On Loving God
by St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Previous Chapter Table of Contents
Chapter XV. Of the four degrees of love, and of the blessed state of the
heavenly fatherland
Nevertheless, since we are carnal and are born of the lust of the flesh, it
must be that our desire and our love shall have its beginning in the flesh. But
rightly guided by the grace of God through these degrees, it will have its
consummation in the spirit: for that was not first which is spiritual but that
which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual (I Cor. 15:46). And we
must bear the image of the earthy first, before we can bear the image of the
heavenly. At first, man loves himself for his own sake. That is the flesh,
which can appreciate nothing beyond itself. Next, he perceives that he cannot
exist by himself, and so begins by faith to seek after God, and to love Him as
something necessary to his own welfare. That is the second degree, to love God,
not for God's sake, but selfishly. But when he has learned to worship God and
to seek Him aright, meditating on God, reading God's Word, praying and obeying
His commandments, he comes gradually to know what God is, and finds Him
altogether lovely. So, having tasted and seen how gracious the Lord is (Ps.
34:8), he advances to the third degree, when he loves God, not merely as his
benefactor but as God. Surely he must remain long in this state; and I know not
whether it would be possible to make further progress in this life to that
fourth degree and perfect condition wherein man loves himself solely for God's
sake. Let any who have attained so far bear record; I confess it seems beyond
my powers. Doubtless it will be reached when the good and faithful servant
shall have entered into the joy of his Lord (Matt. 25:21), and been satisfied
with the plenteousness of God's house (Ps. 36:8). For then in wondrous wise he
will forget himself and as if delivered from self, he will grow wholly God's.
Joined unto the Lord, he will then be one spirit with Him (I Cor. 6:17). This
was what the prophet meant, I think, when he said: ' I will go forth in the
strength of the Lord God: and will make mention of Thy righteousness only' (Ps.
71:16). Surely he knew that when he should go forth in the spiritual strength
of the Lord, he would have been freed from the infirmities of the flesh, and
would have nothing carnal to think of, but would be wholly filled in his spirit
with the righteousness of the Lord.
In that day the members of Christ can say of themselves what St. Paul testified
concerning their Head: 'Yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet
now henceforth know we Him no more' (II Cor. 5:16). None shall thereafter know
himself after the flesh; for 'flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of
God' (I Cor. 15:50). Not that there will be no true substance of the flesh, but
all carnal needs will be taken away, and the love of the flesh will be
swallowed up in the love of the spirit, so that our weak human affections will
be made divinely strong. Then the net of charity which as it is drawn through
the great and wide sea doth not cease to gather every kind of fish, will be
drawn to the shore; and the bad will be cast away, while only the good will be
kept (Matt. 13:48). In this life the net of all-including love gathers every
kind of fish into its wide folds, becoming all things to all men, sharing
adversity or prosperity, rejoicing with them that do rejoice, and weeping with
them that weep (Rom. 12:15). But when the net is drawn to shore, whatever
causes pain will be rejected, like the bad fish, while only what is pleasant
and joyous will be kept. Do you not recall how St. Paul said: 'Who is weak and
I am not weak? Who is offended and I burn not?' And yet weakness and offense
were far from him. So too he bewailed many which had sinned already and had not
repented, though he was neither the sinner nor the penitent. But there is a
city made glad by the rivers of the flood of grace (Ps. 46:4), and whose gates
the Lord loveth more than all the dwellings of Jacob (Ps. 87:2). In it is no
place for lamentation over those condemned to everlasting fire, prepared for
the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). In these earthly dwellings, though men
may rejoice, yet they have still other battles to fight, other mortal perils to
undergo. But in the heavenly Fatherland no sorrow nor sadness can enter: as it
is written, 'The habitation of all rejoicing ones is in Thee' (Ps. 87:7,
Vulg.); and again, 'Everlasting joy shall be unto them' (Isa. 61:7). Nor could
they recall things piteous, for then they will make mention of God's
righteousness only. Accordingly, there will be no need for the exercise of
compassion, for no misery will be there to inspire pity.
Previous Chapter Table of Contents