"It is the duty of others (that live active lives either in the world or religion) to serve God; but it is the contemplative's duty to adhere inseparably unto Him. It belongs to others to believe, to know, to love, to adore God; but it belongs to contemplatives to taste, to understand, to be familiarly acquainted with, and to enjoy Him."

"Happy is the soul to whom it has been given to experience an embrace of such surpassing delight! This spiritual embrace is nothing else than a chaste and holy love, a love sweet and pleasant, a love perfectly serene and perfectly pure, a love that is mutual, intimate, and strong, a love that joins two, not in one flesh, but in one spirit, that makes two to be no longer two but one undivided spirit, as witness St. Paul,[16] where he says, 'He who cleaves to the Lord is one spirit with Him'."

"We have taught that every soul, even though weighed down with sins, ensnared in vice, caught in the allurements of the passions, held captive in exile, and imprisoned in the body . . . even, I say, though it be thus damned and in despair, can find within itself not only reasons for yearning for the hope of pardon and the hope of mercy, but also for making bold to aspire to the nuptials of the Word, not hesitating to establish a covenant of union with God, and not being ashamed to carry the sweet yoke of love along with the King of the Angels. What will the soul not dare with Him whose marvelous image it sees within itself, and whose striking likeness it recognizes in itself?"

"This perfect quiet of the mind in contemplation, in which we enjoy the loving God by returning His love, and by which we turn and direct ourselves and all we have to Him, does not make us lazy and slothful. Rather it is a constant, effective and active zeal that spurs us on to look to our own salvation, and, with the help of God, to that of others also. For this lofty contemplation and meditation, which is brought about by divine love, "regulates the affections, directs the actions, cuts away all excesses, forms the character, orders and ennobles the life, and lastly. . . endows the understanding with a knowledge of things divine and human. It . . . undoes what is tangled, unites what is divided, gathers what is scattered, uncovers what is hidden, searches out what is false and deceptive. It . . . lays down beforehand what we have to do, and passes in review what has been accomplished, so that nothing disordered may remain in the mind, nothing uncorrected. Finally . . . it makes provision for trouble, and thus endures misfortune, so to say, without feeling it, of which the former is the part of prudence, and the latter the function of fortitude."

"By this likeness of charity . . . the soul is wedded to the Word, when, namely, loving even as she is loved, she shows herself, in her will, likened to Him to Whom she is already likened in her nature. Therefore, if she loves Him perfectly, she has become His bride. What can be more sweet than such a likeness? What can be more desirable than this love, whereby thou art enabled of thyself to draw nigh with confidence to the Word, to cleave to Him steadfastly, to question Him familiarly, and to consult Him in all thy doubts, as daring in thy desires as thou art receptive in thy understanding?"

"This is in truth the alliance of holy and spiritual wedlock. Nay, it is saying too little to call it an alliance: it is rather an embrace. Surely we have then a spiritual embrace when the same likes and the same dislikes make of two one spirit. Nor is there any occasion to fear lest the inequality of the persons should cause some defect in the harmony of wills, since love knows nothing of reverence. Love means an exercise of affection, not a showing of honor. . . Love is all sufficient for itself. Whithersoever love comes, it keeps under and holds captive to itself all the other affections. Consequently, the soul that loves, simply loves and knows nothing else except to love."

"For love is sufficient of itself; it gives pleasure by itself and because of itself. It is its own merit, its own reward. Love looks for no cause outside itself, no effect beyond itself. Its profit lies in the practice. Of all the movements, sensations and feelings of the soul, love is the only one in which the creature can respond to the Creator and make some sort of similar return however unequal though it be. For when God loves, all he desires is to be loved in return. The sole purpose of his love is to be loved, int he knowledge that those who love him are made happy by their love of him.

"For the humble, says St. Bernard, "the sweet name of Jesus, or His Sacred Humanity, is their entire delight and the object of their affections. Thus the sweet fragrance of the name of the Savior, a balsam poured into as many devotions and pious institutions as are generated within the Holy Church, causes those souls that are pure, and those that are humble to come to Him, and, entering into His mystical kingdom to succeed in loving Him truly, and even with ardor and to an extreme degree, and so deserve to enjoy one day HIs intimate union and communication.

"When they pray before a sacred image of the Man-God, whether newly born, or at the breast, or preaching, or dying on the Cross, or ascending up to the heavens or at some other stage in His life, they feel their hearts full of love for virtue and full of hatred for vice. In this way the Invisible One makes Himself visible so as to attract the hearts of men to the spiritual love of His Sacred Humanity, men who could otherwise love HIm in only a human way. Thereby, he gradually, and through progressive stages, elevates them to a more spiritual and purer love.

