SERMONS OF ST. BERNARD

ON

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS

including the famous treatise on the incarnation called “missus est”

Compiled and translated at St. Mary’s Convent, York, from the Edition (1508), in black-letter, of St. Bernard’s Sermons and Letters

[chiefly for convents]

with introduction

by the

RIGHT REV. J. C. HEDLEY, O.S.B.

bishop of newport

R. & T. WASHBOURNE, LTD.

1, 2 & 4 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON

MANCHESTER: 74 Bridge St. GLASGOW: 248 Buchanan St.

benziger bros.: new york, cincinnati, chicago

1909

[All rights reserved]

Nihil Obstat.

henricus g. s. bowden,

Censor Deputatus.

Imprimatur.

edm. can. surmont,

Vicarius Generalis.

Westmonasterii,

die 25 Octobris, 1909.

CONTENTS

I

ADVENT

I. Sermon on its Six Circumstances

II. Sermon on the Words to Achaz, “Ask Thee a Sign,” etc.

II

ON THE “MISSUS EST”

I. Praises of the Virgin-Mother

II. The Mission of the Angel

III. Colloquy of the Blessed Virgin and the Angel

IV. The Annunciation, and the Blessed Virgin’s Consent

III

ON THE VIGIL OF OUR LORD’S NATIVITY

I. On the Joy His Birth should Inspire

II. On the Miraculous Nature of the Nativity

III. On the Dispositions required in Those who Celebrate the Feast

IV

ON OUR LORD’S NATIVITY

I. The Fountains of the Saviour

II. The Three Comminglings

III. On the Place, Time, and other Circumstances

IV. On the Shepherds Finding our Lord

V. On the Words, “Blessed be the God and Father,” etc.

V

ON THE CIRCUMCISION

VI

ON THE HOLY NAME AND OTHER SCRIPTURAL TITLES OF OUR LORD

VII

ON THE EPIPHANY

I. On “The Goodness and Kindness of our Saviour hath Appeared”

II. “Go forth, ye Daughters of Jerusalem”

III. On the Gifts of the Wise Men

INTRODUCTION

It is a pleasure to write a few words of introduction to an admirable translation of some interesting “Sermons of St. Bernard” made by one of the Community of St. Mary’s, York. The sermons are nineteen in number, and are all of them related to the mysteries of Advent and Christmas. Of the seven sermons, De Adventu Domini, printed in Dom Mabillon’s edition of the saint’s works, we have here the first two. Then follow the four homilies on the text Missus est, etc. This is the title that is generally given to these famous sermons, but the holy preacher himself intended them to be called De laudibus Virginis Matris, as we read in his letter to Peter the Deacon. Of the six discourses for the Vigil of Christmas, the translator has selected the first, the fourth, and the sixth. All the five sermons on Christmas Day are given. The volume ends with two on the Circumcision and three on the Epiphany.

These sermons are fully and conscientiously translated. A few omissions have been made—chiefly, it would seem, through sheer inability to present in an acceptable modern version all the devout and fanciful dealings of the holy Doctor with the text of the Scripture. St. Bernard knew St. Augustine well, and he had learnt this fashion of using Holy Scripture from him. St. Bernard’s mind and heart were steeped in the Scriptures, and it comes ...