Sermon by S. Bernard, Abbot: on S. Benedict's Birthday

Sermon by S. Bernard, Abbot: on S. Benedict's Birthday

YOU must hold fast, and honor with true delight, the most sweet name of our glorious father. Benedict. For he indeed is your Guide, your Master, and our Law-giver. May his holiness, his piety, his righteousness, be your refreshment. Blessed Benedict was a great and fruitful tree, like a tree planted by the water-side. Planted by the water-side he surely was, for he brought forth his fruit in due season. Of his fruits are those three virtues of which I spoke. holiness, piety, and righteousness. His holiness is proved by his miracles, his piety by his teaching, and his righteousness by his life.

BUT how am I to set before you his miracles? To make you desire to perform miracles? Far be it from me. Rather to stir up in you by his miracles a joyful confidence because such a shepherd has charge of you, because you have been counted worthy to have such a patron. Truly, most mighty in heaven is he, who proved so mighty here on earth, raised to a greatness of glory to match the greatness of the grace that was his. For we know that according to the roots the branches shoot forth, and we are told that a tree is adorned with just so many branches as it has roots beneath. Hence, though we perform no miracles ourselves, it is meet that we rejoice in those of our Patron.

HIS teaching instructs and guides our feet into the way of peace. His righteousness strengthens and inspires us. So, the more clearly we see that as he taught so he lived, the more are we forced to live as he taught. Good works are a speech living and active, making the spoken word more easy to hear, and the counsel more easy to practice. Thus, we are strengthened by his holiness, shaped by his piety, stablished by his righteousness. How great was the piety of him who not only aided the men of his time, but also made provision for the ages to come. Not only in its own day did this tree bear fruit, but still to-day its fruit grows and abides.

HE was clearly beloved of God and men. For not of only was his presence a benediction, like many who are beloved Of God alone, because known to God alone, but even now his memory is a benediction. Still to-day he feeds the Lord's flock by this threefold fruit, to confess threefold the love of God; by his life, his teaching, and his prayers. Wherefore, my beloved, ever aided by him, be ye also fruitful, for hereunto were ye appointed, that ye should go and bear fruit.