Status Updates From The Cistercian World: Monas...

Bernard of Clairvaux on Song of Songs reminds me how weird WE are! - this kind of warm, careful, knowledgeable, alert attention to the soul is like a strange language - at least in my observation. My guess is that psychology and fiction are our favorite contemporary lenses for thinking about the soul. Which might be our last ditch effort to hang on to a fast-disappearing language rather than an overall gain.

Bernard scolding lax monasteries for self-indulgence in food. 😂 "To give but one example: who could itemize all the ways in which eggs are maltreated? Or describe the pains that are taken to toss them and turn them, soften and harden them, botch them and scotch them, and finally serve them up fried, baked and stuffed by turns."

I LOVE the candidness, the perceptiveness, and the kindness of William's portrait of the young, gifted, but still immature Bernard. Can I say some of the best preparation and instruction I've ever found for motherhood is reading the lives and rules of the monks - and Charlotte Mason? 🤣 Can we start giving the Rule of St. Benedict, the Vita Prima and the 6 CM volumes as baby shower gifts?

lol I'm reading about Bernard of Clairvaux recruiting all his friends and brothers for the monastic life (to the immense dismay of all their other connections who would like to keep their governors, administrators, husbands, soldiers, knights and sons thank you very much) and he's basically the pied piper of Hamlin

just have to say a word in appreciation of the introduction and introductory notes so far - succinct, clear-eyed and without cynicism and how often does that happen?