"Let those souls, then, rest here in the shade of this good God, souls that are humble and do not feel themselves virtuous enough to seek the sun's invisible rays. Let them be sustained by the sweetness of the flesh of Jesus Christ. Let them be consoled with this material consolation until the Vivifying Spirit visits them, possesses them and lifts them to other exalted degrees of love. For the celestial fragrance of the mysteries of the Humanity of Christ will always be attracting pure and sincere souls to this, the only "Way," which will lead with certainty to the delightful and spacious regions of light and life that are the mysteries of the Divinity. For it is not possible to enter save through Him Who is the Gate and the Way, as St Augustine observes. Only the humble and pure souls are able to feel and savor the gentleness and sweetness of the Mysteries of Jesus.

Pope Pius XII comments on Bernard of Clairvaux:

"So burning was his love, particularly of Jesus Christ Our Divine Savior, that, loved thereby, he penned the beautiful and lofty pages which still arouse the admiration and enkindle the devotion of all readers.

St Bernard continues:

"What can so enrich the soul that reflects upon it (the holy name of Jesus)? What can . . . strengthen the virtues, beget good and honorable dispositions, foster holy affections? Dry is every kind of spiritual food which this oil does not moisten. Tasteless, whatever this salt does not season. If thou writest, thy composition has no charms for me, unless I read there the name of Jesus. If thou dost debate or converse, I find no pleasure in thy words, unless I hear there the name of Jesus. Jesus is honey on the lips, melody in the ear, joy in the heart. Yet not alone is that name light and food. It is also a remedy. Is any one amongst you sad? Let the name of Jesus enter his heart; let it leap thence to his mouth; and lo! the light shining from that name shall scatter every cloud and restore peace. Has some one perpetrated a crime, and then misled, moved despairingly towards the snare of death? Let him but invoke this life-giving name, and straightway he shall find courage once more. . . Whoever, all a-tremble in the presence of danger, has not immediately felt his spirits revive and his fears depart as soon as he called upon this name of power? There is nothing so powerful as the name of Jesus to check anger, reduce the swelling of pride, heal the smarting wound of envy. . ."

Pope Pius XII concludes on St Bernard:

"Finally, the Doctor of Clairvaux does not remain enclosed within the walls of his cell that "waxes sweet by being dwelled in," but is a hand with counsel, word and action wherever the interests of God and Church are at stake. For he was wont to observe that "no one ought to live for himself alone, but all for all." And moreover, he wrote about himself and his followers: "In like manner, the laws of brotherliness and of human society give our brethren, amongst whom we live, a claim upon us for counsel and help." When, with sorrowing mind, he beheld the holy faith endangered or troubled, he spared neither toil, nor journeyings, nor any manner of pains to come stoutly to its defense, or to bring it whatever assistance he could. "I do not regard any of the affairs of God," he said, "as things with which I have no concern." And to St. Louis of France he penned these spirited words: "We sons of the Church, cannot on any account overlook the injuries done to our mother, and the way in which she is despised and trodden under foot. . . We will certainly make a stand and fight even to death, if need be, for our mother, with the weapons allowed us; not with shield and sword, but with prayers and lamentations to God."('Doctor Melifluus,' Pius XII)

COMMENTS BY OTHER CONTEMPLATIVES REINFORCING ST BERNARD'S THESIS ON THE POWER OF THE HOLY NAME:

"Only the humble, writes Fray Juan de Los Angeles, "are allowed to experience the sweet smell and fragrance of this name. The proud also have access to this balsam, but it is closed; they have it in books but not in their hearts; they have it externally in the written word, but not within themselves, in their spirit.

"For this reason, writes Maria Dolorosa, the enamored soul tells Him "that simply to name Him brings the scent of grace, just as the balsam that is poured out gives off frangrance. And just as oil keeps lamps alight, so the name of Jesus, imprinted in souls, keeps the lamp of love aflame within them and enlightens them, showing them the way of the divine law."

Therefore, "You children praise the Lord Jesus, praise the holy name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ henceforth and forever. From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, praise the name of the Lord Jesus."

