Audiobook · read by volunteers
On Loving God
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153)
Read by Kirsten Ferreri · 15 chapters · 1 h 29
About the book
Why should we love God, and how much? Saint Bernard of Clairvaux answers in a short treatise that has been read and loved for nearly nine centuries. Written at the request of a cardinal in Rome, On Loving God sets out to explain the reasons for love and the proper measure of it, and then describes four stages through which devotion grows, from love of oneself for one's own sake to love of oneself for the sake of God. Bernard writes with the fervour of a preacher and the skill of a great stylist, and his ideas shaped medieval spirituality. Kirsten Ferreri reads the fifteen sections in about an hour and a half, a concentrated and thoughtful listen.
Introduction
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was a French abbot and one of the most influential religious figures of the twelfth century. He entered the Cistercian order as a young man and founded the abbey of Clairvaux, which became a centre of monastic life. Famous as a preacher and writer, he took part in the great church debates of his day, advised popes and promoted the Second Crusade, an episode that remains controversial.
On Loving God belongs to his more contemplative writings, from the earlier part of his career. It remains a favourite with readers of the Cistercian tradition. It was composed at the request of one of the cardinals of Rome and offers a clear and concise statement of Cistercian spirituality. Bernard argues that God deserves love because of who he is and what he has given, and he describes a progression through four degrees of love. The work is considered one of the best-known and most influential treatises of Christian mysticism in the Middle Ages.
The recording has fifteen sections and lasts about an hour and a half. It is read by LibriVox volunteer Kirsten Ferreri. The language, in English translation, is direct and often warm, and the argument is easy to follow even without a theological background. For readers interested in medieval Christianity, or in the history of ideas about love, it is a short and rewarding text, and one that has not lost its freshness.
Public domain
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux died in 1153: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text