Letter LXVI. To Geoffrey, Abbot of S. Medard

(Circa A.D. 1129.)

He begs Geoffrey's help in reconciling him with Abbot Alvisus, and consoles him in his tribulations.¹

To Dom GEOFFREY, Abbot of S. Medard, Brother BERNARD, unworthy superior of Clairvaux, health ever lasting.

In the first place, I beg that you would be so good as to forward the enclosed letter to the lord Abbot of Anchin, and that you would not fail to do what you can in favour of your absent friend, as opportunity shall serve, that he obtain that which it asks. For I ought not to conceal the cause of offence, whether just or unjust, which anyone, and especially so venerable a father has against me; which that I may not do, I should perhaps have been better able to explain my meaning better by speech than by writing, for in such matters word of mouth is wont to be more acceptable than written words, and the tongue than the pen. The expression of the eye gives confidence in the words. Nor is the hand able to express our sentiments as is the countenance. But now not being able in my absence to do as I would, I have recourse to you to give satisfaction as far as I can. I entreat you, then, again and again to take away, as far as in you lies, this offence from the kingdom of God, which is on our account, lest if this resentment endure (which may God forbid) until the day when the Angels shall be charged themselves to take away that offence, we may both be left without excuse. Concerning the tribulations of which you complained to me some time since, you know that it is said, The Lord is nigh ^lnto them who are of a troubled spirit (Ps. xxxiv. 1 8). Trust in Him because He hath overcome the world. He knows among what people you are dwelling, and those who trouble you are in His sight. He who now tries you by the waters of persecution, He will grant you a refuge from the tempest. Farewell.

Footnotes

1. All the printed copies, and MSS., which I have seen, except one, have S. Thierry, but it should be read S. Medard, as in the Corbey copy, from which I restore the following inscription, which is wanting in others, except in Spicilegium, Vol. iii., Domiio. etc. But although Geoffrey was successively Abbot of St. Medard at Soissons, and S. 'I hierry at Rheims, he was then Abbot of S. Medard, when this Letter was written. For it was written, as can be gathered from the order of the Letters, before the year 1131, in which Geoffrey was raised to the Bishopric of Chalons-sur-Marne from the Abbacy of S. Medard, which he had held since 1119. He had been previously Abbot of S. Thierry for eight years. ↩