You wish me to tell you why and how God should be loved. My answer is that God himself is the reason he is to be loved.
Saint BernardRead
Who is there that can adequately gauge the greatness of the humility, gentleness, self-surrender, revealed by the Lord of majesty in assuming human nature, in accepting the punishment of death, the shame of the cross?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the profound humility and sacrifice demonstrated by the divine in human form.
Saint Bernard highlights the immense humility and gentleness of the divine, particularly in the context of human suffering and sacrifice. By assuming human nature and enduring the punishment of death on the cross, the divine reveals a powerful example of self-surrender and love, prompting deep reflection on the nature of greatness and humility.
Themes
HumilitySacrificeGentlenessSelf-SurrenderGreatnessFaithDivine Love
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon discussing the nature of true greatness and service to others.
More from Saint Bernard
All quotes βGod removes the sin of the one who makes humble confession, and thereby the devil loses the sovereignty he had gained over the human heart.
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Christian, learn from Christ how you ought to love Christ. Learn a love that is tender, wise, strong; love with tenderness, not passion, wisdom, not foolishness, and strength, lest you become weary and turn away from the love of the Lord.
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There is a daily discussion with our servants about the price of food and the number of loaves: a conference with our presbyters to consider the sins of our people is a very rare occurrence.
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Even the holy men who lived before the coming of Christ understood that God had in mind plans of peace for the human race.
Saint BernardRead
The mind must first reflect upon itself in order that it may frame a rule of Justice, and not be inclined to do to another what it would not have done to itself, nor refuse to another what it desires for itself. These two assuredly comprise the whole sphere of Justice.
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