Ponderable Quote from ‘In Praise of the New Knighthood’ by St. Bernard of Clairvaux

In addition to the daily novena prayer, I started rereading St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s In Praise of the New Knighthood as part of my novena devotion. A worthwhile read, I want to share a little teaser from Chapter One: A Word of Exhortation for the Knights of the Temple.*

March forth confidently then, you knights, and with a stalwart heart repel the foes of the cross of Christ. Be sure that neither death nor life can separate you from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ. In every peril repeat, ‘Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.’ How gloriously victors return from battle! How blessedly martyrs die in battle! Rejoice, brave athlete, if you live and conquer in the Lord; but glory and exult still more if you die and join your Lord. Life is indeed fruitful and victory glorious, but more important than either is a holy death. If they are blessed who die in the Lord, how much more so are those who die for the Lord.

* Reprinted from In Praise of the New Knighthood by St. Bernard of Clairvaux, P.34, Cistercian Publications, 2008