Sermons on the Song of Songs77 Sermon LXXVII
Sermon LXXVII
concerning the bad pastors of the church, also how the blessed in heaven, and the angels, come to the aid of the elect, who are still pilgrims upon the earth.
We are ready for a new departure. I described in the sermon of yesterday the leaders whom we should desire to have while we journey through this world, but I did not describe those whom we, in fact, have. And we find these latter to be wholly unlike the former. Not all of those whom you see at the present day surrounding the Bride on all sides, and who appear to take up the post at her right hand (to use a common phrase) as their own,- are the friends of the Bridegroom. Very few indeed are there among them who do not seek their own interests. They have a love for gifts, but they have not an equal love for Christ, because they have joined hands with mammon. See how they go about adorned and trim, clad in many and bright colours, like unto a bride coming out of her chamber. If you suddenly beheld such a person coming from afar, would you not take it to be the Bride herself rather than one of her guardians? From whence, do you suppose, comes this great 1 These words indicate that the sermon was interrupted by necessity, and that some signal for the ending of it was made—either the signal for the common meal, or for some other occupation, which St. Bernard thought of inferior importance to his subject.
2 Addexlrare a Low Latin word, and rare. It is not in Forcellini, and Du Cangc gives but a few instances of its use. It is properly written addexlerare.—Ed.
2. But yet it is in vain that we even remonstrate with them, for they do not listen to us. And if what I say is set down in writing, they disdain to read it; or, if they happen to read it, they inveigh against me, although they would with much more justice inveigh against themselves. Let us, then, leave those people, who are not finders of the Bride, but sellers, and let us rather inquire who are those by whom the Bride is found, as she herself states. Those of the present day, though they have indeed inherited the ministry in their place, have not inherited their zeal. All desire to be successors [of the Apostles], few to be imitators of them. Would that they were as watchful in the discharge of the functions of their offices as they are eager in soliciting some dignified appointment. Then they would carefully and watchfully keep her [the Church who was found by them and entrusted to their charge; or rather they would be watchful for their own sakes, nor suffer it to be said of them: My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore, and my kinsmen stand afar off (Ps. xxxviii. 11). A complaint which is wholly just, and which applies to no period more justly than to our own. It is too little for our watchmen not to watch over us; they cause us positive and great harm. For they are plunged in a deep slumber, and do not awake even at the thunders of the Divine threatening, nor are stricken with fear even for their own peril. Thence it is that, having no concern for themselves, they have no concern for those under their charge; they allow them to perish, and perish with them.
3. But who are those watchmen by whom, as the Bride declares, she was found? They are the Apostles and Apostolic men. These are they who in truth guard the city, that is, the Church in which they are found, and that with so much the greater vigilance as they 4. * You assert these things/ objects someone, ' as if you had seen them with your eyes, but they are altogether beyond the reach of human sight.' To which I reply: If you confide in the witness of your own eyes as faithful, the witness of God is greater. And He says: have set watchmen on thy watts, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night (Is. lxii, 6). But it is of the Angels, you rejoin, that this is spoken. I do not deny this; they are all ministering spirits (Heb. i. 14). But who forbids me to think the same of those who in power are not unequal to the Angels themselves, while they are perhaps as much more favourable to us by their sympathy and kindness as they are more nearly allied to us by nature? Add to this that they have endured the same sufferings and miseries in which we are now for a time involved. Will there not, then, be a profound compassion and interest for us aroused in those holy souls, since they doubtless remember that they themselves have passed through similar trials? Is not that saying theirs in the Psalms: We went through fire and through water, but Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place (Ps. lxvi. 12). What? Will they, having passed through, leave us, their sons and their successors, in the midst of the fires and of the floods, nor even deign to stretch out a helping hand to us as we are struggling with dangers? Not so. It is well with thee, O holy Church, our Mother, it is well with thee even in this place of thy pilgrimage, for help comes to thee both from heaven and from earth. Those who keep thee neither slumber nor sleep. Thy guardians are the holy Angels; thy watchmen, the spirits and souls of the righteous. They do not mistake who think that thou art found by each of these orders of spirits, and that by each thou art equally guarded. And to each order there is a special reason for this their care of thee: to the one, that without thee they shall not be made perfect; to the other, that the fulness of their number will not be made up except from thee. For who does not know that when Satan and his accomplices fell from heaven, the number of the dwellers in heaven was diminished in no small degree? From thee, then, all these await their consummation: the one order that of their number; the other, that of their desires. Understand, then, that the words of the Psalmist apply to thee: The just wait for me until Thou reward me (Ps. cxlii. 8, Douay).
