Bernard of Clairvaux
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.Collection: Inspirational
God will either give us what we ask, or what He knows to be better for us.Collection: Giving
The three most important virtues are humility, humility, and humility.Collection: Humility
The measure of love is love without measure.Collection: 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.Collection: Wise
What we love we shall grow to resemble.Collection: Love
We find rest in those we love, and we provide a resting place in ourselves for those who love us.Collection: Love
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.Collection: Wind
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.Collection: Christian
Jesus to me is honey in the mouth, music in the ear, a song in the heart.Collection: Song
O Blessed Mary, whoever loves you honors God; whoever serves you pleases God; whoever invokes your holy name with a pure heart will infallibly receive the object of his petition.Collection: Blessed
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.Collection: Heart
Wherever...thou shalt be, pray secretly within thyself. If thou shalt be far from a house of prayer, give not thyself trouble to seek for one, for thou thyself art a sanctuary designed for prayer. If thou shalt be in bed, or in any other place, pray there; thy temple is there.Collection: Christian
Action and contemplation are very close companions; they live together in one house on equal terms. Martha and Mary are sisters.Collection: House
God will become visible as God's image is reborn in you.Collection: Spirituality
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.Collection: Spiritual
You wish to see; listen. Hearing is a step toward Vision.Collection: Listening
All things are possible to one who believes.Collection: Believe
He rightly reads scripture who turns words into deeds.Collection: Hypocrisy
The rivers of Grace cannot flow uphill, up the steep cliff of the proud man's heart.Collection: Heart
The piercing nail has become a key to unlock the door, that I may see the good will of the Lord. And what can I see as I look through the hole? Both the nail and the wound cry out that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself... Through these sacred wounds we can see the secret of his heart, the great mystery of love.Collection: Faith
Inordinate love for the flesh is cruelty, because under the appearance of pleasing the body, we kill the soul.Collection: Soul
The true measure of loving God is to love him without measure.Collection: Religious
Learn the lesson that, if you are to do the work of a prophet, what you need is not a sceptre but a hoe.Collection: Hoe
Among us on the earth there is His memory; but in the Kingdom of heaven His very Presence. That Presence is the joy of those who have already attained to beatitude; the memory is the comfort of us who are still wayfarers, journeying towards the Fatherland.Collection: Memories
Our King [Jesus] is accused of treachery; it is said of him [by the Muslims] that he is not God, but that he falsely pretended to be something he was not.Collection: Jesus
Prostrate, see Thy cross I grasp,And Thy pierced feet I clasp;Gracious Jesus, spurn me not;On me, with compassion fraught,Let Thy glances fall.Thy cross of agony,My Beloved, look on me;Turn me wholly unto Thee;"Be thou whole," say openly:"I forgive thee all.Collection: Jesus
Understanding is the sure and clear knowledge of some invisible thing.Collection: Understanding
What does God hate or punish except self-will? Let self-will cease, and there will be no hell. On what does that fire feed except on self-will?Collection: Hate
Persecution shows who is a hireling, and who a true pastor.Collection: Catholic
So far from being able to answer for my sins, I cannot even answer for my righteousness!Collection: Answers
Do what Jesus says... what he commands through his ministers who are in the Church [see 1 Cor 6:4]. Be subject to his vicars, your leaders, not only those who are gentle and kind, but even those who are overbearing [see 1 Pt 2:18].Collection: Jesus
How beautiful then is modesty and what a gem among virtues it is.Collection: Beautiful
Vines and trees will teach you that which you will never learn from masters.Collection: Learning
"My burden is light," said the blessed Redeemer, a light burden indeed, which carries him that bears it. I have looked through all nature for a resemblance of this, and seem to find a shadow of it in the wings of a bird, which are indeed borne by the creature, and yet support her flight towards heaven.Collection: Blessed
Believe one who has tried, you shall find a fuller satisfaction in the woods than in the books. The trees and the rocks will teach you that which you cannot hear from the masters.Collection: Nature
There are three distinct comings of the Lord of which I know: His coming to men, His coming into men, and His coming against men.Collection: Men
Thus understanding and love, that is, the knowledge of and delight in the truth, are, as it were, the two arms of the soul, with which it embraces and comprehends with all the saints the length and breath, the height and depth, that is the eternity, the love, the goodness, and the wisdom of God.Collection: Two
A truly obedient man does not discriminate between one thing and another, since his only aim is to execute faithfully whatever may be assigned to him.Collection: Men
For I have learnt for a fact that nothing so effectively obtains, retains and regains grace, as that we should always be found not high-minded before God, but filled with holy fear.Collection: Grace
Jesus, what made You so small? LOVE!Collection: Jesus
Have death always before your eyes as a salutary means of returning to God.Collection: Mean
Nothing can work me damage except myself. The harm that I sustain I carry about with me, and never am a real sufferer but by my own fault.Collection: Inspirational
Therefore gird yourselves manfully and take up joyful arms for the name of God.Collection: Names
Let us affectionately love His angels as counselors and defenders appointed by the Father and placed over us. They are faithful; they are prudent; they are powerful; Let us only follow them, let us remain close to them, and in the protection of the God of heaven let us abide.Collection: Powerful
Humility in furs is better than pride in tunics.Collection: Humility
Let us then cast ourselves at the feet of this good Mother, and embracing them let us not depart until she blesses us, and accepts us for her children.Collection: Mother
Prayer is a wine which makes glad the heart of manCollection: Christian
A pretext is never lacking to him who would break with a friend.Collection: Friendship
Obey your bishop! "Obey those set over you [Heb 13:17]," the teachers of the Church... I remind you, my dear friends, of what I said when I was with you: do not receive any outside or unknown preacher, unless he be sent by your bishop or preaches with the permission of the pope. For "how shall they preach unless they are sent [Rom 10:15]?"Collection: Teacher