Books

Bernard Of Clairvaux: Essential Writings

Reviewed by Michael Daniel

Contents - Nov 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The essential role of saints in the Church - Michael Gilchrist Independent inquiry exonerates Archbishop George Pell - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Father Fessio: real US crisis is 'spiritual abuse' - Karl Maurer Australian Bishops' 'complaints protocol' used to uphold orthodoxy - Richard Egan Opus Dei founder Josemaria Escriva canonised at Papal Mass in Rome - AD2000 Report Sydney Archdiocese courses on 'Catechism' - Fr John Flader Catholic schools: restoring a sense of sin - Br John Moylan CFC Australian apologist Raymond de Souza's successful overseas lecture tour - AD2000 Report Events: The Fellowship of St Arnou to hold function in Melbourne Letters: Media war declared (letter) - Fr M. Shadbolt PP Letters: Embryo experimentation (letter) - Brian A. Coman Letters: Radical feminism (letter) - Gordon Southern Letters: Brisbane Synod (letter) - J.F. Nolan Letters: Anglican Church (letter) - Fr James Grant SSC Letters: Office of Bishop (letter) - Fr Brendan T. Walters MSC Letters: Headline (letter) - Michael Starr Letters: Birth control (letter) - Kevin Tighe Letters: Insulting TV program (letter) - K.L. Hanrahan Letters: Tough teachings (letter) - Mrs Maureen Federico Letters: Offertory prayers (letter) - John Mulholland Letters: Exorcists (letter) - Monica J. Hart Letters: EWTN (letter) - Jacqueline Donohue Letters: Anonymity (letter) - Narelle Mullins Books: The New Faithful: Why Young Adults are Embracing Christian Orthodoxy - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: Scripture Diary 2003 Books: Bernard Of Clairvaux: Essential Writings - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: A Generation Betrayed: Deconstructing Catholic Education, by Eamonn Keane - John Young (reviewer) Books: Ideal Christmas Gifts from AD Books Reflection: St Maria Goretti's 'perfect Christian death' - Mary Kenny

BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX: Essential Writings
Edited by Dennis E. Tamburello

(Crossroad, 2000, 157 pp, $29.95 Available from AD Books)

St Bernard of Clairvaux, the 12th century Abbot of Clairvaux, was one of the great spiritual and theological writers of his age. He also exercised considerable influence on Church affairs.

Denis Tamburello, Professor of Religious Studies at Siena College, provides an easy to read, useful introduction to the life, writings and thought of the "mellifluous doctor" that has been written to make the thought of Bernard accessible to the average reader.

After a brief introduction to the historical background and a biography of St Bernard, Tamburello summarises his major writings, e.g., On Grace and Free Choice, The Steps of Humility and Pride, On Loving God, Sermons on the Song of Songs and Five Books on Consideration, focusing on themes and ideas that Tamburello believes are useful for modern readers.

He focuses particularly on those that contrast with many of the values of contemporary society, e.g., the only way to know God truly is to love Him, intellectual knowledge being subordinate to love of God and true love is a selfless love that flows from the love of God; the seriousness of sin, and our need for God's mercy and forgiveness; Bernard's belief that true freedom is not the ability to do whatever we want, but freedom from sin and for service to God and neighbour; there is no such thing as "instant" or "fast food" holiness, but rather the Christian life is a pilgrimage and a process; and the need for a balance between action and contemplation.

Michael E. Daniel teaches at a Melbourne independent school.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 10 (November 2002), p. 17