Letter CDLXXIII. To the Archbishop of Treves

To the venerable lord and very dear father AIbero, by the Grace of God, Archbishop of Treves and legate of the Apostolic See, Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, wishes health, and that he may find grace before God.

You comply with my wishes if I seek those things which are my own: hpw much more ought you to do so, if I seek not my own advantage, but that of Jesus Christ! but those things which are Christ’s are mine also, for He is our Brother and our flesh. And my [salvation] is in the mercy of Christ, who bore my injuries unto death, even the death of the Cross. The servant is not greater than his Lord. I consider no part of His reproach as alien to me, since He on my account, was made the reproach of men and the offscouring of the people. I lament His condition, who lamented mine, and gave up His own self for me.

God has sent women into your heritage: they have polluted your holy temple: I speak of the Church of S. Maur at Verdun. Lo! the heritage of the Lord, the very heritage, itself a temple, but a temple polluted, is violated by a double sacrilege. They have withdrawn that which is sacred from its sacred place: that is, they have alienated their own selves from Christ. Holiness becomes Thy House, O Lord; but the House of Prayer has been turned into a den of thieves and of fornication. The place of the habitation of Thy glory, has become a lair for dragons: and no man lays this to heart. Is this then pleasing to you, that God should suffer the loss of His heritage in your diocese and in your time? Do you then render to 21 1 Him evil for good? God has exalted you above your companions: stand up in defence of that which is His. If you say, How does the matter concern me? in what way do you profit by that opinion? for without doubt he is blameable for an evil action who is able to correct it, and neglects to do so. The Virgin of Israel has fallen to the earth: but cannot one who falls be helped to rise again? Put on a kindly willingness: stretch forth your hand; if you are the friend of the Bridegroom, draw forth the Bride of Christ from the abyss of misery, and the mire of pollution. Use your influence by letters with these people that they may acquiesce in the election which has been made by those to whom the election was entrusted to be carried out, for otherwise there will be confusion both as to the person elected, and as to those by whom the election was made, and to the whole Church of Rheims whose daughter it is. Otherwise if you do not influence them by your threats and entreaties, I assure you that your reputation will be in great danger in these parts. But I do not venture to judge of your conscience. May the Spirit of Truth teach you to discover the evil and to choose the good.