I do a great wrong in His sight, when I beseech Him that He will hear my prayer, which as I give utterance to it, I do not hear myself. I entreat Him that He will think of me; but I regard neither myself nor Him. Nay, what is worse, turning over corrupt and evil thoughts in mine heart, I thrust a dreadful offensiveness into His presence.

Bernard of Clairvaux

Categorized in : Thinking Heart Prayer

There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge; that is curiosity. There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; that is vanity. There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; that is Love.

Bernard of Clairvaux

vanity inspirational life

We find rest in those we love, and we provide a resting place in ourselves for those who love us.

Bernard of Clairvaux

engagement love relationship

The three most important virtues are humility, humility, and humility.

Bernard of Clairvaux

three important humility

The measure of love is love without measure.

Bernard of Clairvaux

love-is inspirational love

If then you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than as a canal. For a canal spreads abroad water as it receives it, but a reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing, and thus communicates, without loss to itself, its superabundant water. In the Church at the present day, we have many canals, few reservoirs.

Bernard of Clairvaux

wise loss water

What we love we shall grow to resemble.

Bernard of Clairvaux

grows creative love

Spiritual life is like living water that springs up from the very depths of our own spiritual experience. In spiritual life everyone has to drink from his or her own well.

Bernard of Clairvaux

spiritual spring water

With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.

Bernard of Clairvaux

christian heart fall

there are four degrees of love: 1) Love of self for self's sake. 2) Love of God for self's sake. 3) Love of God for God's own sake. 4) Love of self for God's sake.

Bernard of Clairvaux

soul self heart

Jesus to me is honey in the mouth, music in the ear, a song in the heart.

Bernard of Clairvaux

heart song jesus

Love seeks no cause beyond itself and no fruit; it is its own fruit, its own enjoyment. I love because I love; I love in order that I may love.

Bernard of Clairvaux

may love order

Let us not imagine that we obscure the glory of the Son by the great praise we lavish on the Mother; for the more she is honored, the greater is the glory of her Son. There can be no doubt that whatever we say in praise of the Mother gives equal praise to the Son.

Bernard of Clairvaux

christian mother son

You wish to see; listen. Hearing is a step toward Vision.

Bernard of Clairvaux

vision wish listening

Jesus, thou joy of loving hearts, Thou fount of life, thou Light of men, From the best bliss that earth imparts We turn unfilled to Thee again. We taste Thee, O Thou living Bread, And long to feast upon Thee still: We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead, And thirst our souls from Thee to fill. O Jesus, ever with us stay, Make all our moments calm and bright; Chase the dark night of sin away, Shed o'er the world Thy holy light.

Bernard of Clairvaux

heart life jesus

Ingratitude is the soul's enemy... Ingratitude is a burning wind that dries up the source of love, the dew of mercy, the streams of grace.

Bernard of Clairvaux

soul grace wind

The rivers of Grace cannot flow uphill, up the steep cliff of the proud man's heart.

Bernard of Clairvaux

heart rivers men

When God forgives a sinner who humbly confesses his sin, the devil loses his dominion over the heart he had taken.

Bernard of Clairvaux

forgiving taken heart

Action and contemplation are very close companions; they live together in one house on equal terms. Martha and Mary are sisters.

Bernard of Clairvaux

catholic together house

Learn the lesson that, if you are to do the work of a prophet, what you need is not a sceptre but a hoe.

Bernard of Clairvaux

hoe lessons needs

Expect much of God, and he will do much for you.

Bernard of Clairvaux