Letter CCCXCI. To the Abbess of Favernay

[Formerly No. 347: the former No. 391 is now No. 326.]

Bernard warns her that not only the walls of her house but the characters of its inmates should be ref ormed \ and urges upon her diligent care of the hospital attached to the Abbey.¹

Bernard, called Abbot of Clairvaux, to A..., Abbess of Favernay, health and the double merit of purity and grace.

Those brethren who have come to consult me for their soul s health have given me no little pleasure in speaking of the good purpose and earnest zeal which you display in reforming the institution over which by the grace of God you are placed; but I warn you and entreat you that you show as much care in forming the characters of your nuns as in repairing the walls of your monastery. It is equally your duty to take diligent care of the hospital also, which those brethren I referred to, carry on under your direction; and that you should keep it safe and free from any exaction or spoliation on the part of your servants and vassals. It was by their evil advice as I hear, that certain things given to that house by the Abbesses who preceded you, have been taken away by you, and these I entreat you to restore. For as it is a part of your care to undo or correct the ill-doing of others, so you ought to preserve and maintain and even to increase and multiply the possessions of those who have done well. The Presbyter also, who, while dwelling in that house, seems to have at the same time property outside, you ought to oblige either to give up the care of that property or leave the house. Farewell: and rely on my assistance in anything which is in my power, because of the good which I have heard of you.

Footnotes

1. This was an Abbey of Benedictines situated in the diocese of Besangon, and County of Burgundy. Archbishop Anseric entrusted the reform of it to the Religious of Chaise-Dieu in 1132 the date of this letter. See Ep. 190. ↩