Letters324 Letter CCCXXIV. ' to Robert, abbot of Dunes (A.D. 1139)
Letter CCCXXIV. ' to Robert, abbot of Dunes (A.D. 1139)
Bernard suggests the thought of the future union of their souls, and also bodies, in the Resurrection, as the solace of their absence from each other.
To his brother and very dear friend, Abbot ROBERT, Brother BERNARD, of Clairvaux, sends assurance of devoted friendship.
You were late made known to me, my dear Robert, and speedily taken away. But I am consoled by this fact, that it is only in the body that we are separated, and that in soul you are always with me. Yet how could I bear even this with resignation, if it were not in the cause of God Himself? But a time shall, shall come, when we shall be restored to each other, and when we shall each of us rejoice in the other as in himself; we shall be in each other's presence with each part of our being, nor fear to be thereafter in any way divided. He who is now the cause of our temporary separation shall be then the bond of our close union. He shall be present without ceasing to each of us, and shall render us constantly present to each other. I salute all your sons, whom I regard as mine also, and entreat that they will pray for me.
Fratri et amico charissimo ROBERTO abbati, frater BERNARDUS de Clara-Valle, quod amico charissimo.
Et tarde notus, et cito es mihi sublatus, Roberte charissime. Sed consolor, quod solo de corpore patiar hoc: nam spiritu semper es mecum. Quod tamen vel ipsum quando ego aequanimiter tolerarem, si solus non esset in causa Deus? Erit, erit, quando reddemur nobis, quando et quisque de se, et uterque de invicem plene gaudebimus, praesentes nobis in utraque portione nostri, in neutra deinceps ab alterutro dividendi. Glutinum erit tantae conjunctionis, qui causa nunc est tantillae separationis, praesens perpetuo futurus nobis, praesentes nos nobis perpetuo servaturus. Salutamus omnes filios vestros et nostros, et rogamus ut orent pro nobis.