On Loving God by St. Bernard de Clairvaux

by Bernard of Clairvaux, Peter G. Epps (Editor)

A lightly adorned edition of a classic spiritual work by the medieval monk, reformer, and preacher St. Bernard de Clairvaux.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Christianity, Christian, Spirituality, Catholic, Classics

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1153

About the author

born 1090

Piety and mysticism of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux as widely known instrumental French monastic reformer and political figure condemned Peter Abélard and rallied support for the second Crusade.

This doctor of the Church, an abbot, primarily built the Cistercian order. After the death of mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order in 1112. Three years later, people sent Bernard found a new house, named Claire Vallée, "of Clairvaux," on 25 June 1115. Bernard preached that the Virgin Mary interceded in an immediate faith.

In 1128, Bernard assisted at the council of Troyes and traced the outlines of the rule of the Knights Templar, who quickly the ideal of Christian nobility.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard...

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

How often do we ask this question: what love does God want from us? So often it is just the opposite; we pray to God to tell him what we want - never thinking that we are in a relationship - never considering what we should give in return. Although this is a Christian text (Roman Catholic) the questions asked can be (I think) applied to any relationship with a deity; I am not advocating the following of any particular religion. I am talking about looking at what a relationship with the divine is based on. As such I think this is a very instructive text.

[Baylor Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Especially liked the concept of the four degrees of love:

First degree: love of self for self's sake
Second degree: love of God for self's sake
Third degree: love of God for God's sake
Fourth degree: love of self for God's sake

"I am not certain that the fourth degree of love in which we love ourselves only for the sake of God may be perfectly attained in this life. But, when it does happen, we will experience the joy of the Lord and be forgetful of ourselves in a wonderful way. We are, for those moments, one mind and one spirit with God."

[Reagan Vernon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A medieval spiritual classic.

[Alex Strohschein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A succinct, exquisite meditation on what it means to love God. Suffused with Scripture and movingly written, this is devotional literature at its finest.

[Jaden Weatherly · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Bernard’s view of this life, presented in this text using two main illustrations, is absolutely enchanting.

In the first section, we are compared to the bride of the Song of Solomon, currently resting our head on the left hand of the Bridegroom, awaiting the day when His right hand shall embrace us. There’s much to unpack there, but let it be said here that the left hand of God on this earth is his many graces. Calling to memory all that He has done for us, participating in His grace by the sacraments, and perpetually communing with Him in prayer, we are carried through this life.

Secondly, St. Bernard expounds upon the four degrees of love that we have. To love ourself; to love God and neighbor for their benefit; to love God for Himself; to love only God and forget self, except in God. This area has been rich for me as I’m also interacting with classical philosophy. These medieval scholastics were certainly influenced by Aristotle, and I think rightly so, as both declare that the Highest ought to be loved for Itself, not for what it does for us.

“We walk in [the Samaritans as told in St. John 4] footsteps when we say to our flesh, ‘Now we love God, not because of your needs; for we have tasted and know how sweet the Lord is.’”

[Noah Senthil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A journey through four stages of loving God. Always refreshing to read pre-modern exegesis and application.

You won’t find many modern Christian authors explaining the love of God through an extended meditation on Song of Songs‬ ‭8‬:‭3‬, “His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me!”

He’s interacting with Scripture and a number of important doctrines throughout. A good takeaway line from Bernard is that we’re headed to the “heavenly Fatherland.” That’s a delightful phrase he uses to capture the two doctrines of the beatific vision and adoption.

*Note: out of principle, I don’t rate “Great Books” less than five stars.

[Matt Allhands · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid book and helpful in diagnosing the heart's devotion for Christ. That said, it was written during the scholastic Middle Ages, so Bernard does not "talk" in a way that many evangelicals are used to. This fact can be a strength, but some of the pitfalls along the way bear mentioning:

Bernard allegorizes from scripture a bit - but does so in a generally reasonable way, eg....Song of Songs (an extended poem about romantic love and marriage) does reflect Christ's love for the Church, because that is part of God's intention for marriage (Eph 5:22-33). The goal should be to understand the point being made by Bernard, rather than sifting through the semantics of it.
Bernard was a man of his time so, as is also the case with Anselm of Canterbury, readers should expect to find Apocraphal texts referenced in his work, even thought these references do not make up the bulk of his engagement with scripture.

[Zach Steenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, there is not much new here in the context of western mysticism in the high medieval period, yet it is quite a good succinct presentation on why man ought to love God and what that entails.

I found the distinction between the 4 degrees of love quite helpful. It is a good way to show how one ascends from the natural love of oneself to the love of oneself for the sake of God.

Written very poetically yet straightforwardly, this brief treatise was certainly worth my time.

[Micah Natal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bernard asks a simple question: why should we love God, and how? His famous “degrees of love” from loving God for our own sake to loving Him for His own are both humbling. You can feel his heart burn for Christ on almost every page.

That said, it’s still a medieval work. So it is mystical at times, a little too monastic and occasionally cloudy where Scripture is clear. But when Bernard speaks of loving God for God’s sake alone, it soars. Of course, read with discernment, but amazing read.

