Bernard of Clairvaux Quotes:

The measure of love is love without measure.

source: - Saint Bernard (of Clairvaux), William (of Saint-Thierry, Abbot of Saint-Thierry), Saint Aelred (of Rievaulx) (1983). “The love of God, and spiritual friendship”, Multnomah Pub

Topics: Love, Inspirational, Love Is

The true measure of loving God is to love him without measure.

source: - "Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers" by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, (p. 395), 1895.

Topics: Religious, Religious Love, Loving God

We find rest in those we love, and we provide a resting place in ourselves for those who love us.

source: - Saint Bernard (of Clairvaux) (1953). “St. Bernard of Clairvaux: Seen Through His Selected Letters”

Topics: Relationship, Marriage Engagement, Cute Love, Engaged

We are to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable.

Topics: God Love, Reason, Catholicism, I Love God, Jesus Love

Let your prayer for temporal blessings be strictly limited to things absolutely necessary.

Topics: Prayer, Blessing, Our Prayers

There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge; that is curiosity. There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; that is vanity. There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; that is Love.

Topics: Life, Vanity, Order

What we love we shall grow to resemble.

Topics: Creative, Grows

Theirs is an endless road, a hopeless maze, who seek for goods before they seek for God.

Topics: Mazes, Stewardship, Financial, Endless Roads, Financial Stewardship

Love seeks no cause beyond itself and no fruit; it is its own fruit, its own enjoyment. I love because I love; I love in order that I may love.

Topics: Love, Order, May, When A Man Loves A Woman

Jesus, what made You so small? LOVE!

Topics: Jesus, Made

Jesus, thou joy of loving hearts, Thou fount of life, thou Light of men, From the best bliss that earth imparts We turn unfilled to Thee again. We taste Thee, O Thou living Bread, And long to feast upon Thee still: We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead, And thirst our souls from Thee to fill. O Jesus, ever with us stay, Make all our moments calm and bright; Chase the dark night of sin away, Shed o'er the world Thy holy light.

Topics: Life, Jesus, Heart, Holy Light, Impart

What I know of the divine sciences and Holy Scriptures, I learned in woods and fields. I have no other masters than the beeches and the oaks.

Topics: Nature, Fields, Scripture, Oaks

Many of those who are humiliated are not humble. Some react to humiliation with anger, others with patience, and others with freedom. The first are culpable, the next harmless, the last just.

Topics: Humble, Lasts, Next, Humiliated

Pride only, the chief of all iniquities, can make us treat gifts as if they were rightful attributes of our nature, and, while receiving benefits, rob our Benefactor of His due glory.

Topics: Pride, Receiving, Benefits, Iniquity

Neither fear nor self-interest can convert the soul. They may change the appearance, perhaps even the conduct, but never the object of supreme desire... Fear is the motive which constrains the slave; greed binds the selfish man, by which he is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed (James 1:14). But neither fear nor self-interest is undefiled, nor can they convert the soul. Only charity can convert the soul, freeing it from unworthy motives.

Topics: Selfish, Men, Greed, Constrain, Selfish Men

Wherever...thou shalt be, pray secretly within thyself. If thou shalt be far from a house of prayer, give not thyself trouble to seek for one, for thou thyself art a sanctuary designed for prayer. If thou shalt be in bed, or in any other place, pray there; thy temple is there.

Topics: Christian, Art, Prayer

Hell is full of good wishes or desires.

Topics: Catholic, Wish, Desire, Good Wishes

If you concentrate hard on the state you are in, it would be suprising if you have time for anything else.

Topics: Would Be, States

There are some who wish to learn for no other reason than that they may be looked upon as learned, which is ridiculous vanity ... Others desire to learn that they may morally instruct others, that is love. And, lastly, there are some who wish to learn that they may be themselves edified; and that is prudence.

Topics: Vanity, Wish, Desire, Desire To Learn

You wish to see; listen. Hearing is a step toward Vision.

