Sermons of St. Bernard on Advent & Christmas: Including the Famous Treatise on the Incarnation Called “Missus Est”

by Bernard of Clairvaux

Publishers:

R. & T. Washbourne; Benziger Brothers

, 1909

Overview

These 19 sermons, originally given in Latin at the Chapter-house at Clairvaux, all relate to the mysteries of Advent and Christmas. John Cuthbert Hedley, the bishop of Newport from 1881–1915, provides and introduction to these illuminating sermons.

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Key Features

• Offers 19 sermons from this Doctor of the Church on the mysteries of Advent and Christmas
• Contains an introduction by bishop Hedley of Newport
• Provides insight into the Middle Ages

Contents

Top Highlights

“Do you, therefore, to whom as to little ones God has revealed things hidden from the wise and prudent, turn your thoughts with earnestness to those that are truly desirable, and diligently meditate on this coming of our Lord.² Consider Who He is that comes, whence He comes, to whom He comes, for what end He comes, when He comes, and in what manner He comes. This is undoubtedly a most useful and praiseworthy curiosity, for the Church would not so devoutly celebrate the season of Advent if there were not some great mystery hidden therein.” (Page 4)

“I still further desire to know why He should come to us, and not we rather go to Him, for the need was on our side, and it is not usual for the rich to go to the poor, though otherwise willing to assist them. It was indeed our place to go forward to Him, but there stood a twofold impediment in the way; for our eyes were heavy, and He ‘dwelt in light inaccessible.’ We lay as paralytics on our beds, and could not raise ourselves to the Divine elevation. Wherefore this most benign Saviour and Physician of souls descended to us from His lofty throne, and tempered His brightness to the weakness of our sight. He clothed Himself with His most glorious and spotless body as with the shade of a lantern, thus attempering to us His splendour.” (Page 11)

“‘The devil is a liar and the father of lies.’³ He was a liar in saying, ‘I will be like unto the Most High,’^{4” (Page 6)}

“Virginity is a commendable virtue, but humility an indispensable one.” (Page 28)

“Again, we can be saved without virginity, not without humility. A soul that has to deplore the loss of virginity may still be acceptable to God by humility: without humility, I will venture to say that even the virginity of Mary would not have been pleasing to Him, the Divine Majesty.” (Page 29)

Product Details

• Title: Sermons of St. Bernard on Advent & Christmas: Including the Famous Treatise on the Incarnation Called “Missus Est”
• Author: Bernard of Clairvaux
• Publisher: R. & T. Washbourne
• Publication Date: 1909
• Pages: 166
• Christian Group: Catholic
• Resource Type: Sermons
• Topic: Medieval Church

About Bernard of Clairvaux

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) was a French abbot, confessor, saint, and Doctor of the Church. He is honored as a founder of the Cistercian order because of his role in popularizing the order in the twelfth century. He takes his name from a monastery he founded on June 25, 1115—soon after joining the Cistercians. He named the monastery Claire Vallée, which evolved into Clairvaux. St. Bernard spent 40 years in cloister, but wielded considerable influence in the Church during that time—working to end a schism, combat heresy, and start the Second Crusade. After his death, he was canonized by Pope Alexander III in 1174. His numerous theological writings are so timeless and powerful that they earned him the title of Doctor of the Church in 1830, and Pope Pius XII wrote an encyclical on him, Doctor Mellifluus, in 1953.