Bernard of Clairvaux, Theologian of the Cross by Anthony DNS Lane (review)

Anthony NS Lane, professor of historical theology at the London School of Theology, in this book explores how Bernard of Clairvaux would put the Cross in his theological reflection; the Cross central symbol of Christianity, but historical and theological critical space for the development of the first community of believers and of the Church itself. The author presents in this book, the whole concern to Bernardo for the intimate and vital participation of the believer to God’s love in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus, insists Bernard is before the “honey in the mouth, song to the ear, joy to the heart (mel in hours, auras melos, in iubilum strings).” Bernard does not tire of repeating that there is only one name that matters, that of Jesus of Nazareth. For Bernard, in fact, the true knowledge of God consists in a personal, profound experience of Jesus Christ and his love.

The book is divided into three distinct parts: the first Preliminaries, the second Key Passages, the third Teaching on the Cross. The third part (chapters 7–13), a careful reading, it appears to be the heart of the whole book; in this part the author expounds Bernard’s etching on the Cross: chapter 7 tackles some introductory topics, chapter 8 considers the upward aspect of Christ’s work. A consideration in chapter 9 of Christ’s work as victor over Satan and death includes Bernard’s teaching on the Godward aspect of Christ’s work, and the way in which the Cross puts us right with God. Chapter 11 considers objections to this teaching posed by Abelard and others. Chapter 12 explores a number of ways in which Bernard applies his doctrine of the Cross. Finally chapter 13 offers a concluding assessment of Bernard’s teaching on this topic.

The theology of Bernard is entirely centered on love, Christ’s love for humanity and the love that the man should pay tribute to Christ which, precisely through the Cross, gave the ultimate expression of his relationship of love with humanity. And this point is particularly thorough and pointed out by the author in chapter 8, where he speaks of the Cross as demonstration of Love (152). Bernard is best known for his opposition to Abelard’s subjective interpretation of the Cross as the way in which God changes us. For the author, Bernard wrote as much on the subjective effects of the Cross, as did Abelard, and much more eloquently. The difference between them (Bernard and Abelard) was that Bernard saw it as just one implication of the work of Christ on the Cross resisted any attempt to limit the meaning of the Cross to this alone. In the general structure of thinking about the Cross Bernard demonstrates the love of God the Father, and nowhere blackberries clearly seen in this than in the mystery of the incarnation and passion. The Cross also demonstrates the love of the Son. One of Bernard’s favorite biblical texts was John 15.13: there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend. In his theology of the Cross, Bernard states that Christ showed his love to us through the Cross.

The Cross is a sacrifice for sins to God offered by the Lamb of God, who shed His blood for us. He paid the debt we owed and bore the punishment that was due to us. The Cross is a satisfaction for our sins by the Father which is propitiated and placated. Through the Cross our relationship with God is restored. Bernard’s theology of the Cross (or teaching on the Cross) is, as the authors write, rich in imagery. It is an affective preached to scholastic theology rather than one. So, Bernard does bring his teaching into a coherent whole or, simply, leave us with a kaleidoscope of views and fragmentary texts concerning details of the doctrine. In this study is vindicated the claim of Jean Leclercq that Bernard’s...