and the wisdom of God.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Arm Delight Knowledge Soul Two Understanding
And thus communicates, without loss to itself, its superabundant water. In the Church at the present day, we have many canals, few reservoirs.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Church Loss Present Reservoir Superbundant
Prostrate, see Thy cross I grasp,And Thy pierced feet I clasp;Gracious Jesus, spurn me not;On me, with compassion fraught.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Compassion Fall Fraught Gracious Jesus
Let Thy glances fall.Thy cross of agony,My Beloved, look on me;Turn me wholly unto Thee;”Be thou whole,” say openly:”I forgive thee all.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Agony Beloved Cross Forgive
True penance consists in regretting without ceasing the faults of the past, and in firmly resolving to never again commit that which is so deplorable.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Past Regret Resolving Saint
For I have learnt for a fact that nothing so effectively obtains, retains and regains grace, as that we should always be found not high-minded before God, but filled with holy fear.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Facts Found Grace High Holy
A pretext is never lacking to him who would break with a friend.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Break Friendship Lacking
All things are possible to one who believes.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

All Believe Possible Things

The rivers of Grace cannot flow uphill, up the steep cliff of the proud man’s heart.

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The rivers of Grace cannot flow uphill, up the steep cliff of the proud man’s heart.

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