Letters377 Letter CCCLXXVII. 1149.) to the same
Letter CCCLXXVII. 1149.) to the same
Bernard praises his zeal and care for the good of the kingdom, and approves of his having called together the Estates of the Realm to remedy certain dangers. He encourages him to continue his efforts for the benefit of all.
To his very dear father and lord SuGER, by the grace of God Abbot of S. Denys, Brother BERNARD, called Abbot of Clairvaux, wishes the spirit of wisdom and consolation.
1. I have seen with extreme joy and pleasure the letter which your Highness has written to the Lord Archbishop of Tours. May the Most High bless you for the zeal and care with which you fulfil your charge of the realm of our most glorious King, so that he is freed in a measure from the troubles which threaten him at the present, and would speedily be upon him if they were not warded off with all your strength. It was, indeed, a counsel from God that you should call together the chief men, both of the State and of the Church, for deliberation; so that all who dwell on earth may see that he in whose hands the realm has been left is a devoted friend, a prudent counsellor, a strong and brave supporter to his Sovereign. And that Sovereign is one who is now in the service of the King whose kingdom is for ever and ever, who puts nations and kingdoms in movement so that the earthly land which belongs to the King of heaven, the land upon which His feet once stood, should not be lost. It was that King, I say, who when he was unrivalled in glory, abounding in riches, enjoying a secure peace, victorious in war, and in the prime of his youth, chose to exile himself from his own country, to serve in foreign lands, yet to serve Him whose service is royal. Who would dare to trouble his kingdom? who would venture upon such an impiety against the Lord and against His anointed? O, my lord King, I would that they were cut off who trouble thee! who seek harm to thee and thine whilst thou art remaining alone among foreign nations, so that the place might not be left desolate which the Lord hath chosen out of all lands to place His Name there.
2. Wherefore act bravely, and let your heart be strengthened, because the Lord God is with you, and protects the King who is in voluntary exile on His account. He who commands the winds and the sea will easily smooth the billows when they swell. The whole body of the Church of God will be with you, so that no one may rise up and make Israel to sin; and will thus support on the shoulders of all, the burden which is so heavy for yours. For now is the time when there is need for you to act as becomes the place which you hold, the dignity with which you are invested, the power which you have received: so that your memory may be recalled, not only with blessing, but also with praise and admiration by every generation which shall succeed. You have to provide with care that so important a branch of the Church of God should not have the labour of assembling without good result, and that measures should be taken either to prevent or crush all blameable projects for breaking the peace. I have in mind, though myself humble and obscure, to address you all when you are assembled in the Name of the Lord, in a letter which, if it is of no service, will at least show the warmth of my feeling towards you. May He who has inspired you with this good purpose enable you also to carry it out with success; may He bruise Satan under your feet, so that in that assembly the Lord may be glorified. His Church honoured, the realm strengthened and steadied, and those who speak and do evil reduced to silence.
Charissimo patri et domino SUGERIO, Dei gratia Beati-Dionysi abbatii, frater BERNARDUS Clarae Vallensis vocatus abbas, spiritum consilii et consolationis.
1. Visis quibusdam litteris vestris, quas ad dominum Turonensem direxerat Sublimitas vestra, exsultavimus, et delectati sumus, non qualicunque gaudio, sed gaudio magno valde. Visitet vos Oriens ex alto, qui visitare disponitis regnum gloriosissimi regis nostri, ut sic respirare possit a tribulatione malorum et dolore, qui jam in januis est, si non fuerit totis viribus contradictum. Profecto consilium Dei fuit, ut ad consilium tam curiae quam Ecclesiae principes vocaretis: ut sciant omnes qui habitant terram, quia remansit et regno, et regi amicus dulcis, consiliarius prudens, adjutor fortis. Illi, inquam, regi, qui servit Regi cujus regnum est omnium saeculorum; qui commovit gentes et regna, ne Rex coeli perderet terram suam; terram, ubi steterunt pedes ejus. Illi, inquam, regi, qui cum esset gloria singularis, rebus affluens, pace securus, victoriosus in praeliis, juvenis aetate, elegit exsulare a propriis, ut serviret in alienis; illi tamen, cui servire, regnare est. Et quis audeat turbare regnum ejus? quis tantam impietatem committat adversus Dominum, et adversus christum ejus? Domine, mi rex, utinam abscindantur, qui te conturbant! qui quaerunt mala et tibi, et tuis, cum tu inter alienas gentes solus remanseris, ne remaneret in solitudine ille locus, quem elegit Dominus ex omnibus locis terrarum, ut esset nomen suum ibi.
2. Propterea viriliter agite, et confortetur cor vestrum, quia vobiscum est Dominus Deus vester in protectione Regis et exsulis sui. Qui imperavit ventis et mari, tumentes fluctus facile complanabit. Erit vobiscum universitas Ecclesiae Dei, ne insurgat aliquis et peccare faciat Israel, et totis humeris totum onus, si quid tamen oneris fuerit, supportabit. Nunc enim tempus et opus est, ut agatis pro loco quem tenetis, pro dignitate qua polletis, pro potestate quam accepistis: ut memoria vestra non solum in benedictione, sed et in admiratione sit generationi huic omni quae ventura est. Providendum est, et multum providendum, ne tanta portio Ecclesiae Dei sine fructu maximo fatigetur, et hic statuendum, quod omnes insurgentium malignitates vel reddere, vel elidere possit. In voluntate nostra est, ut vobis in nomine Domini congregatis, parvitatis nostrae litteras transmittamus, quae etsi non adjuvent, saltem affectum nostrum ostendant. Ille autem qui vobis dedit hanc voluntatem, donet et facultatem, et conterat Satanam sub pedibus vestris: ut in opere isto glorificetur Dominus, honoretur Ecclesia, regnum stabiliatur, et obstruatur os loquentium et facientium iniqua.