SAN BERNARDO: DE LAUDE NOVAE MILITIAE AD MILITES TEMPLI.

 

 NOTE. This beautiful letter from Saint Bernard exalts the Templar order in its noble mission of defending the holy places of the Saracens or Muslims and, at the same time, is a testimony against its detractors both at that time and today.

But now this letter can be addressed to us Catholics of the 21st century who, in the midst of great confusion, live the mystery of iniquity in our own flesh and, who want to be in conformity with the doctrine of Our Lord Jesus Christ, faithful defenders of the faith, of the Church founded by our Lord Jesus Christ and faithful devotees of his Blessed Mother, we must take the words of Saint Bernard as directed to us or the "pusilus grex" in the midst of this shameful general apostasy.

May the exhortations of the Holy Abbot fall like divine oil and impregnate our aching souls and rejoice our downcast hearts so depressed by the present times that they are not good at all.

 

Book to the Knights Templar

Praise of the new militia

Foreword

Bernardo, abbot of Clairvaux, but only in name, Hugo, knight of Jesus Christ and grand master of Christ's militia: may he fight a good fight.

You asked me once, twice and even three times, if I am not mistaken, dear Hugo, to write an exhortatory sermon for you and your knights. As I was not allowed to use the spear against the insults of the enemies, you wished, at least, that I brandish my tongue and my wits against them, assuring me that I would give you a no small help if I animated with my pen those who could not animate for the exercise of arms. It took me a while to respond, not because I had little respect for the task you had given me, but because of the fear that I would be accused of haste and lightness if I undertook, with my usual inexperience, what another more enlightened person than I could accomplish with greater success, and that I should not meddle in a matter of such interest and so vital, so that in the end something much less profitable would come out.But after waiting in vain for so long, I resolve to do what I can, fearing that they believe that I lack will rather than inability: the reader will judge whether or not I advance in the company. If what I have written does not please or is not enough for someone, it does not matter, because, in the field of my knowledge, I did what I could to satisfy your wishes.

I. Exhortatory sermon to the Knights Templar.

1. The news is spreading around the world that not long ago a new genre of knights was born in that region in which the Orient that rises from above, made visible in the flesh, honored with its presence, to exterminate, in the same place where He put it, with the strength of his arm, to the princes of darkness, to his unhappy ministers, who are children of infidelity, dissipating them by the courage of these brave knights, carrying out even today the redemption of their people and raising up a saving force in the house of David, his servant. This is, I say again, the new genre of militia not known in centuries past; in which two battles with invincible courage take place at the same time:  against flesh and blood and against the spirits of malice that are scattered through the air. The truth is, I believe that it is neither original nor exceptional to generously resist an earthly enemy with the force of arms alone, nor is it extraordinary, even if it is laudable, to wage war on vices or demons with the virtue of the spirit, since it is see the whole world full of monks who are continually in this exercise. But who will not be astonished by something so admirable and so unusual as to see one and the other man girding his sword and nobly clothed with the girdle?  Certainly, this soldier is fearless and safe everywhere; his spirit is armed with the armor of faith, just like his body of iron breastplate. Being fortified with these two kinds of weapons, he fears neither demons nor men. I say more, you do not fear death because you want to die.

And, indeed, what can fear, whether living or dying, who finds his life in Jesus Christ and his reward in death?  It is true that he fights with confidence and ardor for Jesus Christ; but he still wants more to die and be with Jesus Christ, because this is the best thing. March, then, brave knights, firm and with intrepid courage, charge against the enemies of the cross of Christ, sure that neither death nor life will be able to separate you from the love of God, which is Christ Jesus; and in the moment of danger, repeat within yourself: Live or die, we are of God. With what glory those who have won a battle return! How happy these martyrs die in combat! Rejoice, gallant athlete, to live and to win in the Lord; but rejoice even more if you die and join the Lord intimately. Without a doubt, your life is fruitful and your victory glorious; but a holy death must be considered more noble. Because, "if those who die in the Lord are blessed," how much more so will those who die for the Lord be? 2. The truth, in any way, whether one dies, whether in bed, or in war, the death of the saints will always be precious before God; But what happens in war is all the more precious the greater the glory that accompanies it. What security there is in life with a pure conscience! What security, ¡I repeat, there is in life that awaits death without fear, ¡that desires it with sweet tranquility and accepts it with devotion! Holy and firm is this militia because it is exempt from this double danger in which the human race finds itself that does not have Christ at the end of its battles.

As many times as you enter the fight, you, who fight in the ranks of a profane militia, must fear killing your enemy bodily and yourself spiritually or perhaps that he may kill you body and soul. The defeat or victory of the Christian must be valued not by fortune in combat, but by the feelings of the heart.

If the reason for fighting is just, the outcome of the battle cannot be bad; but neither can its final result be considered a success when it is not preceded by a good cause and a just intention. If, with the will to kill your enemy, you yourself lie down, you die as if you were a murderer; and, if you are victorious and you kill someone for wanting to triumph or for revenge, you are a murderer. Well, die or live, victorious or defeated, it is in no way advantageous to be a murderer.

Unfortunate victory that makes you succumb to sin at the same time as defeating a man. In vain do you boast of having conquered your enemy when anger and pride conquered you. There are others who kill a man not out of the lust for revenge or the arrogance of triumph, but only to rid themselves of danger. But not even in this case would I call it a good victory, because of two evils, it is lighter to die in the body than in the soul. Not because the body perishes does the soul die; on the contrary, only the soul that sins will die.

Templar cross

II. The secular militia.

3. What is the end and the fruit, ¿I am not saying of this militia, but of this evil of the age, ¿when he who kills sins mortally and he who dies perishes for an eternity? To use the words of the Apostle:  He who works must work in the hope of the harvest, and he who sows grain, must do so in the hope of enjoying its fruit. Tell me, soldiers: ¿what dreadful illusion is this and what unbearable fury to fight with so much effort and expense without any wages other than death or crime? You cover the horses with beautiful silk clothes, you line the breastplates with rich fabrics that hang from them, you paint the pikes, the shields and the guards, you wear the bridles of the horses and the spurs covered with gold, silver and stones, and with all that brilliant pomp you rush to your death with shameful fury and with a stupidity that has no regard. ¿Are these military trappings, or pure feminine adornments?  Or do you think that the enemy's sword is going to be intimidated by the gold you carry, that the stones will preserve you and that it will not be able to penetrate those silk fabrics? In short, I judge, and no doubt you will experience it quite frequently, that there are three things that are entirely necessary for a combatant:  that the soldier be strong, skillful and careful to defend himself, that he have total freedom of movement in his body to being able to move around, and decision to load. You, on the other hand, pamper your head like the ladies, you wear large hair that is an obstacle to the view; you make your legs pregnant with your long dresses, you wrap your tender and delicate hands with large mittens. But above all, and it is what should most disturb the conscience of a soldier, is that the reasons why such dangerous wars are waged are slight and futile. Because what arouses the fighting and the quarrels between you is not, most of the time, but an unstoppable anger, a desire for pride or the greed to possess any territory. For reasons of this kind, it is not worth killing or exposing oneself to being defeated.