A good confession…
If you would know whether you have made a good confession, ask yourself if you have resolved to abandon your sins.
–Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
By vehement desire…
The grace of contemplation is granted only in response to a longing an importunate (burning) desire: Nevertheless, God will not present Himself, even in passing, to every soul; but only to that soul which is shown, by great devotion, vehement desire, and tender affection, to be His bride, and to be worthy that the Word in all His beauty should visit her as a Bridegroom.
–Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
God alone can satisfy…
God alone can satisfy our desires… It is not very intelligent to desire what can never satisfy. While enjoying wealth, you keep searching for something you still lack. You run back-and-forth from one pleasure to another, becoming tired, but never satisfied… Eventually we will come to say to God, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” Anything else is doomed to failure.
–Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Coming of the Lord…
We know that the coming of the Lord is threefold: the third coming is between the other two and it is not visible in the way they are. At his first coming the Lord was seen on earth and lived among men, who saw him and hated him. At his last coming All flesh shall see the salvation of our God, and They shall look on him whom they have pierced. In the middle, the hidden coming, only the chosen see him, and they see him within themselves; and so their souls are saved.
–Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
When God forgives…
When God forgives a sinner who humbly confesses his sin, the devil loses his dominion over the heart he had taken.
–Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Grace and free will…
Grace is necessary to salvation, free will equally so – but grace in order to give salvation, free will in order to receive it.
–Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
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