Letter CCCXCII. To Ralph, Patriarch of Antioch

[A new letter: the former No. 392 is No. 327].

Bernard urges upon him the duty of humility.

To the very reverend lord and father, R., by the grace of God, Patriarch of Antioch, Brother Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, wishes all that the earnest friendship of a poor Religious can desire, or the prayer of a sinner can obtain for him. If notwithstanding my lowly station I dare to write to your Greatness do not impute it to presumption but to a confiding simplicity; for both Brother Platto has suggested that I should do so, and charity has determined me to follow the suggestion. Therefore, after having briefly expressed my respect and devotedness and having rendered to you the greeting and reverence which is due, I pray the Almighty God that He who deigned to place Peter in that See may render you also a worthy successor in it. But as your prudence well knows, no combatant will be crowned, unless he shall have striven lawfully. Hence that blessed Apostle himself, whose words these are, when he wished to say that a crown of righteousness was laid up for him, prefaced his declaration by saying I have fought a good fight (2 Tim. iv. 7). If it be the case that the life of man upon earth is a continual warfare (Job vu. 1), what then ought to be the life of a Bishop, who has double cause to combat, for himself first, and then for the flock committed to his charge? It is his duty in fact to struggle against the desires of the flesh, against the devices of the world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. And who is fit to do this? this threefold cord is not easily broken. These are the three bands which the Chaldeans made, in order to fall upon the herds of Job, and carry them away; namely the flesh, with its vices and its evil desires. But let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered (Ps. lxviii. 1). Let Him arise, I say, whom we need; Who has said Without Me ye can do nothing (S. John xv. 5). But as to when He is with us, what says the Apostle: I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me (Phil. iv. 13). Be thou also strengthened in Him, my father, and thou wilt be strong: gird thyself, stand fast in the fight, combat with courage on behalf of the flock entrusted to thee, and which thou art bound to restore in safety to Him who entrusted them to you; but combat on your own behalf also, since you will have to give account for your own soul. You have been raised to a very lofty position; be also the more vigilant in it: lest (which may God forbid) you should fall thence, and the fall be the more crushing, as the station was the loftier. So you shall hold your exalted post in a fit manner, without conceiving feelings of pride; according as the Apostle says: Be not high-minded, but fear (Rom. xi. 20). To a thoughtful and wise man, a lofty station is much more a cause for fear than for pride. If the Church confers dignities, it fears nevertheless the ruin of those on whom they are conferred: but it is not the high rank, only the pride of rank, that is blameable. Who should so much fear and suspect a headlong fall, as the man who sits on high with lofty look and frown of pride? The fear of a possible catastrophe represses the haughtiness of dominion. Whatsoever we wish that men should do unto us, let us also do the same unto them. Who does not wish to have deference from his inferiors? would that we equally rendered it to those who are superior to us. If not, we are as those who use two weights and two measures, a thing which is abominable before God (Prov. xx. 10). We are then in the same condition, if we do not render to our superiors the same weight or measure of dutiful obedience as we require from our subordinates. I cannot sufficiently admire the cautious and humble faith shown in the reply of the Centurion, who said to the Saviour: For I also am a, man placed under authority, having soldiers under me (S. Luke vu. 8). O prudent soul and heart truly humble! before speaking of his own power over his soldiers, he repressed any arrogance in his speech by a recital of his own subjection to authority, and so laid more stress upon the fact that he was under the rule of others, than that he was placed to rule over others. For the order of his sentence shows the sequence of his thoughts, and the well-arranged method of his earnest request. I should wish to enlarge on this subject, and to make distinctions more clearly: but modesty withholds me. I will do so, when I shall have leisure to write to greater length; provided that I am assured that these few words have given you pleasure. In conclusion, I earnestly entreat, that if I have as much favour and interest with you as is generally supposed, those soldiers of God, who dwell in the Temple at Jerusalem, may find that they are still more in your; favour henceforth because of my commendation In so doing be assured that you will act acceptably towards God and at the same time agreeably to men.