You must reach for the knife of mortification often, even again and again, for weeds keep growing back. You deceive yourself if you think your faults are dead forever!

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153), Abt

Topics: Temptation & Struggle, Growth & Character

Occasions: For Reflection

Bernard of Clairvaux

Bernhard von Clairvaux (1090–1153) war ein französischer Mönch, Theologe und ab 1115 der erste Abt des Zisterzienserklosters Clairvaux. Er steht für eine christuszentrierte Mystik der Gottesliebe und die Erneuerung des Mönchtums, zog jedoch durch seinen Aufruf zum Zweiten Kreuzzug und sein polemisches Vorgehen gegen Denker wie Peter Abaelard schwere Kritik auf sich. Für heutige Bibelleser sind vor allem seine Schriften zur Gnade und seine Auslegungen des Hohenlieds von Bedeutung, die über Konfessionsgrenzen hinweg rezipiert werden.

All quotes by Bernard of Clairvaux (24)

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