Last Words of Bernard
May 17th, 2010 by J.W.M.
When I studied medieval church history, my professor read to our class the dying words of Bernard of Clairvaux. A recent conversation provoked me to seek out the exact citation, which my professor graciously provided to me today. I include it here in full:
When [Bernard] appeared to be drawing his last breath, as his mental powers failed, he seemed to be presenting himself before the tribunal of his Lord. But there was also present over against him Satan, assailing him with wicked accusations. But when he had said his say, the man of God also had to speak on his part. Undaunted and unperturbed, he said: “I confess that I am not worthy and that I cannot obtain the kingdom of heaven through my own merits. However, my Lord is obtaining it with a twofold right, namely, through the inheritance of the Father and by the merit of His suffering; with the one He is content, and the other He gives to me; because of this gift, since He vindicates this to me by right, I am not disturbed.” By this word the enemy was routed, etc.
The above citation is from Life of Bernard, ch. 12. Quoted in Martyin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent I, trans. Fred Kramer (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House), 510-11.
