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God has aroused the spirit of kings and princes to root up from the earth the enemies of the Christian name. Therefore gird yourselves manfully and take up joyful arms for the name of Christ.

Bernard of Clairvaux

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
Learn first to love yourself, and then you can love me.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Firsts Learning Love
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
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
When God forgives a sinner who humbly confesses his sin, the devil loses his dominion over the heart he had taken.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Forgiving Heart Taken
I have no other masters than the beeches and the oaks.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Beeches Masters Oaks
My child, seek those things which make for peace. Cease to stir up the King against the Church, and urge upon him a better course of action. If you will promise to do this, I in return promise to entreat the merciful Lord to grant you offspring.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Children Kings Promise Upon Urge
Among us on the earth there is His memory; but in the Kingdom of heaven His very Presence. That Presence is the joy of those who have already attained to beatitude; the memory is the comfort of us who are still wayfarers, journeying towards the Fatherland.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Fatherland Heaven Joy Memories Presence
Let us affectionately love His angels as counselors and defenders appointed by the Father and placed over us. They are faithful; they are prudent; they are powerful; Let us only follow them, let us remain close to them, and in the protection of the God of heaven let us abide.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Angel Faithful Father Powerful
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
There is no greater misery than false joys.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Greater Joy Misery
Slander is a poison which kills charity, both in the slanderer and the one who listens.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Charity Poison Slander
The peacemakers shall be called the sons of God, who came to make peace between God and man. What then shall the sowers of discord be called, but the children of the devil? And what must they look for but their father’s portion?
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Between Children Father God Portion Son
It was love that motivated His self-emptying, that led Him to become a little lower than angels, to be subject to parents, to bow His head beneath the Baptist’s hands, to endure the weakness of the flesh, and to submit to death even upon the cross
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Angel Benefit Hands led Motivated Self
The true measure of loving God is to love him without measure.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

God Love Loving Religious
Humility in furs is better than pride in tunics.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Better Fur Humility Pride
Nay, what is worse, turning over corrupt and evil thoughts in mine heart, I thrust a dreadful offensiveness into His presence.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Dreadful Offensiveness Presence
A pretext is never lacking to him who would break with a friend.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Break Friendship Lacking
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
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
Action and contemplation are very close companions; they live together in one house on equal terms. Martha and Mary are sisters.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Catholic House Together
The heart of Christ can be seen through the openings of his wounds. For what can prove to me so clearly as your wounds that you, O Lord Jesus, are sweet & mild & plenteous in mercy.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Heart Jesus Sweet Wound
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
As patience leads to peace, and study to science, so are humiliations the path that leads to humility.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Humility Path Study
Hell is full of good wishes or desires.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Catholic Desire Wish
Persecution shows who is a hireling, and who a true pastor.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Catholic Pastor Persecution
It is no great thing to be humble when you are brought low; but to be humble when you are praised is a great and rare attainment.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Humble Humility Lows

God has aroused the spirit of kings and princes to root up from the earth the enemies of the Christian name. Therefore gird yourselves manfully and take up joyful arms for the name of Christ.

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God has aroused the spirit of kings and princes to root up from the earth the enemies of the Christian name. Therefore gird yourselves manfully and take up joyful arms for the name of Christ.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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