Following this quote from the post of
November 14, are quotes from Sermons, 42.6-7.
“You
see then how great the evils from which a man delivers both himself and me when
he responds with meekness on being corrected, submits respectfully, obeys
modestly, and humbly admits his fault. To a man like this I shall in all things
be a debtor, I shall minister to and serve him as a genuine lover of my Lord,
for he is one who can truly say: "while the king was on his couch, my nard
gave forth its fragrance.”
From the citing of this verse St.
Bernard takes exegetical flight and expresses a theological
reflection on the spiritual meaning he sees in this verse.
“How good
the fragrance of humility that ascends from the valley of tears, that permeates
all places within reach, and perfumes even the royal couch with its sweet
delight.
The nard is an insignificant herb, said by those who
specialize in the study of plants to be of a warm nature. Hence it seems to be
fittingly taken in this place for the virtue of humility, but aglow with the
warmth of holy love. I say this because there is a humility inspired and
inflamed by charity, and a humility begotten in us by truth but devoid of
warmth. This latter depends on our knowledge, the former on our affections. For
if you sincerely examine your inward dispositions in the light of truth, and
judge them unflatteringly for what they are, you will certainly be humiliated
by the baseness that this true knowledge reveals to you, though you perhaps as
yet cannot endure that, others too, should see this image so far it is truth
that compels your humility, it is as yet untouched by the inpouring of love. But
if you were so moved by a love of that truth which, like a radiant light, so wholesomely
discovered to you the reality of your condition, you would certainly desire, as
far as in you lies, that the opinions of others about you should correspond
with what you know of yourself. I say, as far as in you lies, because it is
often inexpedient to make known to others all that we know about ourselves, and
we are forbidden by the very love of truth and the truth of love to attempt to
reveal what would injure another. But if under the impulse of selflove you
inwardly conceal the true judgment you have formed of yourself, who can doubt
that you lack a love for truth, since you show preference for your own interest
and reputation?
7. Convicted by the light of truth then, a man may judge
himself of little worth, but you know this is far from the equivalent of a
spontaneous association with the lowly that springs from the gift of
love. Necessity compels the former, the latter is of free choice. "He
emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and so gave us the pattern of
humility. He emptied himself, he humbled himself, not under constraint of an
assessment of himself but inspired by love for us. Though he could appear
abject and despicable in men's eyes, he could not judge himself to be so in
reality, because he knew who he was. It was his will, not his judgment, that 
moved him to adopt a humble guise
that he knew did not represent him; though not unaware that he was the highest
he chose to be looked on as the least. And so we find him saying: ''Learn from
me for I am gentle and humble in heart. "He said “in heart;" in the
affection of the heart, which signifies the will, and a decision arising from
the will excludes compulsion. You and I truly know that we deserve disgrace and
contempt, that we deserve the worst treatment and the lowest rank, that we
deserve punishment, even the whip; but not he. Yet he experienced all these
things because he willed it; he was humble in heart, humble with
that humility that springs from the heart's love, not that which is exacted by
truthful reasoning.
CISTERCIAN FATHERS SERIES: NUMBER SEVEN - BERNARD OF
CLAIRVAUX - Song of Songs II
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