"O Christian soul, exhorts the V. Granada, "praise, embrace and kiss this holy name that is sweeter than honey, richer than oil, more soothing than balsam, and more powerful than all the powers of the world. This is the name desired by the patriarchs, longed for by the prophets, and repeated and hymned by every generation. This is the name that angels adore, that devils fear, from which opposing forces flee, and at whose invocation sinners are saved, the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the dead are resurrected to life. This is the heaven sent name of "Savior," that bears the life, health and happiness of the whole of mankind and upon which all these depend. At all times, let the Holy Name of Jesus be on your lips and in your heart."

"Blessed be this name, exclaims the same venerable Father, "blessed be this health, and blessed the day when such news was heard in the world. Oh, glorious name! Oh, sweet name of priceless virtue and reverence, invented by God in His eternity and brought down from heaven by angels...Oh name of all delight and consolation of the lonely. Oh glorious name, worthy of being written and engraved in our hearts.

"Your name, oh Divine Word, exclaims St Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, "calms the wrath of the Father, delights the angels and the blessed and instills fear in the devils. In this name it is that God became Man and took our suffering and punishment upon Himself. In this name the Eternal Father gives us His graces: may You vouchsafe to write it with Your Blood in the hearts of Your brides. It s a name of goodness and if they keep it in their hearts, what else but words of goodness can spring from their lips. "Oh how sweet are the words of those who keep it in their hearts! What wonderful music to hear them pronounce this sacred name, by which we attract to ourselves the gaze of the Eternal father, cause angels to want to see us in their company and become frightening to devils. Oh Jesus, our sweet Lord! How wonderful is your name in all the earth! Above the heavens is your majesty chanted by the mouths of children, babes in arms. You set Your stronghold firm against Your foes to subdue enemies and rebels."

"The excellence of this holy Name, writes Fr. Juan de Los Angeles, "refers to its sovereignty, sweetness and utility. Its sovereignty showed itself when our Lord invoked it to bring about the curing of the sick, the resurrection of the dead...the protection from every kind of danger: "In my name demons are cast out." (Mark l6,27) St Paul describes this Majesty of the Divine Name very well when he wrote that: 'At the name of Jesus every knee should bend...'

"The name of Jesus is a balsam poured out for mankind, the antidote and panacea that the Lord gave to the Church and that He wanted to be carried everywhere for the good and remedy of all. This was the purpose for which Saul was chosen: 'to carry the name of Jesus as proven medicine with which to heal souls and bodies. "In the name of Jesus, said St Peter to the lame man, "rise and walk!" The lame man stood up and , jumping with joy, gave thanks to the Lord. In the same way the regular silent repetition of this name is a most efficient cure for the lonely, the melancholy, and sick in heart. It is medicine that came down from heaven, for there is no medicine so effective and universal on earth. An angel received that Name from the mouth of God and with great reverence brought it into the world and placed it in the ear and heart of the Virgin, whence it spread into the Church, and transformed the world."

"The Son of God came into the world, adds Fray Angeles," for the joy of the world; He came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly; He came anointed as to a wedding feast; He came to dispel melancholy and sorrow from the hearts of men, who knew only how to weep and grieve. His name embraces all that He is and did. His name embraces the kingdom of God. St Paul said that the kingdom of God means righteousness and peace and joy brought by the Holy Spirit. And indeed these three things are embraced by the Holy Name. For where there is righteousness there is peace, and where there is peace and reighteousness there is contentment and perpetual joy wiich no event can prevent or distrub, as the sage testifies.

"The name of Jesus is a name that spreads and becomes absorbed in the soul like oil, entering into its most secret and intimate regions, leaving no corner unvisited and uncomforted. It is not a highsounding name that frightens and awakens fear, but soft and loving, inviting and provoking love, a name which, heard in the ear or spoken with the mouth, enters into the sphere of the soul, wins over the heart and, inspiring it with love, draws it behind it, a name which, once known, encourages us and gives trust to await the Lord without fear, a name which teaches the how and when of the divine praise, a name which sums up all that God has done for men and the reverential adoration of the Son for the Father in the Holy Spirit."

"In time, this name fires a love within by which certain souls are carried away and transported into an exalted prayer of contemplation, going out of themselves with their understanding enlightened by divine light. It is not an exaggeration to say that the repetition of this Holy Name through the regular practice of the Jesus Prayer can raise one to divine union. The Name of Jesus can exalt the soul to such a sovereign height that it exceeds all human power and possibility and achieves a wonderful union with God; such union is a foretaste of heaven, and leads the soul toward a glorious transformation in the Eternal, Self-Giving Love of the Holy Trinity.