The Life of Blessed Bernard of Tiron life of Blessed Bernard of Tiron

CHAPTER 6 He Was Made Abbot of Saint-Cyprien: He Turned from Persecution to Preaching. The Morals of the Clerics Were Reformed

CHAPTER 6 He Was Made Abbot of Saint-Cyprien: He Turned from Persecution to Preaching. The Morals of the Clerics Were Reformed 44. When four months had passed, Reginald fell into the grip ofa serious illness and took to his bed. Since the day ofhis death was approaching, the brothers gathered around him. They pleaded with him to deign to designate his successor, through revelation by the Holy Spirit, because he was an extremely learned man, adorned with the privileges of utmost holiness, innocence, and wisdom. Reginald said to them: ''Although it is not for me to rule on such a significant and special matter, nonetheless, because I fear your ruin, if you will believe me, as God is my witness , I can say in all conscience that I know ofno one holier than Bernard, a religious man restored to you by God a very short time ago, to be the worthy manager of the house." Since they all unanimously agreed to follow the advice of so great a Father, after he had discharged the debt of the human condition, they promptly installed the man he had designated as abbot and, as is customary, proceeded with the consecration ofthe unwilling and resisting man. 45. After assuming responsibility for pastoral care, Bernard took care to carry it out as worthily as if he were receiving this spiritual order once again, not by the prompting ofhis own will, but solely by the decision of the Divine Will. He tried not only to be seen as a teacher, but, since he outranked the others, he tried to outdo them in piety, and he tried to govern himself in all circumstances so that nothing slanderous concocted by Rumor could be heard of him. By its integrity, his life deprived his critics of opportunities, and his sound teaching could not be rehned by those who contradicted him. He was not ofthe number or kind ofpersons who lay the heavy burdens of a stricter life on their disciples although they will not touch them at all with their finger (Mt 23:4), but whatever he preached in words he adorned with morals and furnished with examples. Of course he had not come to this burden inexperienced in ruling, so that what from his youth he had learned by diligent training he proposed to others to perform, but not in haste or in hurried confusion. He did not exult because of an abundance of splendid things, or rejoice in his own renown, or aspire to honor, or revel in authority over others in the hidden meditations of his deliberations. He bewailed the honor he had been done and swiftly declined and fled from spoken praise. Many persons make it a habit to confer gifts upon their own trumpeters, and while they are extremely profuse to a few, withhold all help from the many. From this fault he was altogether free. He distributed to each as he knew each had need (Acts 4:35, RB 55=20).1 46. I am now free to describe at greater length the virtue which was his personal charm, and in setting forth this I call God to witness that I am no flatterer. I add nothing. I exaggerate nothing.2 As among many jewels the most precious shines most brightly, and as the sun with its beams obscures and puts out the paler fires of the stars, so by his humility (which is the first of Christian graces), he surpassed all others in virtue and influence and, while he was least among all, was greater than all.3 1. Jerome, "Ad Eustochium," 16, CSEL 55:327, no. lO8, beginning "Many persons ." 2. Ibid., 15, CSEL 55:325, no. lO8, beginning "I am now free." 3. Ibid., 3, CSEL 55:309, no. lO8, beginning "As among many jewels." S2 BERNARD MADE ABBOT OF SAINT-CYPRIEN For this reason he abased himself, so much so that one who had never seen him, and who on account of his celebrity had desired to see him, would have believed that he saw not him but the lowest of his disciples. When he was surrounded by companies of monks he was always the least remarkable in dress, in speech, in gesture, and in gait.4 He was slow to speak and quick to hear Gas 1:19), remembering the precept: Hear, 0 Israel (Dt 5=1) and be silent Gb 33:33, Dt 27...