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Sermons on Conversion (Volume 25)
The burgundian reformer abbot draws a picture of the perfect frontier bishop, and holds him up as a model for bishops everywhere. Conversion is used here not in the modern sense of transferring from on ecclesiastical body to another, but in the patristic and monastic sense of metanoia, turning one's entire being wholly to God.
- GenresReligion
282 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1981
22 people want to read
About the author
Bernard of Clairvaux
543 books117 followersborn 1090
Piety and mysticism of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux as widely known instrumental French monastic reformer and political figure condemned Peter Abélard and rallied support for the second Crusade.
This doctor of the Church, an abbot, primarily built the Cistercian order. After the death of mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order in 1112. Three years later, people sent Bernard found a new house, named Claire Vallée, "of Clairvaux," on 25 June 1115. Bernard preached that the Virgin Mary interceded in an immediate faith.
In 1128, Bernard assisted at the council of Troyes and traced the outlines of the rule of the Knights Templar, who quickly the ideal of Christian nobility.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard...
Piety and mysticism of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux as widely known instrumental French monastic reformer and political figure condemned Peter Abélard and rallied support for the second Crusade.
This doctor of the Church, an abbot, primarily built the Cistercian order. After the death of mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order in 1112. Three years later, people sent Bernard found a new house, named Claire Vallée, "of Clairvaux," on 25 June 1115. Bernard preached that the Virgin Mary interceded in an immediate faith.
In 1128, Bernard assisted at the council of Troyes and traced the outlines of the rule of the Knights Templar, who quickly the ideal of Christian nobility.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard...
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March 31, 2019Among other things, wildly accurate and helpful re: the spiritual impact of anxiety disorders.
December 29, 2014
Only read the sermons on conversion. It brings about a lot of introspection on several things, but mostly the beatitudes.
September 14, 2017
This is a work that includes both Bernard's sermon to fellow clerics in Paris as well as a collection of sermons for Lent that goes through Psalm 91. As with all the works of Bernard of Clairvaux I'm torn. On the one hand it is interesting to see how themes of the Bible have been taught in ages past. To get a taste of how sermons were presented during that time or at least by Bernard himself. Bernard also clearly loves scripture and half the time it feels that 1/2 to 3/4 of his sermons are just Bible quotations.
However, at the same time I can't really say that I enjoy reading Bernard's work. The way he approaches scripture is a way I just don't find helpful. This was particularly with how he went through Psalm 91. He takes a little passage and just goes to town with it. Sometimes his focus is a rambles a little, but they're understandable conclusions, but other times; like the ideas of the asp, basilisk, dragon, and lion all referring to different vices; are just kind of out there. Also while Bernard clearly loves alluding to Scripture sometimes it feels like he's in a contest to try to string as many allusions together no matter if it really makes that much sense or not.
Again like much of his work that I've read. It's interesting for the historical and sometimes the basic thrust of his arguments, but always seems to get bogged down by allegorical connections that are a little questionable and trying to connect a few too many images from the Bible together in ways that didn't really work, at least for me.
However, at the same time I can't really say that I enjoy reading Bernard's work. The way he approaches scripture is a way I just don't find helpful. This was particularly with how he went through Psalm 91. He takes a little passage and just goes to town with it. Sometimes his focus is a rambles a little, but they're understandable conclusions, but other times; like the ideas of the asp, basilisk, dragon, and lion all referring to different vices; are just kind of out there. Also while Bernard clearly loves alluding to Scripture sometimes it feels like he's in a contest to try to string as many allusions together no matter if it really makes that much sense or not.
Again like much of his work that I've read. It's interesting for the historical and sometimes the basic thrust of his arguments, but always seems to get bogged down by allegorical connections that are a little questionable and trying to connect a few too many images from the Bible together in ways that didn't really work, at least for me.
November 14, 2015
I was originally under the impression with the books title that the sermons on conversion where going to be centered around the benedictine vow of conversion, that is being daily more converted unto Christ because the author was one of the greatest benedictine reformers. Instead the homilies on conversion are directed at turning from a life of sin to one of repentance and holy living.
The introduction to the sermons is very helpful at understanding where the translations come from and who the intended audience once. St. Bernard went out of his way to preach this sermons in Paris to clerics whom he strongly rebukes during the homilies. St. Bernard lists impurity, ambition, greed and even goes as far as to say "If only those today who are not shepherds would at least show themselves hirelings and not wolves. If only they would not devour [the sheep]." The homilies are a practical call to penance, and are vivid and down to earth when describing how the flesh will rebel against new discipline and repentance.
The sermons on conversion are the smallest part of the book, the larger part of the book is a collection of homilies on Psalm 91, which St. Bernard gave to his own community during the lenten season. There is much that could be said about the depth of these 17 homilies that vary in length and they are appropriate companion to the sermons on conversion. The book also contains a wonderful index and scriptural index which make it handy for a reference.
"Yet not only this but, as I have expressly said, let us glory in tribulation, for in it lies the hope of glory." The homilies of the book illustrate that even at the height of Christendom God still allowed the good and wicked to grow in the same field, and that their was never a time where a person might find their salvation secure even with the greater state and cultural support of the Church. If you are looking for a book that calls the reader to penance with an author of delightful wit and is filled with vivid imagery and citations of scripture you will enjoy this book.
The introduction to the sermons is very helpful at understanding where the translations come from and who the intended audience once. St. Bernard went out of his way to preach this sermons in Paris to clerics whom he strongly rebukes during the homilies. St. Bernard lists impurity, ambition, greed and even goes as far as to say "If only those today who are not shepherds would at least show themselves hirelings and not wolves. If only they would not devour [the sheep]." The homilies are a practical call to penance, and are vivid and down to earth when describing how the flesh will rebel against new discipline and repentance.
The sermons on conversion are the smallest part of the book, the larger part of the book is a collection of homilies on Psalm 91, which St. Bernard gave to his own community during the lenten season. There is much that could be said about the depth of these 17 homilies that vary in length and they are appropriate companion to the sermons on conversion. The book also contains a wonderful index and scriptural index which make it handy for a reference.
"Yet not only this but, as I have expressly said, let us glory in tribulation, for in it lies the hope of glory." The homilies of the book illustrate that even at the height of Christendom God still allowed the good and wicked to grow in the same field, and that their was never a time where a person might find their salvation secure even with the greater state and cultural support of the Church. If you are looking for a book that calls the reader to penance with an author of delightful wit and is filled with vivid imagery and citations of scripture you will enjoy this book.
September 18, 2024
It's a little tricky to read at points but really helpful. Very good at describing the harm our sin does and the joy that God gives.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews