Directing Deeds

Felix, cujus cogitatio, hoc est verbum nostrum, omnes actiones suas ad justitiam dirigit, ut et intentio sana sit, et operatio recta. Felix, qui passiones corporis sui propter justitiam ordinat, ut quidquid patitur, propter Dei Filium patiatur: quatenus et a corde tollatur murmuratio, et in ore versetur gratiarum actio, et vox laudis. Qui sic extulit se, iste tollit grabatum suum, et vadit in domum suam. Grabatum nostrum corpus est, in quo prius languidi jacebamus servientes desideriis et concupiscentiis nostris. Nunc vero portamus illud, cum spiritui obedire cogimur: et mortuum nostrum portamus, quia corpus mortuum est propter peccatum. Ambulamus tamen, non currimus; quia corpus quod corrumpitur aggravat animam, et deprimit terrena inhabitatio sensum multa cogitantem. Ambulamus etiam in domum nostram. In quam domum? In matrem omnium, quia sepulcra eorum domus illorum in aeternum. Vel potius in domum nostram, quam habemus ex Deo non manufactam, aeternam in coelis. Qui sub hoc onere ambulamus, posito eo, quid putatis quomodo curremus? quomodo volabimus? Plane super pennas ventorum. Amplexatus est nos Dominus Jesus per laborem et dolorem nostrum: amplectamur cum nos quoque vicariis quibusdam amplexibus propter justitiam et ad justitiam suam, actiones ad justitiam dirigendo, passiones propter justitiam sustinendo. Dicamus quoque cum sponsa: Tenui eum, nec dimittam. Dicamus etiam cum patriarcha: Non dimittam te, nisi benedixeris mihi Quid enim jam superest, nisi benedictio? Quid post amplexum, nisi osculum restat? Si sic adhaererem Deo, quomodo non jam exclamare liberet: Osculetur me osculo oris sui? Ciba nos interim, Domine, lacrymarum pane, et potum da nobis in lacrymis in mensura: donec perducas nos ad mensuram bonam, et confertam, et coagitatam, quam dabis in sinus nostros, qui es in sinu Patris super omnia benedictus Deus in saecula. Amen. Sanctus Bernardus Clarae Vallensis, Sermones De Tempore, De passione Domini Source: Migne PL 183.270a-d

Happy the one whose thought, that is, our word, directs all his deeds to righteousness, with a healthy intention and upright action. Happy the one who on account of righteousness disciplines the passions of the body, so that whatever is suffered, is suffered for the sake of the Son of God. As much as there may be murmuring in our hearts, let there be thanksgiving in the mouth and the voice of praise. He who lifts himself up, he takes up his pallet, and he goes off to his own house. 1 Our body is the pallet on which we have languished, cast down by the service of our desires and lusts. Now, however, let us carry it, when we are driven to obey the spirit, and let us carry our death, because the body is dead on account of sin. But let us walk and not run, 'Because the body which is corrupted lies heavy on the soul, and a worldly habitation weighs down the sense of many thoughts.' 2 Let us indeed walk to our own house; but to which house? To the mother of us all, because their tombs are their houses forever? 3 Or rather to our house which we have from God, not made, but eternal in heaven. 4 Since we walk beneath this weight, since we are so placed, how do you think we shall run? How shall we fly? Certainly on the wings of the winds. 5 The Lord has embraced us through our labour and our sorrow. We are embraced when we also embrace our neighbour in the way of righteousness and for his righteousness, with our actions directed by righteousness, and suffering because of righteousness. Let us also say with the bride. 'I have held him, I will not let go.' 6 Let us say with the patriarch, 'I shall not go until you have blessed me.' 7 What then is left but to be blessed? What remains after the embrace but a kiss? If I adhere so to God, how shall it not be possible to cry out even now, 'That he kiss me with the kisses of is mouth?'8 Meanwhile for us, O Lord, is the bread of tears, the drink of weeping, given to us in measures, until you lead us to a good portion, gathered up, set together, which you shall pour out into our laps, you who are in the lap of the Father, over all things blessed God forever. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons For The Year, On the Lord's Passion 1 Mt 9.2-7 2 Wisd 9.15 3 Ps 48.12 4 2 Cor 5.1 5 Ps 17.11 6 Song 3.4 7 Gen 32.36 7 Song 1.1