Letter CCCXCV. To Alvisus, Bishop of Arras

[Formerly No. 325].

Bernard represents to the Bishop that there would be injustice in requiring him to send back to the monks of S. Bertin, Thomas of S. Omer, who had made profession at Clairvaux, but whom they made claim to as having been destined to their Abbey by the vow of his parents.

To his venerable father and friend, Alvisus, 1 by the grace of God, Bishop of Arras, Brother Bernard, called Abbot, health and the assurance of his poor prayers.

1. You have made a request of me on behalf of the Abbey of S. Bertin, which you love, and which I love too, and have loved from its foundation. Would that your Prudence had more carefully considered what it is that the venerable Abbot of that monastery asks; and what a thing it is, I do not say to do, but even to ask to be done? For I do not doubt that you would have blamed him as one who was doing a grave wrong, not only to us his friends, but to the man whose soul he seeks for: yea, and also against God, whose Providential counsels he seeks to alter. What my lord and father, could he persuade you, to make such a request as that, of your friend? God makes his voice heard from heaven by Thomas, bids him leave his country and his friends and his father’s house, and come to the place where He shall show him. Who am I that I should thwart the Spirit of God? What right have I to hinder Him, who calls His own sheep by name, who Himself leads them forth, so that they may follow Himself and no other? Thomas has chosen poverty; am I to send him back to riches and pleasures?

2. I am not ignorant that at S. Bertin the brethren are able to work out their salvation: let those whom God has called thither remain in that vocation in which they have been called. I know well where I have read: No man having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God (S. Luke ix. 62). For no reason whatever would I be willing to put a stumbling-block in the way of my dear son Thomas, or to grieve a soul which God has entrusted to me. And I am beyond measure astonished, that a prelate of such good judgment as yourself, should allow himself to be persuaded to make such a request of me. For I am tempted to reply, presuming on your friendship, as you know, as the Lord did to the sons of Zebedee: Ye know not what ye ask (S. Matt. xx. 22). But I reflect that my affection must not make me presume so far as to forget that I owe deference to the dignity of a Bishop.

3. Act then as you are accustomed to do: honour your function in this matter also, and bravely give assistance to those souls, the spouses of Christ, whom He has called to Him, that they may attain to enter in without hindrance or delay. Act I say, as the friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and rejoices greatly when he hears the Bridegroom’s voice: and as you are accustomed to help others, so help these, as not to smother (which God forbid) the inspiration of the Spirit, but to show yourself a faithful worker together with Him. For your Paternity may be 'quite sure of this: that [those souls] shall never fall from their profession at my advice or by my permission. For I know that I should myself sin, and should cause them to sin, should I either advise or permit them [to leave and go elsewhere]. Let them then fulfil the vows which have gone out of their lips. Let those beware who lend an ear to the teachers who say: Behold, here is Christ, or there is Christ. For it will behove them one day to give account before the tribunal of Christ of the vow they have made, and of which I am the witness.