Letters199 Letter CXCIX. To the same (A.D. 1141)
Letter CXCIX. To the same (A.D. 1141)
Bernard begs that the decision already given in favour of certain Religious unjustly oppressed maybe ratified.
How long is the ungodly to be exalted and the poor put to rebuke? How long is so great innocence to be vexed by such shamelessness, and this while Innocent lives? It is our sins doubtless which cause that my lord is so late in discovering the characters of those who lie to him, so slow in listening to those who call to him in this cause. For in other cases I know it is customary to my lord both to come to an understanding quickly and to show mercy readily. For the sake of Him who chose you and placed you as a refuge of the oppressed, put now at length an end to the malice of the oppressor, and to the sufferings of the afflicted, because both have been by this time brought into the light and manifested. In short, at the command and good pleasure of my lord the cause has been discussed and ended, and it only remains that the sentence pronounced by his authority be confirmed. If, then, the man come to you with his lies shall he be heard against the testimony of such men as the Bishops of Valence and Grenoble? Again, I implore you, and I fall at the feet of my lord with the most anxious mind possible, do not suffer a religious house to be destroyed by this wicked and deceitful man. For he who has nearly destroyed his own will not spare ours. And, therefore, I add, with my wonted presumption, if you believe your son, then send back to his own cell this man who abuses your loving kindness, and give orders to the Abbot of Chaise-Dieu that he promote a man full of 1 See Notes to Ep. 197.
religion to the place in the monastery which this man occupies uselessly, and that he order the convent according to the Rule. This is what is worthy of your Apostolate, this will be well-pleasing to God, this will be an honour to the Abbot of Chaise-Dieu, and to his monastery. And so, too, you may set free the soul of the aforesaid man, and the monastery itself, on which he is a burden.
Usquequo et superbit impius, et incenditur pauper? usquequo a tanta impudentia innocentia tanta vexatur, et hoc vivo Innocentio? Peccata sine dubio nostra hoc faciunt, quod dominus meus tam sero advertit mentientes sibi, tam lente exaudit clamantes ad se; in hac causa duntaxat: nam alias quidem scimus familiare esse domino meo, et cito intelligere, et facile misereri. Propter eum qui elegit vos, et posuit vos refugium oppressorum, ponite jam tandem finem et malitiae oppressoris, et laboribus afflictorum: quia satis utraque res venit in lucem et manifestationem. Denique ad mandatum beneplaciti domini mei causa discussa, et terminata est: superest ut ipsius auctoritate data sententia confirmetur. Ergone si venerit homo mendax adversus tantorum virorum testimonium (Valentinum loquor, et Gratianopolitanum), audietur? Iterum supplico, et ad pedes domini mei ea qua possum mente anxia descendo, ne ab homine iniquo et doloso religiosum monasterium destrui patiatur. Etenim non parcet nostro, qui suum pene destruxit. Unde addo solita praesumptione: Si puero vestro crederetis, hominem hunc, qui beneficio pietatis vestrae abutitur, in claustrum suum remitteretis, et domino abbati Casae-Dei mandaretis ut in monasterio, quod ille inutiliter occupat, virum religiosum promoveret, et regularem ordinaret conventum. Hoc plane dignum apostolatu vestro, hoc beneplacitum Deo, hoc honor domino abbati Casae-Dei, suoque monasterio. Sic etiam liberaretis animam praedicti hominis, et ipsum, cui incubat, monasterium.