Topics: Vision, Wish, Hearing

Let us affectionately love His angels as counselors and defenders appointed by the Father and placed over us. They are faithful; they are prudent; they are powerful; Let us only follow them, let us remain close to them, and in the protection of the God of heaven let us abide.

Topics: Powerful, Father, Angel, Counselor, Guardian Angel

Learn the lesson that, if you are to do the work of a prophet, what you need is not a sceptre but a hoe.

Topics: Hoe, Needs, Lessons

How beautiful then is modesty and what a gem among virtues it is.

Topics: Beautiful, Modesty, Virtue, Gems

There are three distinct comings of the Lord of which I know: His coming to men, His coming into men, and His coming against men.

Topics: Men, Saint, Three

As patience leads to peace, and study to science, so are humiliations the path that leads to humility.

Topics: Humility, Path, Study

Many appear full of mildness and sweetness as long as everything goes their own way; but the moment any contradiction or adversity arises, they are in a flame, and begin to rage like a burning mountain. Such people as these are like red-hot coals hidden under ashes. This is not the mildness which Our Lord undertook to teach us in order to make us like unto Himself.

Topics: Anger, Adversity, Flames, Mildness

My burden is light," said the blessed Redeemer, a light burden indeed, which carries him that bears it. I have looked through all nature for a resemblance of this, and seem to find a shadow of it in the wings of a bird, which are indeed borne by the creature, and yet support her flight towards heaven.The wings of a bird, which are indeed borne by the creature, and yet support her flight towards heaven

Topics: Blessed, Light, Wings

Who loves me will love my dog also.

Topics: Dog, Love My Dog, My Dog, I Love My Dog

True penance consists in regretting without ceasing the faults of the past, and in firmly resolving to never again commit that which is so deplorable.

Topics: Regret, Past, Saint

Let us then cast ourselves at the feet of this good Mother, and embracing them let us not depart until she blesses us, and accepts us for her children.

Topics: Mother, Religious, Children, Virgin Mary

God will either give us what we ask, or what He knows to be better for us.

Topics: Giving, Gods Will

The spiteful tongue strikes a deadly blow at charity in all who hear him speak and, so far as it can, destroys root and branch, not only in the immediate hearers but also in all others to whom the slander, flying from lip to lip, is afterwards repeated.

Topics: Blow, Roots, Flying, Spiteful, Roots And Branches

He rightly reads scripture who turns words into deeds.

Topics: Hypocrisy, Deeds, Scripture

Ingratitude is the soul's enemy... Ingratitude is a burning wind that dries up the source of love, the dew of mercy, the streams of grace.

Topics: Wind, Soul, Grace, Ingratitude

Prayer is a wine which makes glad the heart of man

Topics: Prayer, Heart, Wine

Spiritual life is like living water that springs up from the very depths of our own spiritual experience. In spiritual life everyone has to drink from his or her own well.

Topics: Spiritual, Spring, Water

Prayer is a virtue that prevaileth against all temptations.

Topics: Prayer, Temptation, Virtue

God has aroused the spirit of kings and princes to root up from the earth the enemies of the Christian name. Therefore gird yourselves manfully and take up joyful arms for the name of Christ.

Topics: Christian, Kings, War, Kings And Princes

Your actions in passing, pass not away, for every good work is a grain of seed for eternal life.

Topics: Good Life, Action, Good Work

From the best bliss that earth imparts, we turn unfilled to Thee again.

Topics: Earth, Bliss, Thee

God will become visible as God's image is reborn in you.

Topics: Spirituality, Reborn, Gods Will

I have no other masters than the beeches and the oaks.

Topics: Masters

Action and contemplation are...

Topics: Catholic, Action, Contemplation

Prostrate, see Thy cross I grasp,And Thy pierced feet I clasp;Gracious Jesus, spurn me not;On me, with compassion fraught,Let Thy glances fall.Thy cross of agony,My Beloved, look on me;Turn me wholly unto Thee;"Be thou whole," say openly:"I forgive thee all.

