“The first blow is half the battle.”
Oliver Goldsmith
Friday, August 21, 2020
Thursday, August 20, 2020
August 20, 2020
ST. BERNARD
IS A VERY INTERESTING CHARACTER TO KNOW A FEW THINGS ABOUT
The title of my thoughts and reflections is this: "St. Bernard Is a Very Interesting Character
to Know A Few Things About.”
So here are about a dozen comments about St. Bernard.
He wrote thousands of letters - with
a little help from secretaries.
He was born in what later on will be
France. His dates are 1090-1153.
He had a bad stomach ulcer they think –
for a good bit of his life.
He came from an elite family.
He was the third of seven children, six
of whom were boys.
He joined the Abbey of Cîteaux in his early 20’s with 30 other young men. In time a lot more young men joined because
of him – the result being they needed room so they were moved around a bit and were told to begin
new sites. Eventually his father also
joined – and his one sister became a nun after permission from her husband.
He had a brother who is listed as
Blessed and as Saint – Gerard of Clairvaux – dates about 1120 - 1177. He became abbot of Clairvaux. He was known as
a strict disciplinarian. Then while making a visitation of the abbey at Igny, he was murdered by Hugh, a monk, whom Gerard had threatened with disciplinary punishment.
Bernard was also known to be quite strict and quite caustic. In Butler's description of Bernard we read: "He was not afraid to expose wickedness and condemn stupidity in even the great and powerful - in cardinals, abbots, the members of the Curia - and meanness and narrow-mindedness in anyone. Though people often heeded his rebukes, some resented them." (page 195)
He wrote lots of stuff – especially about Mary. He’s not made a doctor of the church till 1830. Pius XII described him as the last of the fathers of the church on the 800th anniversary of his death.
Bernard was also known to be quite strict and quite caustic. In Butler's description of Bernard we read: "He was not afraid to expose wickedness and condemn stupidity in even the great and powerful - in cardinals, abbots, the members of the Curia - and meanness and narrow-mindedness in anyone. Though people often heeded his rebukes, some resented them." (page 195)
He wrote lots of stuff – especially about Mary. He’s not made a doctor of the church till 1830. Pius XII described him as the last of the fathers of the church on the 800th anniversary of his death.
He became involved in church
controversies – schisms, crusades, papal elections – 2 popes.
Cardinal Harmeric, on behalf of the pope, wrote Bernard a
sharp letter of criticism. It said, "It is not fitting that noisy and
troublesome frogs should come out of their marshes to trouble the Holy See and
the cardinals."
Bernard answered that letter by noting that he had assisted at the council, because he had been dragged to it by force.
Then Bernard added: “Now illustrious Harmeric - if you so wished, who would have been more capable of freeing me from the necessity of assisting at the council than yourself? Forbid those noisy troublesome frogs to come out of their holes, to leave their marshes .... Then your friend will no longer be exposed to the accusations of pride and presumption.”
Then Bernard added: “Now illustrious Harmeric - if you so wished, who would have been more capable of freeing me from the necessity of assisting at the council than yourself? Forbid those noisy troublesome frogs to come out of their holes, to leave their marshes .... Then your friend will no longer be exposed to the accusations of pride and presumption.”
He got into a big time argument and theological fight
with Peter Abelard. Abelard was rational
– Aristotelian – and logical. There was
name calling like “heretic” by Bernard. Abelard publicly challenged Bernard
to a debate. Bernard eventually said,
“Yes” but before the debate he went to those who would be making the judgment to get their support against Peter Abelard. Abelard left – saying, “It ain’t worth it.”
So that's just a few comments about Bernard. If I discover a well documented life of
Bernard, I’ll read it.
Thomas Cahill - in his book, Mysteries of the Middle Ages - which I just happened to finish today - tells us he gives a hasty caricature of Bernard. The one comment by Cahill that intrigues me is found in a footnote about Dante on page 305: "Similarly, he [Dante] places Bernard of Clairvaux in Heaven, whereas I would exclude him, despite his undoubted importance, on account of his insufferable self-righteousness. Dante knew far less than we do about the life (as opposed to the pious writing) of Bernard. Bernard had been canonized in 1174, almost a century before Dante was born; and Dante, despite his bad opinion of many popes, took with all seriousness the act of papal canonization. Dante's assignments to the afterlife are spot on whenever he actually knew someone (e.g. Boniface VIII) but less accurate for those he knew only by their medieval reputation."
Thomas Cahill - in his book, Mysteries of the Middle Ages - which I just happened to finish today - tells us he gives a hasty caricature of Bernard. The one comment by Cahill that intrigues me is found in a footnote about Dante on page 305: "Similarly, he [Dante] places Bernard of Clairvaux in Heaven, whereas I would exclude him, despite his undoubted importance, on account of his insufferable self-righteousness. Dante knew far less than we do about the life (as opposed to the pious writing) of Bernard. Bernard had been canonized in 1174, almost a century before Dante was born; and Dante, despite his bad opinion of many popes, took with all seriousness the act of papal canonization. Dante's assignments to the afterlife are spot on whenever he actually knew someone (e.g. Boniface VIII) but less accurate for those he knew only by their medieval reputation."
I wouldn't put anyone in hell - a sure way of gaining a reputation as a softie.
August 20, 2020
RED RUBY EARINGS
Nobody really noticed her red earrings –
that she wore the same ones –
every Tuesday evening for 14 straight years.
Her husband had bought them that Tuesday
– plus a love card – and even had written
some fluffy love stuff in that anniversary card.
He was going to take her out for dinner after she
picked him up at the airport on that Tuesday
evening to the place where he proposed years ago.
You know the rest of the story.
The suitcases in the hold were
the only things that survived the crash.
the only things that survived the crash.
© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
August 19, 2020
TORNADO WARNING
Till 10:30 AM there was a tornado warning.
We were told by phone to head for cover.
We were told to go below – to get out of
harm’s way, so most of those in the building
headed for safety – headed for the basement.
On the way down to a safe place, I stopped.
I was now on the first floor. I could look out
the windows. I could stop and watch the ocean.
The waves were like teenagers at a teen dance.
The water – the scenery - was sort of dark brown.
It’s now 11:30 AM – I’m back on the second floor.
Once more I’m looking out the window – at the
ocean. The water is still dark – but the air is
different. It’s white. It’s bright. It’s light. It’s
definitely a different day now. Different ….
© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
August 18, 2020
ABSTRACT PAINTINGS
I walked into a big room in an art museum.
I had seen a notice about this special exhibit.
It was filled with his paintings – all abstracts.
As I was looking at his paintings – I could
hear different comments – from different
couples – usually by the male – and she
would agree. “I could be rich!” Translation:
“I could do this.” I looked at each canvas –
not getting the titles or the meanings. Then
I walked into the next room – portraits, pears,
fields, weather – and I said to myself,
“Now these are paintings.” Wow, was I
surprised. They were by the same artist
in the room I had just left. Translation:
“I am poor. There are things I can’t do.”
© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020
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