5. Notice, also, that it is not said that she has found them, but rather that they have found her; and that is, as I think, because that is the task to which they are called. For how shall they preach unless 6. But now the Bride does not find Him whom she sought, and she herself has been found by those whom she sought not. Let those who do not fear to enter upon the ways of life without teacher or guide listen to this. They consider themselves to be equally disciples, and their own masters, in the spiritual art. Nor is even this enough for them; blind leaders of the blind, they heap together disciples to themselves. How many have been found to have been thus most perilously drawn aside from the right path! For as they were ignorant of the snares and devices of Satan, it has followed that those who had begun in the Spirit have finished their course in the flesh, and, being led away, have fallen into shameful and inexcusable excesses. Let such take care to walk needfully; let them take an example from the Bride, who was unable to attain unto Him whom she longed for until she was met by those whose ministry she availed herself of to gain knowledge of her Beloved; that is to say, to learn the fear of the Lord. He who hesitates to give his hand to his legitimate teacher gives it to a seducer. And he who sends away his sheep to their pastures without a guardian is a shepherd, not of the sheep, but of wolves.
7. But now let us see in what sense the Bride declares herself to have been ' found.' For it seems to me that the word is employed in an unusual meaning, and that she speaks as if the Church had come only from one place; while, according to the word of the Lord, it came from the east and from the west (Matt. viii. 11), and from all the ends of the world. But neither has the Church been ever assembled unto one place where it might be found by the Apostles or by the Angels, to be directed or conducted unto Him, whom the soul of the Bride loveth. Could it have been found before it was collected? Evidently not, because it did not as yet exist Wherefore if she had said that it was collected, or congregated, or (to use a term more applicable to the Church) gathered together by the preachers [of the Gospel], I should have simply passed that over without making any remark upon it. For they are the co-workers of God, whom also they heard speaking thus: Ht that gathereth not with Me, scattereth abroad (Matt. xii. 30). Nor would it have seemed strange to me if one should say that it was founded or built up by them. For they have done this in union with Him who says, as we read in the Gospels: Upon this rock I will build My Church (Matt. xvi. 18); and, It was founded upon a rock (Matt vii. 25). But now she says none of these things, but, speaking in an unusual manner, says that she has been found, which makes us delay a little, and suspect that there is here some hidden meaning, which we ought to examine with greater care.
8. I wished, I own, to pass it over, and not to engage in an inquiry to which I feel myself not to be equal. But when I remember in how many obscure and difficult passages I have felt myself to be aided, even beyond my hope, when you lifted up your hearts in prayer on my behalf, I am ashamed of my want of faith; and blaming my fear, I undertake, though by no means with confidence, that which I timidly shrunk from. The accustomed help from the Lord will, I trust, not be wanting to me; and, in any case, the kindliness of my hearers will prevent what I have to say from being altogether without value. But with this the next sermon shall begin; for the present it is time to conclude. May He who is the Bridegroom of the Church, Jesus Christ our Lord, grant unto you not only to bear in mind the things which you have heard, but to love them ardently, and effectually to fulfil them in your actions. He is above all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
The CHURCH OF THE ELECT
1. Eia expediti sumus! Diximus hesterno sermone, quales in via hac qua ambulamus, vellemus habere duces, non quales habemus. Longe dissimiles experimur. Non omnes sunt amici spousi, quos hodie sponsae hinc inde assistere cernis, et qui, ut vulgo aiunt, eam quasi addextrare videntur. Pauci admodum sunt, qui non quae sunt quaerant, ex omnibus charis ejus. Diligunt numera, nec possunt pariter diligere Christum; quia manus dederunt mammonae. Intuere quomodo incedunt nitidi et ornati, circumamicti varictatibus, tanquam sponsa procedens de thalamo suo. Nonne si quempiam talium repente eminus procedentem aspexeris, sponsam potius putabis, quam sponsae custodem? Unde vero hanc illis exubere existimas rerum affluentiam, vestium splendorem, mensarum luxuriem, congeriem vasorum argenteorum et aureorum, nisi de bonis sponsae? Inde est quod illa pauper, et inops, et nuda relinquitur, facie miseranda, inculta, bispida, exsangui. Propter hoc non est hoc tempore ornare sponsam, sed spoliare; non est custodire, sed perdere; non est defendere, sed exponere; non est instituere, sed prostituere; non est pascere gregem, sed mactare et devorare, dicente de illis Domino: Qui devorant plebem meam, ut cibum panis; et: Quia comederunt Jacob, et locum ejus desolaverunt, et in alio propheta: Peccata populi mei comedent; quasi dicat: Peccatorum pretia exigunt, et peccantibus debitam sollicitudinem non impendunt. Quem dabis mihi de numero praepositorum, qui non plus invigilet subditorum vacuandis marsupiis, quam vitiis extirpandis? ubi qui orando flectat iram; qui praedicet annum placabilem Domino? Leviora loquimur; graviora gravius manet judicium.