Topics: Jesus, Fall, Compassion

Love is alone sufficient by itself, it pleases by itself and for it's own sake. It is itself a merit, and itself it's own recompense. It seeks neither cause, nor consequences beyond itself. It is its own fruit, its own object and usefulness. I love because I love you, I love that I may love.

Topics: Love, May, Sake

There is no greater misery than false joys.

Topics: Joy, Misery

He won me over entirely by giving Himself entirely to me.

Topics: Faith, Inspiration, Giving

The piercing nail has become a key to unlock the door, that I may see the good will of the Lord. And what can I see as I look through the hole? Both the nail and the wound cry out that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself... Through these sacred wounds we can see the secret of his heart, the great mystery of love...

Topics: Faith, Inspiration, Heart, Mystery Of Love

Let no one believe that he has received the divine kiss, if he knows the truth without loving it or loves it without understanding it. But blessed is that kiss whereby not only is God recognized but also the Father is loved; for there is never full knowledge without perfect love.

Topics: Love, Father, Believe, Perfect Love

Action and contemplation are very close companions; they live together in one house on equal terms. Martha and Mary are sisters.

source: - Saint Bernard (of Clairvaux) (1952). “Saint Bernard on the Song of songs: Sermones in Cantica canticorum”

Topics: House, Catholic, Together

Persecution shows who is a hireling, and who a true pastor.

Topics: Catholic, Pastor, Persecution

Nothing can work me damage except myself.

Topics: Inspirational, Damage

The heart of Christ can be seen through the openings of his wounds. For what can prove to me so clearly as your wounds that you, O Lord Jesus, are sweet & mild & plenteous in mercy.

Topics: Sweet, Jesus, Heart, Prove To Me

Slander is a poison which kills charity, both in the slanderer and the one who listens.

Topics: Poison, Charity, Slander

It was love that motivated His self-emptying, that led Him to become a little lower than angels, to be subject to parents, to bow His head beneath the Baptist's hands, to endure the weakness of the flesh, and to submit to death even upon the cross

Topics: Angel, Self, Hands

Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

Topics: Lord

If then you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than as a canal. For a canal spreads abroad water as it receives it, but a reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing, and thus communicates, without loss to itself, its superabundant water. In the Church at the present day, we have many canals, few reservoirs.

Topics: Wise, Loss, Water, If Then

Jesus to me is honey in the mouth, music in the ear, a song in the heart,

source: - Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (2012). “Commentary on the Song of Songs”, p.100, Jazzybee Verlag

Topics: Song, Jesus, Heart

I do a great wrong in His sight, when I beseech Him that He will hear my prayer, which as I give utterance to it, I do not hear myself. I entreat Him that He will think of me; but I regard neither myself nor Him. Nay, what is worse, turning over corrupt and evil thoughts in mine heart, I thrust a dreadful offensiveness into His presence.

Topics: Prayer, Heart, Thinking, Evil Thoughts

A truly obedient man does not discriminate between one thing and another, since his only aim is to execute faithfully whatever may be assigned to him.

Topics: Men, Doe, Saint, Obedient

If you would know whether you have made a good confession, ask yourself I you have resolved to abandon your sins.

Topics: Saint, Sin, Confession

First learn to love yourself, and then you can love me.

Topics: Love, Firsts, Love You

Death is the gate of life.

Topics: Dying, Gates

Love me, love my dog.

Topics: Wisdom, Dog, Love My Dog

The more I contemplate God, the more God looks on me. The more I pray to him, the more he thinks of me too.

Topics: Thinking, Looks, Praying

What I know of the divine science and holy scripture, I learnt in the woods and fields.

Topics: Woods, Fields, Scripture

Vines and trees will teach you that which you will never learn from masters.

Topics: Learning, Tree, Vines

Do what Jesus says,... what he commands through his ministers who are in the Church [see 1 Cor 6:4]. Be subject to his vicars, your leaders, not only those who are gentle and kind, but even those who are overbearing [see 1 Pt 2:18].

