Cistercian Fathers Series: Number Fifty-one

Bernard of Claírvaux: Sermons for Advent and the Chrístmas Season

Translated by

Irene Edmonds

Wendy Mary Beckett

Conrad Greenia ocso

Edited by

John Leinenweber

Introduction by

Wim Verbaal

Cistercian Publications

www.cistercianpublications.org

LITURGICAL PRESS

Collegeville, Minnesota

www.litpress.org

A Cistercian Publications title published by Liturgical Press

Cistercian Publications

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161 Grosvenor Street

Athens, Ohio 54701

www.cistercianpublications.org

Based on the critical Latin edition of Jean Leclercq and H. M. Rochais,

Sancti Bernardi Opera, vol. 4:161–334

Rome: Editiones Cistercienses, 1966.

The work of Cistercian Publications is made possible in part by support from Western Michigan University to The Institute of Cistercian Studies.

© 2007 Cistercian Publications, Inc. © 2008 by Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm, microfiche, mechanical recording, photocopying, translation, or by any other means, known or yet unknown, for any purpose except brief quotations in reviews, without the previous written permission of Liturgical Press, Saint John’s Abbey, P.O. Box 7500, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321-7500.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 91–1153.

[Sermons. English. Selections]

Sermons for Advent and the Christmas season / Bernard of Clairvaux ; translated by Irene Edmonds, Wendy Mary Beckett, Conrad Greenia ; edited by John Leinenweber ; introduction by Wim Verbaal.

p. cm. — (Cistercian fathers series ; no. 51)

ISBN 978-0-87907-151-6 (hardcover) — ISBN 978-0-87907-451-7 (pbk.)

1. Advent sermons. 2. Christmas sermons. 3. Sermons, Latin—Translations into English. I. Edmonds, Irene M. II. Beckett, Wendy. III. Greenia, Conrad. IV. Leinenweber, John. V. Title. VI. Series.

BV4254.5.B4813 2007

252′.02—dc22

2007012357

Table of Contents

Introduction

Editorial Note

Table of Abbreviations

The sermons

On the Lord’s Advent

Sermon One: On the Six Aspects of Advent

Sermon Two: On the Reading from Isaiah: The Lord said to Ahaz

Sermon Three: On the Seven Pillars

Sermon Four: On the Twofold Coming and the Wings Covered with Silver

Sermon Five: On the Intermediate Coming and the Threefold Renewal

Sermon Six: On the Threefold Coming and the Resurrection of the Flesh

Sermon Seven: On the Threefold Benefit

On the Eve of the Lord’s Birth

Sermon One: On the Proclamation of the Lord’s Birth: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is born in Bethlehem of Judea

Sermon Two: On the Chant: O Judah and Jerusalem

Sermon Three: On the Chant: Today you shall know that the Lord will come

Sermon Four: On the Medicine of the Spouse’s Left Hand and the Delights of His Right Hand

Sermon Five: On the Chant: Make yourselves holy today and be prepared; tomorrow you shall see within you the majesty of God

Sermon Six: On the Proclamation of His Birth

On the Lord’s Birthday

Sermon ...