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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240918
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DTSTAMP:20260427T090344
CREATED:20240915T104012Z
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UID:12526-1726617600-1726703999@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:THE CHURCH AND ITS MINISTERS \nFrom a sermon by St Bernard of Clairvaux1 \n◊◊◊ \n“Our bed is covered with flowers; the beams of our houses are of cedar\, \nthe paneling of cypress.” She is singing her marriage-song\, describing in \nbeautiful language the marriage bed and bridal suite. She invites the \nbridegroom to repose: for the better thing is to remain at ease and be with \nChrist; but necessity drives one forth to help those who are to be saved. So now \nwhen she feels that the opportunity presents itself\, she announces that the \nbridal suite has been furnished\, and pointing to the bed with her finger she \ninvited…the Beloved to rest there. Like the disciples on the way to Emmaus she \ncannot contain the ardor in her heart\, but entices him to be the guest of her soul\, \ncompels him to spend the night with her. With Peter she says: “Lord it is good \nfor us to be here.” \nLet us now seek the spiritual content of these words. And indeed\, in the \nChurch the ‘bed’ where one reposes is\, in my opinion\, the cloisters and \nmonasteries\, where one lives undisturbed by the cares of the world and the \nanxieties of life. This bed is seen to be adorned with flowers when the conduct \nand life of the brothers brightly reflect the examples and rules of the Fathers\, as \nif strewn with sweet smelling flowers. By ‘houses’ understand the ordinary \ncommunities of Christians. Those who enjoy high office\, the Christian leaders \nof both orders\, strongly bind them together with laws justly imposed\, as beams \nbind the walls\, lest living by their own law and will\, they should fall apart from \neach other like tilting walls and tottering fences\, and thus the whole building \nfall to the ground and be destroyed. The paneling however\, which is firmly \nattached to the beams\, and impressively adds to the beauty of the house\, seems \nto me to designate the courteous and disciplined behavior of a well-trained \nclergy\, who carry out their duties correctly. For how shall the clerical orders9 \nstand and fulfill their duties unless they are sustained\, as by beams\, by the \nbeneficence and munificence of those who govern and protect by their power? \nSince the beams are described as cedar and the paneling as cypress\, these \ntimbers must possess natural properties that liken them to the aforesaid orders. \nThe cedar\, an incorruptible and fragrant wood of great height\, sufficiently \nindicates the qualities of the men who ought to be selected for the role of beams. \nHence it is necessary that those who are appointed over others should be strong \nand reliable\, tenacious in hope\, their mind directed to supernatural truths\, \nradiating everywhere the good odor of their faith and conduct. With the Apostle \nthey can say: We are the incense offered by Christ to God in every place. The \ncypress too\, a wood that is equally incorruptible and fragrant\, shows that every \ncleric ought to be of unblemished life and faith\, that he may be seen as an \nornamental paneling for the beauty of the house. For it is written: “Holiness \nbefits your house\, O Lord\, for evermore\,” which expresses both the beauty of \nvirtue and the constancy of unfailing grace. It is necessary therefore that the \nman who is chosen for the adornment and beauty of the house should have an \nexcellent moral character\, and though living always within\, nevertheless be well \nthought of by those outside.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-218/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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