[Scott Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Loving God knocked my socks off. Bernard of Clairvaux expresses such a piteous heart of devotion unto Jesus Christ and Triune Perfection as the efficient and final causes of our love as finite human beings. This will make it to the spiritual classics bookshelf of my library.

[Anne Michal]

There’s much smarter people out there in the world than me

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to in one sitting. Can be read it on line here.

A sweet book on a sweeter topic! 'I do not promise to answer other questions you may raise. This one, as to loving God, I will deal with as He shall teach me; for it is sweetest, it can be handled most safely, and it will be most profitable. Keep the others for wiser men.'

St. Bernard's perfect little reflection on His Creator and Lover isn't lofty nor especially intellectual, but it typical of him. The Mellifluus Doctor has sprinkled this gem heavily and yet almost absent-mindedly with Scripture which he had so absorbed it almost flowed through his pen. A work of art and worth reading or listening to many times.

Chapter 5 is a favorite: 'And now let us consider what profit we shall have from loving God.... Love is an affection of the soul, not a contract: it cannot rise from a mere agreement, nor is it so to be gained. It is spontaneous in its origin and impulse; and true love is its own satisfaction. It has its reward; but that reward is the object beloved.... Thus, if it is for her beauty that (a man) loves his wife, he will cast longing eyes after a fairer woman. If he is clad in a rich garment, he will covet a costlier one; and no matter how rich he may be he will envy a man richer than himself. Do we not see people every day, endowed with vast estates, who keep on joining field to field, dreaming of wider boundaries for their lands?... '

[Lawrence Jakows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus: Perfect Love

[Book excerpt from Jesus: Perfect Love, p. 112]

The Holy Name of Jesus

“Let him call upon the name of Jesus, and the breath of life returns to him. With this adorable name in his heart, who ever persisted in revenge, sloth, languor, hardness? Who has not felt the rush of salutary tears bless him once more when he has cried to Jesus? Who ever has invoked that strong and generous name, when his heart was beating in the midst of fear and danger, and not felt quietness come down upon him? Who, when wavering in miserable perplexity and doubt, has called upon the name of Jesus without receiving calming light into his soul?” (St. Bernard, p. 80)

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much in here to take in... so much that assists with one's understanding of the relationship between God and self. I will certainly be reading this one again! Quick and easy read for those who are trying to love God more. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, pray for us!

[Jordan Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! I highly commend it to all.

Bernard distinguishes the process of sanctification where we 1. love self motivated by self interests to 2. love of God for self sake 3. love of God for God’s sake culminating in glory with 4. loving God for the sake of our own souls beauty. If that doesn’t make sense, I urge you to take up, read, and be edified.

[Andrew Goode · Rating 5 out of 5]

61 pages of pure, rich, reflection on Christian charity, that is true selfless love. The four degrees of love are helpful handles for identifying how our affections for Christ deepen over time. Highly recommend.

[zadie navarrete · Rating 4 out of 5]

"More wonderful still, no one can seek [The Lord] unless he has already found [Him]."
"You wish to be found that you may be sought for, and sought for to be found. You may be sought and found, but nobody can forestall you."

I can't take this anymore.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

The entire slim volume is almost all Biblical quotations or references, but the language chosen to bring this out borders on the exquisite.

[Steve Linskens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes powerful words come in small books.

[Ethan Moehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone said this is basically Medieval Christian Hedonism. There is nothing more to say. Good read.

[belreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

so tea, it’s giving diotima’s ladder i am ascending

[Selah Balli · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3 stars

[Kevin Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic tract by an author referred to frequently in Calvin‘s writings and those of other reformers. Bernard develops four progressive phases on loving God. He leans heavily into the Song of Solomon for his devotional and Christ-centered spirituality.

[Nevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bernard is an amazing monk and this book is really good in providing a language on loving God. Go ahead read it already.

[Chris Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of a pamphlet than a book, but it’s a pamphlet that sure packs a punch. There are enough epigrams in this book to fill the home of even the most hoarding of all 70-year old women with hand-embroidered quotes. I’ll do well to fill my mind instead.

St. Bernard is a man after my own heart. He starts with the most basic and natural love (love for self), which is the foundation of the commandment “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” As a practical tip for those of us struggling to keep this commandment, St. Bernard says “Wherefore, if any one cannot so love his brethren as to think of their wants, or let us even say of their pleasures, let him deny himself in those very things, in order that he may learn.” And then the part I love, “But if through imparting to our neighbor we bring ourselves to want? Why is our remedy? Prayer…for we cannot doubt that he who giveth to most men more than they need, will willingly give to him who prays for what is indispensable.” No excuses. Take God exactly at His word. Pure, unadulterated gospel living.

He continues, logically and faithfully, from this love of self for one’s own sake (the first degree) to love of God for one’s own sake (the second degree) and to love of God for God’s own sake (the third degree). “First, then, man has some love for God for his own sake…But, let a train of disasters befall and oblige him perpetually to have recourse to God, if he still get the aid he wants, his heart must be of brass or marble not at last to be touched by the goodness of his helper, not to begin at length to love Him for Himself. Let the frequency of trials bring us often to the feet of God, surely it is impossible, but we must begin to know Him, and, knowing Him, must come to discern His sweetness. It soon follows that we are brought to love Him rightly, far more for the sweetness and beauty that we find in Him than for our own self-interest.” Continuing (I love hearing St. Bernard quote scripture - the same scriptures that I read on my iPhone!), “In the words of the Samaritans to the woman: ‘I now believe, not for thy saying; for we ourselves have heard Him, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.’”

