Letters320 Letter CCCXX. ' to Alexander, prior of fountains, and to his brethren at the same place. (A.D. 1138)
Letter CCCXX. ' to Alexander, prior of fountains, and to his brethren at the same place. (A.D. 1138)
Bernard urges upon him that the election of a new Abbot should be made with unanimous accord.
To his most dear brethren in Christ, ALEXANDER, the Prior, and the whole community of Fountains, Brother BERNARD, called Abbot of Clairvaux, health and his humble prayers.
1. Your venerable Father has perfected his course in a blessed end, and has fallen asleep in the Lord. But I, as at all times I think of you with the anxious care and tenderness of a father, so am specially careful on your account at the present time, when this great necessity lies upon you. Wherefore, also, I should have sent to you long since if I had not been waiting to do so with more fitness and advantage when the venerable Abbot Henry had terminated certain affairs which had hindered him from coming sooner. It is upon him that I had reckoned from the beginning as being most worthy of this mission, and most suited to acquit himself of it well. Him, therefore, dearly beloved brethren, receive with that honour and affection of which he is worthy, and listen to him in all things as to myself; and, indeed, much more, as he excels me both in prudence and merit. I have given to him full powers, whether for the election of your Abbot, or for making ordinances, or for introducing reforms which he may think good to do into your house, and into those' which depend upon it. I have given him for travelling companion Brother William, who is my very dear son.
yourselves, as becomes saints and servants of Christ, and as I fully trust that you will do, a fit pastor over your souls, in company with the venerable Abbots of Rievaulx and of Vauclair, whose advice I wish you to follow in all things as my own.
Dilectissimis in Christo fratribus ALEXANDRO Priori, et universo conventui de Fontibus, frater BERNARDUS Clarae-Vallensis vocatus abbas, salutem, et nostras qualescunque orationes.
1. Venerabilis pater vester beato fine cursum consummavit, et obdormivit in Domino. Ego vero licet omni tempore, paterna pro vobis, tanquam pro visceribus nostris, charitate sollicitus, nunc tanto majorem pro vobis sollicitudinem gero, quanto major incumbit necessitas. Unde et dudum misissem ad vos, nisi quod exspectabam donec opportunius atque utilius id agere possem, eo quod venerabilis abbas Henricus citius advenire non posset, negotiis aliquibus occupatus: quem praecipue destinare proposueram ab initio, eo quod ipse utilior, et huic negotio magis idoneus videretur. Hunc ergo, fratres dilectissimi, cum eo honore et amore suscipite quo dignus est; et sic audite eum in omnibus, tanquam me ipsum. Imo et tanto amplius, quanto ille et prudentia et meritis antecessit. Ei siquidem et in facienda electione, et in omnibus, quaecunque vel in hoc monasterio, vel in caeteris quae ab eo exierunt, ordinanda, vel emendanda fuerint, omnino vicem nostram commisi. Misi autem cum eo fratrem Willelmum, qui est filius noster dilectissimus.
2. Et nunc obsecro vos, tanquam filios charissimos, ut in electione vestra idipsum sapiatis omnes, et non sint in vobis schismata, sed unanimes uno ore glorificetis Deum; quoniam non est Deus dissensionis, sed pacis: unde et factus est in pace locus ejus, et dicit: Qui non colligit mecum, dispergit. Absit enim ab his qui in schola Christi degunt, sub magisterio Spiritus sancti, ut gaudeat de eis inimicus, et in eorum dissensione glorietur, quod et ipsorum animae periclitentur, et frustra depereat totus poenitentiae labor; et fetere faciant odorem bonum Ordinis nostri, et per eos nomen Christi blasphemetur, per quos maxime fuerat glorificandum! Imo vero, sicut bene de vobis confidimus, sicut decet sanctos, sicut oportet servos Christi, unanimiter, obsecro, eligite vobis idoneum pastorem animarum vestrarum, una cum venerabilibus abbatibus de Rievalle et Valle-Clara: quorum consilio volo vos in omnibus acquiescere, tanquam nostro.