Letter CCCLXIV. To Peter, Abbot of Clunv

1-' (A.D. 1146.)

He invites Peter to attend a meeting at Chartres in order to consult as to rendering help to the Church in the East.

To his very dear father PKTER, by the grace of God the venerable Abbot of Cluny, Brother BERNARD, of Clair¹ vaux, wishes health, and sends the assurance of his humble prayers.

1. I imagine that the sad and lamentable groanings of the Church in the East have not failed to come to your ears, yes, even to the bottom of your heart. It becomes you, in the high post which you occupy, to show a sincere feeling of compassion for that Church, the common mother of all, in the sad state to which it is reduced, and in the great difficulties by which it is surrounded. The more elevated, I repeat, is the position which you hold, the more you ought to be consumed with an earnest zeal for the House of God. Otherwise, if we harden our hearts and affections at the sight of such misfortunes; where is our love towards God, or our charity towards our neighbours? If, then, we do not exert ourselves with all the earnestness in our power to find and supply a remedy to s-uch great evils and dangers, how ungrateful should we not be shown to be to God, who shelters us in His tabernacle in the day of evil? and should we not merit to be punished the more severely, that we had shown ourselves neglectful both of God's glory, and of the salvation of our brethren? These considerations I have been led to suggest thus confidently and plainly, on account of the kindness with which your Excellence has deigned to honour my unworthiness.

2. Our fathers, then, the Bishops of France, with our lord the King and his nobles, have determined to meet on the third Sunday after Easter at the city of Chartres l in order to take counsel together about this great affair: and I trust that we may be favoured with your presence there also. For the advice of all the more eminent men is needed: and you will render a service not unacceptable to God, if you do not hold back from this business, but approve your zeal in a season so opportune, in a time of tribulation. For you know, dear father, that a friend is proved in time of adversity. I am convinced that your² presence will be of great advantage to this expedition, as well because of the influence belonging to the holy Abbey of Cluny, over which, in God's Providence, you preside, as because of the wisdom and popularity which has been bestowed upon you for the honour of God and the good of your neighbours. May He deign to influence your mind, not to hesitate to come, and to give the advantage of your presence to His servants gathered in His name, and for zeal in His service.

Footnotes

1. Formerly No. 355; the former No. 364 is now No. 381. ↩

2. It was in this assembly that Bernard was chosen general in chief of the expedition, a title which he refused as being incompatible with his monastic profession and entirely foreign to his character (Let. 256 ad Eugen. n. 4). Letter 363, and the Letters of Suger, of which No. 133 is from Peter the Venerable, excusing himself from attending the meeting at Chartres on account of a General Chapter to be held at Cluny on the same day. ↩