Letter CDIV. To Albert, a Recluse

[Formerly No. 345].

He advises him to take food only once in the day; and not to permit women to enter his cell.

Brother Bernard of Clairvaux, to Brother Albert, a recluse, health and prayer that he ma^ be enabled to fight the good fight.

You ask me to sanction I know not what kind of fast, of which you had spoken to me within your cell; and also that you may have conversations with women, which if you remember, I expressly forbade; and you say that because of your extreme poverty, you cannot avoid these. I do not wish to arrogate to myself any authority over you. I gave you a counsel, not a precept: to eat only once in the day; not to admit at all the visits and conversation of women; to maintain yourself by the work of your own hands; and many other things which it would take too long to remind you of. If you foresaw that you would not be able to supply needs so costly as yours, you should not have attempted what you cannot carry out. The advice I gave I thought safe for you; you are not obliged to follow it: but I have nothing to change in it. Farewell.