Third Epistle to St. Malachy

The bearers of this epistle were probably the two monks of whom it makes mention, Christian and Robert. Christian was an Irishman, born, according to Hartry, between Lismore and Dungarvan. He was one of the four disciples left by Malachy at Clairvaux, where he had as fellow-novice him who was afterwards known as Pope Eugenius III. As it was designed to make him abbot of the Irish foundation, he needed to be more fully instructed than the others in the observances of the Order, hence he remained longer at the feet of St. Bernard. He afterwards became Bishop of Lismore and Apostolic Legate in Ireland. But before his death he resigned all his dignities, and lived as a simple monk in the abbey of Odorney, Co. Kerry, where he died in the odour of sanctity about the year 1186. This epistle was written in 1142.—Translator.

To his most loving father and most reverend lord, Malachy, by the grace of God Bishop and Legate of the Holy and Apostolic See, Brother Bernard, styled Abbot of Clairvaux, wishes health, and promises the benefit of his humble prayers.

“How sweet are thy words to my palate” (Ps. cxviii. 103), my beloved lord and father ! how delightful to my soul is the very thought of thee! If there beany capacity of tenderness in me, any power of devotion, any force of spiritual affection, be sure my dearest friend, that my love of thee claims and appropriates it all. But there is no necessity to multiply words where feelings are so manifest. For I am confident that the Spirit Whom thou hast from God giveth testimony to thine own spirit (Rom. viii. 16) that all that I am, little though it be, is unreservedly thine. And thou, on thy side, O father most loving and most beloved, “ deliver not up to (oblivion) the soul of the poor man ” (Ps. lxxiii. 19), which is united to thee by the bonds of tenderest affection, “ and forget not for ever the soul of thy poor servant” (ibid.). I do not 460 now as for the first time commend myself to thy love, since for many years I have rejoiced in the Lord that my littleness has found favour in the eyes of thy holiness : I only pray that thine old love for me may wax stronger and stronger, daily advancing to new degrees. I commend to thee my children, yea, thy children also, and that all the more earnestly because they are so far distant. Thou knowest that, after God, I sent them with fullest confidence in thee, because I felt certain I should be doing wrong in not complying with thy wishes. Deal with them, therefore, as becomes thee : embrace them and cherish them with all the tenderness of sincere charity. Let nothing whatever cause thee at any time to lessen thy zeal and solicitude in their regard, lest that should perish “which thy right hand hath planted” (Ps. lxxix. 16).

I learn from thine epistle and also from the account brought back to me by my own religious that the new foundation is making good progress, and is prospering both materially and spiritually. On this I congratulate thee with my whole heart, and I render my most grateful acknowledgments to the Divine Goodness and to thy paternal solicitude. But, holy father, there is still great need of thy watchful attention with regard to this community, which is yet young, and moreover is established in a country unfamiliar, or rather altogether unacquainted with the monastic life. Therefore I beseech thee in the Lord not to withdraw thy hand but to carry forward to full perfection the work thou hast so well begun (Phil. i. 6). As for those monks of mine who have returned from Ireland, I should have been better pleased with them had they remained. But perchance they found some excuse for thus retracing their steps in the less disciplined manners of the native Irish brethren, and particularly in the unwillingness they showed to take advice concerning matters whereof they had until the present no experience at all.

I have sent to thee my most dear son Christian— who is thy son also—instructed as fully as possible in all that appertains to our Order, and as I trust, determined to show himself for the future still more exact than heretofore in carrying out its observances. Be not surprised that I have not sent a number of religious with him. The reason is this, that I was not able to find many suitable persons who were willing to go, and I did not judge it wise to compel the reluctant. But my best-beloved son Robert * consented to my prayers on the present occasion also, as a true child of obedience. Let it be thy care, holy father, to co-operate with him in his labours, so that the monastery thou hast founded may be quickly provided with the full complement of buildings and other necessaries. One more suggestion I will offer to thy paternity. It is that thou wouldst use thine influence to persuade men of exemplary life and such as may be expected to prove worthy religious to enter the community. People will readily follow thy counsel, and thus shalt thou promote most effectually the interests of the house. Farewell, holy father, and remember me in Christ.

EPISTLE TO THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES