Letters427 Letter CDXXVII. To a certain abbot.

He praises him: and urges upon him the reformation of his Abbey, and chiefly of the hospital attached to it.

1 [This was Hatto, to whom were written Epp. 23 and 203 of Bernard, and a greater number among those of Peter of Cluny.]

2 [The holy Doctor was always greatly indignant at the bestowal of ecclesiastical dignities upon boys. That is shown by Ep. 271, in which he blames Count Theobald for endeavouring to procure them for his young son William: as also by Tractat. de Offic. Episcopor. c. 17 and De Consider at. III. 5.]

Letter CDXXVIII.

With desire that he may have the spirit of grace and modesty.

Those brethren who have come to me for spiritual advice, in speaking of the good desire that you have for the amendment of your house, which may God’s grace enable you to effect, have given us no little joy. But I warn and entreat you in your pious desire, that as you labour to repair the material fabric, so you should strive to reform the characters of its inmates. Most watchful care is necessary, not only with respect to the monastery, but also to the hospital or Refuge, which these brethren administer under your charge: to the end that you should keep it secure and free from any exaction or malpractice on the part of your servants or dependents: and those properties which by the evil mind of Abbots before you have been, as I hear, taken away from the same Refuge, I entreat you to restore. For as it belongs to your office and charge to correct and counterwork the evil doings of others: so you ought, not only to preserve secure and uninjured, but also to increase and multiply, the means of those who do well. Let the Presbyter also, who is resident in that Refuge, and who, it seems, has property at a distance, be obliged, either to give up the management of that property, or to leave the house. Farewell: and rely on my assistance in anything which is in my power, because of the good which I have heard of you. 1