Topics: Jesus, Leader, Church

It's not as if grace did one half of the work and free choice the other; each does the whole work, in its own peculiar contribution. Grace does the whole work, and so does free choice - with this one qualification: That whereas the whole is done in free choice, so is the whole done of grace.

Topics: Choices, Grace, Doe, One Half, Qualifications

Obey your bishop! "Obey those set over you [Heb 13:17]," the teachers of the Church.... I remind you, my dear friends, of what I said when I was with you: do not receive any outside or unknown preacher, unless he be sent by your bishop or preaches with the permission of the pope. For "how shall they preach unless they are sent [Rom 10:15]?

Topics: Teacher, Over You, Church

Our King [Jesus] is accused of treachery; it is said of him [by the Muslims] that he is not God, but that he falsely pretended to be something he was not.

Topics: Jesus, Kings, Said, Treachery

Believe one who has tried, you shall find a fuller satisfaction in the woods than in the books. The trees and the rocks will teach you that which you cannot hear from the masters.

Topics: Nature, Believe, Book

Among us on the earth there is His memory; but in the Kingdom of heaven His very Presence. That Presence is the joy of those who have already attained to beatitude; the memory is the comfort of us who are still wayfarers, journeying towards the Fatherland.

Topics: Memories, Joy, Heaven

The rivers of Grace cannot flow uphill, up the steep cliff of the proud man's heart.

Topics: Heart, Men, Rivers, Steep, Proud Man

The Eucharist is that love which surpasses all loves in Heaven and on earth

Topics: Heaven, Earth, Eucharist

The tears of those repenting are the wine of angels.

Topics: Wine, Angel, Tears

there are four degrees of love: 1) Love of self for self's sake. 2) Love of God for self's sake. 3) Love of God for God's own sake. 4) Love of self for God's sake.

Topics: Heart, Self, Soul

It is no great thing to be humble when you are brought low; but to be humble when you are praised is a great and rare attainment.

Topics: Humble, Humility, Lows

Death is the gate of life. Ingratitude is the soul's enemy... Ingratitude is a burning wind that dries up the source of love, the dew of mercy, the streams of grace. You will find something far greater in the woods than you will find in books. Stones and trees will teach you that which you will never learn from masters.

Topics: Book, Wind, Tree

What of the souls already released from their bodies? We believe that they are overwhelmed in that vast sea of eternal light and of luminous eternity

Topics: Believe, Light, Sea, Eternal Light

The three most important virtues are humility, humility, and humility.

Topics: Humility, Important, Three

O Blessed Mary, whoever loves you honors God; whoever serves you pleases God; whoever invokes your holy name with a pure heart will infallibly receive the object of his petition.

Topics: Blessed, Love You, Heart

With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.

Topics: Christian, Fall, Heart, Holy Mary

All things are possible to one who believes.

source: - Saint Bernard (of Clairvaux) (2007). “Honey and Salt: Selected Spiritual Writings of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux”, Vintage

Topics: Believe, All Things

Expect much of God, and he will do much for you.

Learn first to love yourself, and then you can love me.

source: - "St. Bernard of Clairvaux: Seen Through His Selected Letters".

Topics: Love, Learning, Firsts, Learn To Love Yourself

Grace is necessary to salvation, free will equally so - but grace in order to give salvation, free will in order to receive it.

Topics: Order, Giving, Grace

Pride causes us to use our gifts as though they came from ourselves, not benefits received from God, and to usurp our benefactor's glory.

Topics: Pride, Use, Benefits, Benefactors

If anyone makes himself his own master in the spiritual life, he makes himself scholar to a fool.

Topics: Spiritual, Fool, Masters

Love of Mary and devotion to her are a sure sign of obtaining eternal salvation.

Topics: Devotion, Salvation, Mary

When God forgives a sinner who humbly confesses his sin, the devil loses his dominion over the heart he had taken.