In the grand finale, St. Bernard moves on to the fourth, and final, degree of love - the love of self for God’s sake only. “We ought to offer ourselves entirely to Him, studying only His good pleasure, not our own…O complete submission of a disinterested soul; most perfect in that there is no thought of self…To attain to this, is for the soul to be deified; as a small drop of water appears lost if mixed with wine, taking its taste and colour; and as, when plunged into a furnace, a bar of iron seems to lose its nature and assume that of fire; or as the air filled with the sun's beams seems rather to become light than to be illuminated. So it is with the natural life of the Saints; they seem to melt and pass away into the will of God…It is not that human nature will be destroyed, but that it will attain another beauty, a higher power and glory.“

A few more highlights:
- It’s interesting to hear him speak of “infidels” as the extreme example of ungodliness, and yet he says “Where is the infidel who does not know that from [God] alone he has received all that is necessary for life?” and “What man, be he ever so impious, refers the excellence peculiar to the human race to any other but to [God]?” Either the world is a very different place today or St. Bernard was simply naive of the infidels’ recognition of God (or lack thereof). I would love to do a study of religiosity or spirituality throughout history to find out if not believing in God has ever been as acceptable or common as it is today.
- In mentioning the infidel, St. Bernard says “He knows less of God than we do, therefore it is no wonder he should love Him less.” That’s it! That’s the key to the whole shebang - if we want to love God more, we need but learn more of God, for God IS love.
- “They who disdain to accept of anything from the stream of passing pleasure, enjoy abundantly, in hope, those joys which shall last for ever. Such are they who seek the face of the Lord, the God of Jacob, and not themselves. The thought of God is sweet to those who sigh after Him, and with every breath recall His presence; but, far from appeasing their hunger for Him, it increases it“ and “It is impossible, poor slaves, to toil for this world’s riches, and also to glory in the Cross of our Savior Jesus Christ; at the same time to desire and labour for earthly things and to taste the sweetness of our Lord.” After reading these, I’m ready to shave my hair into a little ring around a bald pate, don a brown robe and rope belt, and take off for the nearest 14th century monastery. Even as I reach for my razor, I hear Alma’s voice echo in the back of my head “But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.” Praise be to God for knowing and always meting out the good that I need.
- The importance of always remembering Him. “We, if we desire that Christ should come to us and abide in us, must fill our hearts full of the thoughts of His death and resurrection and of faithful recollection of the mercy and the power of which by them He has given us proof…On earth there is but the memory of the Bridegroom; in heaven, His perpetual Presence. This is the glory of those who have already arrived in port; and that the consolation of those still buffeting with the waves.” Also “But the believing soul sighs with all her heart after God, and dwells upon the thought of Him; she glories in the disgrace of the Cross, so long as she cannot see her Savior face to face.” Lastly, “Neither Jews nor Pagans feel the pang of love as the Church does, who says: ‘Stay me up with flowers, compass me about with fruits: because I languish with love.’…She sees the Only-begotten of the Father staggering under the weight of the cross; the God of all majesty discoloured by blows, covered with spittings; the Author of life and of glory hung upon nails, pierced with a lance and reviled, giving His dear soul for His friends. Gazing on this she feels the sword of love pierce through her heart, and cries out: ‘Stay me up with flowers, compass me about with fruits, for I languish with love.’ The pomegranates which the Bride, led into the garden of her Beloved, delights to gather on the tree of life have the taste of the Bread of Heaven and the colour of the Blood of Christ.”

[Gavin Brand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the kindle version so I'm not sure if the translation was the same as this one but the book is wonderful and full of surprises. I would have thought that a medieval theologian would denigrate the physical body but Bernard doesn't. Instead he says things like this:

“…by God’s grace, it will come about that man will love his body and all things pertaining to his body, for the sake of his soul. He will love his soul for God’s sake: and he will love God for himself alone.”

[Joseph Ficklen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good short work! I wish the translation was more modern, because it would be accessible and helpful to people. God is not to be loved for reward, for praise, for gain, or for any human motivation. God is to be loved and pursued for his own sake! We do not serve God to avoid a master’s frown, but to see a father’s smile. But our motivations need to be sanctified, and will not be so perfectly in this life.

[Fr. Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Librivox recording, the reading was a bit fast and it was late at night driving that I listened to it. It'll probably take another listen or two plus maybe a reading for it to really sink in.

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pleasurable read. The content is direct, true and you get a sense of the writers devotion. The references to the bible verses is nice if a person wants to add to their own reading, now or at a later time. I will reread this one.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites. God loved us first, we are in the debt of his love.

Bernard walks us through four degrees of loving God: from self interested love of God for own sake to loving God for God's sake and loving ourselves only in God.

Love it.