2. Sine causa tamen vel his, vel illis immoramur, quia non audiunt nos. Sed etsi litteris forsitan mandentur ista quae dicimus, dedignabuntur legere; aut si forte legerint, mihi indignabuntur, quamvis rectius sibi hoc facerent. Propterea relinquamus istos, non inventores sponsae, sed venditores; et inquiramus potius illios, a quibus sponsa se inventam loquitur. Et quidem illorum isti sortiti sunt ministerii locum, sed non zelum. Successores omnes cupiunt esse, imitatores pauci. O utinam tam vigiles reperirentur ad curam, quam alacres currunt ad cathedram! Vigilarent utique, sollicite servantes ab illis inventam, sibi creditam. Imo vero evigilarent pro semetipsis, nec sinerent de se dici: Amici mei et proximi mei adversum me appropinquaverunt et steterunt. Justa omnino querimonia, nec ad ullam justius, quam ad nostram referenda aetatem. Parum est nostris vigilibus quod non servant nos, nisi et perdant. Alto quippe demersi oblivionis somno, ad nullum Dominicae comminationis tonitruum expergiscuntur, ut vel suum ipsorum periculum expavescant. Inde est ut non parcant suis, qui non parcunt sibi, perimentes pariter et pereuntes.
3. Sed enim quinam illi sunt vigiles, a quibus se inventam perhibet sponsa? Nempe apostoli, atque apostolici viri. Vere hi sunt qui custodiunt civitatem, id est eam ipsam quam invenerunt. Ecclesiam, eoque vigilantius, quo nunc temporis gravius periclitantem conspiciunt, a malo utique domestico et intestino, sicut scriptum est: Et inimici hominis domestici ejus. Neque enim pro qua usque ad sanguinem restiterunt, suo derelinquunt patrocinio destitutam, sed protegunt et custodiunt eam die ac nocte, hoc est, in vita et in morte sua. Et si pretiosa est in conspectu Domini mors sanctorum ejus, non ambigo ego quin etiam tanto in morte potentius id agant, quanto in ipsa amplius confortatus est principatus eorum.
4. Sic ista asseria, ait quis, ac si oculis tuis videris ea; sunt autem ab humanis seclusa conspectibus. Cui ego: Si tu tuorum oculorum testimonium fidele putas, testimonium Dei majus est. Ait vero: Super muros tuos, Jerusalem, constitui custodes: tota die et tota nocte, in perpetuum non tacebunt. Sed de angelis, inquis, id dictum est. Non abnuo: omnes sunt administratorii spiritus. At quis me prohibeat itidem et de istis sentire, qui potentia quidem minime jam ipsis angelis impares sunt, affectu autem et misericordia eo nobis forsitan germaniores existunt, quo natura conjunctiores? Junge et tolerantiam earumdem passionum et miseriarum, in quibus nos pro tempore adhuc versamur. Nihilne amplius miserationis pro nobis vel sollicitudinis operabitur in mentibus sanctis, quod et se transisse per eas procul dubio meminerunt? Nonne illa ipsorum vox est: Transivimus per ignem et aquam, et eduxisti nos in refrigerium? Quid? ipsi transierunt, et nos in mediis ignibus vel fluctibus derelinquent, nec saltem manum porrigere dignabuntur periclitantibus filiis? Non est ita. Bene tecum agitur, o mater Ecclesia, bene tecum agitur in loco peregrinationis tuae: de coelo et de terra venit auxilium tibi. Qui custodiunt te, non dormitant, neque dormiunt. Custodes tui angeli sancti, vigiles tui spiritus et animae justorum. Non errant qui te ab utrisque inventam spiritibus senserint, ab utrisque pariter custodiri. Et est hujus sollicitudinis ratio quibusque sua: his quidem, quod sine te non consummentur; illis vero, quod nisi de te ad sui plenitudinem minime restaurentur. Nam quis nesciat, Satana cadente de coelo et ejus complicibus, numerum supernae multitudinis parte non modica imminutum? De te itaque omnes consummationem exspectant, alii numeri, alii desiderii sui. Agnosce proinde vocem in psalmo: Me exspectant justi, donec retribuas mihi.
