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We are to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable.

Bernard of Clairvaux

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

Firsts Learning Love
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
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
A pretext is never lacking to him who would break with a friend.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Break Friendship Lacking
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
The Eucharist is that love which surpasses all loves in Heaven and on earth
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Earth Eucharist Heaven
O Blessed Mary, whoever loves you honors God; whoever serves you pleases God; whoever invokes your holy name with a pure heart will infallibly receive the object of his petition.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Blessed Evoke Heart Name
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
Vines and trees will teach you that which you will never learn from masters.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Learning Tree Vines
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
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
Many of those who are humiliated are not humble. Some react to humiliation with anger, others with patience, and others with freedom. The first are culpable, the next harmless, the last just.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Humble Lasts Next
If you would know whether you have made a good confession, ask yourself I you have resolved to abandon your sins.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Confession Saint Sin
Persecution shows who is a hireling, and who a true pastor.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Catholic Pastor Persecution
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
There is no greater misery than false joys.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Greater Joy Misery
Theirs is an endless road, a hopeless maze, who seek for goods before they seek for God.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Financial Mazes Stewardship
Both the nail and the wound cry out that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself… Through these sacred wounds we can see the secret of his heart, the great mystery of love.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Christ Cry Heart Love Mystery Nail Sacred
Grace is necessary to salvation, free will equally so – but grace in order to give salvation, free will in order to receive it.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Giving Grace Order
Nothing can work me damage except myself. The harm that I sustain I carry about with me, and never am a real sufferer but by my own fault.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Damage Inspirational Myself
How beautiful then is modesty and what a gem among virtues it is.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Beautiful Modesty Virtue
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
Have death always before your eyes as a salutary means of returning to God.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Eye Mean Returning Salutary
What does God hate or punish except self-will? Let self-will cease, and there will be no hell. On what does that fire feed except on self-will?
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Cease Except Feed Fire Hate Self
Understanding is the sure and clear knowledge of some invisible thing.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Invisible Knowledge Thing Understanding
Hell is full of good wishes or desires.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Catholic Desire Wish

We are to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable.

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We are to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable.

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