A taste of the image and the fervorino from today’s live Mass stream.
Today is the Feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. He is a Doctor of the Church, nicknamed “Doctor Mellifluus” because of “sweet flowing” of his tongue and teaching. At the age of 20 he entered monastic life at Citeaux in 1111 and right away he helped revive it along with many of his male relatives who entered as well. He was an adviser to Popes, defender of the faith against schism, reformer of the Benedictines, Doctor, eloquent preacher, including for the 2nd crusade. Died in 1153 on 20 August. Bernard is Dante Alighieri’s last guide, in Divine Comedy, as he travels through the Empyrean.[29] Dante’s narrative use of Bernard confirms that the saint was famous at the time for profound mysticism, his devotion to Mary, and his reputation for eloquence.
One of St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s most famous sayings comes from De diligendo Deo:
“Causa diligendi Deum, Deus est; modus, sine modo diligere… The reason for loving God is God Himself; the measure is to love without measure” (De diligendo Deo I, 1).
Bernard’s concise formula expresses the logic of Christian charity. God, who is infinite goodness, cannot be loved excessively.
Every earthly love requires proportion and restraint, while love of God admits no upper limit.
St. Thomas Aquinas later cites Bernard’s phrase when teaching that the love of God has no measure because divine goodness itself is immeasurable.
Cornelius on “They can always hurt you more.”: “They can only hurt you if they have authority, which is the wielding of power in accordance with ecclesiastical and…”