5. Et advertendum, quod non ista illos, sed illi istam potius invenisse referuntur, utque ego suspicor ad hoc ipsum studio destinati. Nam quomodo praedicabunt, nisi mittantur? Denique habes loquentem in Evangeliis: Ite, ecce ego mitto vos; et: Ite, praedicate Evangelium omni creaturae. Ita est. Illa quaerebat sponsum, et sponsum non latebat. Nempe qui in hoc ipsum excitaverat eam ut se quaereret, et dederat illi cor ad praecepta, et legem vitae et disciplinae, dummodo esset qui instrueret et doceret viam prudentiae. Et misit in occursum ejus plantatores et rigatores, qui eam enutrirent, et confirmarent in omni certitudine veritatis, hoc est, indicarent illi certamque redderent de dilecto; quia veritas est quam quaerit, et quam vere diligit anima ejus. Et revera quis fidus verusve animae amor, nisi utique is, quo veritas adamatur? Rationis sum compos, veritatis sum capax; sed utinam non forem, si amor veri defuerit. Horum quippe ramorum is fructus est, et ego radix. Non sum securus a securi, si absque eo inveniar. In illo nimirum naturae munere illud divinae imaginis enitere insigne haud dubium est, ex quo caeteris praestet animantibus. Inde est quod audet anima mea ad dulces castosque assurgere veritatis amplexus, et sic in amore ipsius tota securitate ac suavitate quiescere, si tamen inveniat gratiam in oculis tanti sponsi, ut dignam reputet, quae ad hanc pertingat gloriam; imo ipse eam sibi exhibeat non habentem maculam aut rugam, aut aliquid ejusmodi. Quanti putas esse discriminis, quave dignum poena, tantum Dei donum otiosum tenere? Verum hoc alias.
6. Nunc vero sponsa quem quaerebat, minime reperit; et quos non quaerebat, reperta est ab ipsis. Audiant hoc, qui sine duce et praeceptore vias vitae ingredi non formidant; ipsi sibi in arte spirituali existentes et discipuli pariter et magistri. Non sufficit hoc: etiam coacervant discipulos sibi, caeci duces caecorum. Quam multi ex hoc a recto tramite periculosissime aberrasse comperti sunt! Nimirum ignorantes astutias Satanae et cogitationes ipsius, factum est ut qui spiritu coeperant, carne consummarentur, abducti turpiter, lapsi damnabiliter. Videant proinde qui ejusmodi sunt, quomodo caute ambulent, et de sponsa exemplum sumant, quae non prius ad eum, quem desiderabat, ullo modo valuit pervenire, quam sibi occurrerent, quorum magisterio uteretur ad cognoscendum de dilecto, certe ad discendum timorem Domini. Seductori dat manum, qui dare dissimulat praeceptori. Et qui dimittit oves in pascua absque custode, pastor est non ovium, sed luporum.
7. Nunc jam videamus de sponsa, quomodo se dicat inventam. Mihi enim insuete satis verbum inventionis posuisse videtur. Nam ita hoc dicit, ac si uno de loco Ecclesia venerit. Venit autem ab Oriente et Occidente, juxta verbum Domini, et a cunctis finibus terrae. Sed neque aliquando congregata est in unum locum, ubi ab apostolis seu ab angelis inveniretur deducenda vel dirigenda ad eum, quem diligit anima sua. Fueritne prius inventa quam collecta? Non; quia nec erat. Quamobrem si collectam, si congregatam, si certe, quod magis vocabulo Ecclesiae competit, convocatam a praedicatoribus se dixisset, transissem simpliciter, minime in aliquo cunctabundus. Coadjutores enim Dei sunt, quem et audiere loquentem: Qui non colligit mecum, dispergit. Sed neque hoc mihi ab re videbitur, si dixerit quis ab eis fundatam sive aedificatam. Siquidem hoc fecerunt una cum illo, qui in Evangeliis loquitur: Et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam; et: Quia fundata est supra firmam petram. Nunc vero nihil horum loquens, sed praeter solitum quidem perhibens se inventam, cunctari aliquantum nos facit, atque in suspicionem adducit latere loco, quod sit diligentius intuendum.
8. Volebam, fateor, praeterire, meque subducere huic scrutinio, cui sufficere non sentirem. Caeterum reminiscens in quantis aeque dubiis et obscuris, vobis quidem sursum corda levantibus, etiam supra spem meam adjutum me senserim, pudet diffidentiae: et reprehendens timorem meum, adorior non quidem temere, quod timide refugiebam. Aderit, ut confido, solitum adjutorium: quod si minus, apud benevolos tamen auditores non erit otiosum quod volui. Verum hoc habebit sequens sermo principium; nam praesentem hic claudimus. Ipse autem det vobis ea quae dicuntur non solum tenere memoriter, sed et ardenter diligere, et efficaciter adimplere sponsus Ecclesiae Jesus Christus, Dominus noster, qui est super omnia Deus benedictus in saecula. Amen.