Letters411 Letter CDXI

friend, has recommended to me the venerable Peter Lombard and begged me to provide, by means of my friends, for his subsistence, during the brief time that he is pursuing his studies in France. This I have done while he was at Rheims. Now he is at Paris, and proposes to remain there until the Nativity of the B. V. Mary, 2 so that I venture to commend him to you, because I rely more on your friendship than on others, and to entreat that you will provide for his subsistence during this time. Farewell.

To Thomas, Provost of Beverley.

Bernard in this sweet and winning letter invites Thomas to enter the Religious life, notwithstanding the sins of his past years. He reminds him that nothing in the world is to be preferred to a good conscience.

To the young man of good promise, Thomas the venerable Provost of Beverley, Brother Bernard, the servant of the poor of Christ who are at Clairvaux, health, and apostolic holiness as his name gives promise.

1. Although I have not the pleasure of being known to you, I venture to write to you in obedience to the impulse of charity and the suggestion of your friend Ivo. He has acquainted me with what he knows of you and what he wishes for you: and charity which believes all things 1 Peter, called by theologians the 'Master of the Sentences, was born in Lombardy, and thence called ‘the Lombard’. Leaving the school of Bologna he went to study in France. The Bishop of Lucca was Uberto or Gregory, to whom was written Letter of Nicholas of Clairvaux in the person of Bernard.

2 September 8.

3 See Letter 107, to the same person.

(1 Cor. xiii. 7) did not suffer me to remain indifferent. So little in fact is that the case with me, after what I have heard of you, that it did not require much reflection to induce me to write to you, to exhort you and even to pray for you: do you see to it that this be not ineffectual. What I have heard of you from those who know you, does, I must assure you, please me much: not indeed the nobleness of your descent, your distinguished manners, your personal beauty, ample means or distinguished position: all these, and whatever resembles them, are only as a flower of the field, a glory of the mortal flesh: but it is the quickness of intellect, the frankness of character and above all the love of holy poverty which I am told that you have conceived even in the midst of riches, upon which I greatly congratulate you, and they give me good hopes respecting you, which I trust in God will not be confounded. Would that the Angels may soon partake our joy, and celebrate with gladness in the Heavens your penitence and your conversion, as they do of other sinners. How happy should I think myself if it were granted to me to cultivate the flower of your youth, to train a nature of such rare excellence, to preserve it for God as a costly perfume, and offer it to Him as a pure and acceptable gift.

2. Perhaps your conscience will reply to what I have said, that your life cannot be offered up in complete purity, since you feel that it has been defiled with many crimes Yet this does not affright me, nor, being a sinner, do shrink from another sinner: nor do I disdain one sick with sin, since I feel myself similarly diseased. But even though you think me whole, I do not refuse to become weak with the weak, that I may gain the weak; willingly following the counsel of S. Paul in this: Ye who are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of gentleness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted (GaL vi. i).

I count as nothing the fierceness of the disease when I consider the skill of the Physician, and His kindness which I have so oft experienced in my own times of great spiritual feebleness. Whatever may be the sins with which you are defiled, and however burdened your conscience; though you feel your youth rendered vile by shocking offences: even though you have been hardened by a long continuance in sins, as a beast of burden in his litter - without doubt you shall be cleansed, you shall be rendered whiter than snow, your youth shall be renewed as that of an eagle. Can I doubt, when it has been said: Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound? (Rom. v. 20). The Good Physician healeth all our infirmities of soul and crowneth us with loving kindness and tender mercies. (Ps. ciii. 3, 4).

3. A good conscience is an inestimable treasure: more valuable and more sweet, more sure and secure, than anything else in the world. A good conscience does not fear the loss of possessions, the attack of evil tongues, or the pains of the body; even death is more a cause of honour to it than of defeat and shame. What good upon earth,. I ask, is to be compared to the happiness it gives? What has the world, with all its false and flattering promises, to offer to those who foolishly love it? Are wide estates, stately palaces, the insignia of high rank in the Church or in the world? Without speaking of all the cares and dangers without which these things can neither be acquired nor retained, are they not all swept away together from the possessor when death comes to him? For is it not written: They have slept their sleep and none of the men of might have found their hands. (Ps. lxxvi. 5). But the blessings of a good conscience LETTER CDXII.

are ever green: they do not wither in time of trouble, they do not pass away at death, but flourish anew: they make their possessor full of joy during life, they console him when dying, they raise him up again when dead, and they fail not for evermore. But why do I linger upon words, when I am prepared to support them by facts? It only depends upon yourself to prove, either that I have borne false witness, or that true riches are in your power. So much I have seen and experienced. With what joyful steps shall I come to offer bread to the fugitive, with what joyful embrace shall I receive a son, who has come to his right mind. The best robe shall be quickly brought forth for him, the ring put upon his finger, and it shall be said: This my son was dead, and is alive again: he was lost and is found (S. Luke xv. 24).