Topics: Taken, Heart, Forgiving, God Forgives

True love does not demand a reward, but it deserves one.

source: - Saint Bernard (of Clairvaux) (2007). “Honey and Salt: Selected Spiritual Writings of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux”, Vintage

Topics: Doe, Demand, Rewards

Let us not imagine that we obscure the glory of the Son by the great praise we lavish on the Mother; for the more she is honored, the greater is the glory of her Son. There can be no doubt that whatever we say in praise of the Mother gives equal praise to the Son.

Topics: Christian, Mother, Son, Blessed Mother, Holy Mary

Inordinate love for the flesh is cruelty, because under the appearance of pleasing the body, we kill the soul.

Topics: Soul, Body, Flesh

The reason for our loving God is God.

Topics: Reason, Loving God

It is a fault, not a virtue, to wish your humility recognized and applauded.

Topics: Humility, Wish, Faults

To serve Mary is a mark of eternal salvation to come.

Topics: Salvation, Mary, Mark

The peacemakers shall be called the sons of God, who came to make peace between God and man. What then shall the sowers of discord be called, but the children of the devil? And what must they look for but their father's portion?

Topics: Children, Father, Son, Peacemaker

And truly, O man, if you concentrate hard on the state you are in it will be surprising if you have time for anything else.

source: - "Bernard of Clairvaux: Selected Works".

Topics: Would Be, States, Hard

My child, seek those things which make for peace. Cease to stir up the King against the Church, and urge upon him a better course of action. If you will promise to do this, I in return promise to entreat the merciful Lord to grant you offspring.

Topics: Kings, Children, Promise, Merciful

I know by myself how incomprehensible God is, seeing I cannot comprehend the parts of my own being.

Topics: God, My Own, Knows

"My burden is light," said the blessed Redeemer, a light burden indeed, which carries him that bears it. I have looked through all nature for a resemblance of this, and seem to find a shadow of it in the wings of a bird, which are indeed borne by the creature, and yet support her flight towards heaven.

source: - "Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers" by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, (p. 88), 1895.

Topics: Blessed, Wings, Light

Humility in furs is better than pride in tunics.

Topics: Humility, Pride, Fur

Humility is, of all graces, the chiefest when it does not know itself to be a grace at all.

source: - "Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers" by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, (p. 329), 1895.

Topics: Humility, Grace, Doe

Have death always before your eyes as a salutary means of returning to God.

Topics: Mean, Eye

For I have learnt for a fact that nothing so effectively obtains, retains and regains grace, as that we should always be found not high-minded before God, but filled with holy fear.

source: - Saint Bernard (of Clairvaux) (1952). “Saint Bernard on the Song of songs: Sermones in Cantica canticorum”

Topics: Grace, Facts, Holy

Thus understanding and love, that is, the knowledge of and delight in the truth, are, as it were, the two arms of the soul, with which it embraces and comprehends with all the saints the length and breath, the height and depth, that is the eternity, the love, the goodness, and the wisdom of God.

Topics: Two, Understanding, Soul, Understanding And Love

A pretext is never lacking to him who would break with a friend.

source: - Saint Bernard (of Clairvaux) (1953). “Letters”

Topics: Friendship, Break, Lacking

Understanding is the sure and clear knowledge of some invisible thing.

source: - Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Aeterna Press (1908). “On Consideration”, p.102, Aeterna Press

Topics: Understanding, Invisible, Invisible Things

What does God hate or punish except self-will? Let self-will cease, and there will be no hell. On what does that fire feed except on self-will?

Topics: Hate, Fire, Self, Self Will

So far from being able to answer for my sins, I cannot even answer for my righteousness!

Topics: Answers, Able, Sin

Do what Jesus says... what he commands through his ministers who are in the Church [see 1 Cor 6:4]. Be subject to his vicars, your leaders, not only those who are gentle and kind, but even those who are overbearing [see 1 Pt 2:18].

source: - "Bernard of Clairvaux on the Life of the Mind". Book by John R. Sommerfeldt, 2004.

Topics: Jesus, Leader, Church, Vicars, Overbearing