Letters312 Letter CCCXII. To Raynald, archbishop of Rheims (A.D. 1130)
Letter CCCXII. To Raynald, archbishop of Rheims (A.D. 1130)
Bernard thanks him for a letter which he had received from him.
To the most reverend father and lord R., by the grace of God Archbishop of Rheims, Brother BERNARD, of Clairvaux, wishes health and whatever the prayers of a sinner can effect on his behalf.
I thank the Lord who has inspired you with the thought of consoling me with a letter from your hand. I am, indeed, well enough able to return letter for letter, but when shall I ever be able to acquit myself to you of the debt of gratitude which you have placed me under by the goodness that you have shown towards me, in encouraging me by the sweetness of your blessing, in rousing me by your exhortations, and honouring me with your salutation? Assuredly there never was anyone less worthy than I of the names that you bestow upon me, or less worthy to be known to you; but the less I am worthy the more I am grateful to you. It is true, though, that when you act thus you act as becomes you, and as recognizing that you are debtor to the unwise as well as to the wise. You say to me that the reputation of which the report has come to your Excellency has moved you to this condescension towards so humble a person as myself; but this is, indeed, not only too flattering, but also dangerous to me. It is, however, a very happy and agreeable thing for me that a breath of reputation, though it be only like an empty puff of wind, should have moved a priest of the Most High of such high rank to have such kind feeling toward me, before even I had merited to come to his personal knowledge. The monk who is the bearer of this letter will tell your Holiness with respect to my coming to you why I have not come at the present time, and at what time I should be able to come. He will reply also with faithfulness to any other questions that it may please you to put to him with respect to me; it is for that purpose that I have sent him, while waiting until I shall be able to come to you myself.
Reverendissimo patri ac domino R. Dei gratia Remensium archiepiscopo, frater BERNARDUS de Clara-Valle, salutem, et si quid potest peccatoris oratio.
Benedictus Deus, qui nos litterarum vestrarum dignatus est visitatione consolari. Et quidem potuimus litteris litteras utcumque reddere: sed quando huic gratiae sufficimus rependere vicem, qua nos a vobis benedictionibus dulcedinis tantae praeventos esse merito gloriamur, excitamur exhortationibus, salutationibus honoramur? Homines utique tam iis nominibus indigni, quam vobis incogniti: sed certe eo magis non ingrati, quo minus digni. Verumtamen, dum haec facitis, facitis quod debetis, quia sapientibus et insipientibus debitorem vos esse cognoscitis. Sane illa opinio, cujus odore bono vestrae dignitatis excellentiam in id dignationis erga pusillitatem nostram dicitis fuisse permotam, periculosa quidem, sed in hac parte non mediocriter officiosa: quoniam ex hoc praecurrente vento fructus ille peroptimus nobis et gratissimus, et qui nil vento simile habet, provenit, quod in tanto Dei altissimi sacerdote prius suscipi in gratiam, quam in notitiam meruerimus. De adventu nostro, cur modo non venerimus, sive quando venire disposuerimus, vel si quae sunt alia, quae de nobis interim Sanctitati vestrae sit sciscitari, harum lator monachus, quem ad hoc ipsum praemittere curavimus, vobis fideliter de omnibus satisfacere poterit.