Letters203 Letter CCIII. To the bishop am) clergy of Troves. (Circa A.D. 1140)
Letter CCIII. To the bishop am) clergy of Troves. (Circa A.D. 1140)
Bernard presses them to forbid marriage and a military career to a clerk named Anselle.
We read: If any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins (S. James v. 19, 20). Our friend Anselle is erring, is erring. Who doubts it? If we dismiss him thus, he will not err alone. How many will the illustrious youth not draw after him by his example? And we judge to be involved in the same error not only those who follow him, but also all who may be able to call him back and do not. I am clean from his blood. I have both told him before by letter, and I now tell you that he is presumptuously undertaking what is forbidden. It is not the part of a clerk to fight in worldly warfare, nor of a subdeacon to marry. Tell the sinner his duty, lest he die in his sins, and He who redeemed him with His own precious blood require his blood at your hands. Lo He cries from Heaven: The Virgin of Israel is fallen; there is none to raise her up (Amos v. 2). How long is gold to lie in the mire? Remove this pearl, remove, take up this most splendid and precious jewel from the dunghill. Take it up before it be trodden under foot by swine, that is by unclean spirits, and be no more a vessel for honour but for dishonour.
Letter CCIV.
Legimus, Si erraverit quis ex vobis a veritate, et converterit quis eum, scire debet quoniam qui converti fecerit peccatorem ab errore viae suae, salvabit animam ejus a morte, et operit multitudinem peccatorum. Errat Ansellus noster, errat: cui dubium? Si dimittimus eum sic, non solus errabit. Quantos trahet post se suo exemplo illustrissimus juvenis? Nec modo sequaces, sed et omnes qui poterunt eum revocare, nec revocabunt, eodem errore judicamus involvi. Mundus ego sum a sanguine ejus. Et ei praedixi per epistolam, et vobis nunc dico, quia rem illicitam praesumit. Nec clerici est pugnare armis militaribus, nec subdiaconi uxorem ducere. Annuntiate peccatori opus ejus, ne ille in peccato suo moriatur, sanguinem vero ejus de manu vestra requirat qui suo eum redemit sanguine pretioso. En de coelo clamat: Virgo Israel corruit, et non est qui sublevet eam. Quousque in luto aurum jacet? Tollite margaritam, tollite, levate splendidissimam atque pretiosissimam gemmam de sterquilinio: levate eam, antequam porcorum, id est spurcorum spirituum, pedibus conculcetur, et jam non sit vas in honorem, sed in contumeliam.