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Office Of Readings | Week 23, Wednesday, Ordinary Time | A Reading From The Sermons Of Saint Bernard | On Degrees Of Contemplation
‘On the degrees of contemplation.’
Saint Bernard describes contemplation as a gradual ascent, moving from self-knowledge to the knowledge of God. His framework reflects a well-established monastic tradition of distinguishing between different stages of prayer: meditation, self-examination, contrition, and finally contemplation.
The first stage is self-examination before God’s will. The human person, confronted with divine holiness, recognises his own failings. Bernard cites the Psalms and prophets, where prayers for healing and mercy acknowledge human frailty before God’s justice (cf. Jeremiah 17:14; Psalm 41[40]:4). This humility is not despair but a necessary preparation: purification of the heart makes the soul capable of perceiving God’s will.
The second stage moves beyond self-preoccupation. Once purified, the soul begins to find delight in the contemplation of God’s own goodness, no longer concerned primarily with ‘what God wills for me’, but with God’s will in itself. This transition echoes the monastic movement from timor Domini (fear of the Lord) to amor Dei (love of God), a journey traced in the Rule of Saint Benedict and earlier in Augustine’s writings.
Bernard then identifies a dynamic interplay: contemplation of self produces humility and fear, contemplation of God brings joy and hope. The two together form the rhythm of the Christian spiritual life, preventing presumption on the one hand and despair on the other. The ultimate aim is union with God’s will, where the soul recognises that in seeking God’s will ‘in itself’, it discovers the deepest truth of its own life.
Bernard’s teaching reflects his broader theology of love. The spiritual life begins in self-knowledge but is completed only in God-knowledge, where the human will is conformed to divine will through grace. This is not achieved at once, but in stages, through continual purification, prayer, and openness to the Spirit who ‘gazes into the deep things of God’ (1 Corinthians 2:10).
A Reading From The Sermons Of Saint Bernard | On Degrees Of Contemplation
Let us take our stand on the tower, leaning with all our strength on Christ, the most solid rock, as it is written: He has set my feet on a rock, he has guided my steps. Thus firmly established, let us begin to contemplate, to see what he is saying to us and what reply we ought to make to him.
The first stage of contemplation, my dear brothers, is to consider constantly what God wants, what is pleasing to him, and what is acceptable in his eyes. We all offend in many things; our strength cannot match the rightness of God’s will and cannot be joined to it or made to fit with it. So let us humble ourselves under the powerful hand of the most high God and make an effort to show ourselves unworthy before his merciful gaze, saying Heal me, Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved. And again, Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul because I have sinned against you.
Once the eye of the soul has been purified by such considerations, we no longer abide within our spirit in a sense of sorrow, but abide rather in the Spirit of God with great delight. No longer do we consider what is the will of God for us, but rather what it is in itself.
For our life is in his will. Thus we are convinced that what is according to his will is in every way better for us, and more fitting. And so, if we are concerned to preserve the life of our soul, we must be equally concerned to deviate as little as possible from his will.
Thus having made some progress in our spiritual exercise under the guidance of the Spirit who gazes into the deep things of God, let us reflect how gracious the Lord is and how good he is in himself. Let us join the Prophet in praying that we may see the Lord’s will and frequent not our own hearts but the Lord’s temple; and let us also say, My soul is humbled within me, therefore I shall be mindful of you.
These two stages sum up the whole of the spiritual life: when we contemplate ourselves we are troubled, and our sadness saves us and brings us to contemplate God; that contemplation in turn gives us the consolation of the joy of the Holy Spirit. Contemplating ourselves brings fear and humility; contemplating God brings us hope and love.
Christian Prayer With Jesus
Lord God,
grant us humility to recognise our weakness,
patience to bear our faults,
and trust to seek your mercy.
Purify our hearts,
that we may learn to love your will in all things,
and rejoice in the knowledge of your goodness.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Glossary Of Christian Terms
Contemplation – A form of prayer in which the soul rests in God, beyond words or discursive thought.
Self-examination – The practice of reflecting on one’s actions and motives in the light of God’s will.
Contrition – Sorrow for sin, arising from love of God and recognition of having offended him.
‘Heal me, Lord, and I shall be healed’ – Jeremiah 17:14, a prayer acknowledging dependence on God for restoration.
‘Heal my soul because I have sinned against you’ – Psalm 41[40]:4, expressing repentance and trust in God’s mercy.
Rule of Saint Benedict – A foundational monastic text (6th century), emphasising humility, obedience, and prayer as a path to God.
Fear of the Lord (timor Domini) – Reverence and awe before God’s holiness, considered the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7).
Love of God (amor Dei) – The goal of the Christian life, where love unites the soul to God’s will.
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Padre Pio, also known as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, was an Italian Capuchin friar who lived from 1887 to 1968. He is renowned for his piety, his stigmata, and his gift of healing, and has become a beloved figure in the Christian world. Born into a devout Catholic family in Pietrelcina, Italy, Padre Pio felt a calling to the priesthood from a young age. He entered the Capuchin order in 1903 and was ordained a priest in 1910. He spent much of his life as a humble friar, dedicated to prayer, the sacraments, and the service of others. Padre Pio’s most famous spiritual gift was the stigmata, the visible wounds of Christ that he bore on his hands, feet, and side. He experienced this phenomenon for over 50 years, from 1918 until his death in 1968. While some were skeptical of his wounds, many believed them to be a sign of his profound union with Christ and his participation in the suffering of the crucified Christ. In addition to his stigmata, Padre Pio was also known for his gift of healing. Many people came to him seeking physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, and he prayed over them, sometimes prescribing special devotions or treatments. While some were healed miraculously, others did not experience a physical cure, but nonetheless found comfort and peace through his intercession. Padre Pio’s life was marked by his devotion to God and his love for others. He spent long hours in prayer, often in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, and had a deep appreciation for the power of the Eucharist. He also had a special love for the Virgin Mary, whom he called his ‘Heavenly Mother’, and encouraged others to pray the Rosary. Today, Padre Pio is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church, and his influence has spread far beyond Italy. He is remembered for his holiness, his humility, and his profound union with Christ, as well as for his compassion and concern for the sick and suffering. Christians of all denominations continue to look to him as a model of faith and devotion to God. Prayer To Saint Padre Pio | A Prayer For Healing Saint Padre Pio is renowned for his gift of healing, which he used to help countless people throughout his life. He believed in the power of prayer and the importance of placing our trust in God, even in the face of illness and suffering. In James 5:16, we are reminded that ‘the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective’. Padre Pio’s life was a testament to the truth of this verse, as he interceded for those who came to him seeking physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. One of the most striking examples of Padre Pio’s healing ministry was the case of Gemma Di Giorgi, a young girl who had been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Her parents brought her to Padre Pio, who prayed over her and blessed her with the sign of the cross. To the amazement of her doctors, Gemma’s condition began to improve, and she was eventually healed completely. In addition to physical healing, Padre Pio also believed in the importance of emotional and spiritual healing. He often spoke of the need for repentance and conversion, and encouraged his followers to turn to God with contrite hearts. In Luke 5:31-32, Jesus tells the Pharisees, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ Padre Pio understood that true healing involves not only the body, but also the soul. For those who are in need of healing, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, Saint Padre Pio can serve as a powerful intercessor. He believed in the importance of prayer and the power of God’s grace to heal even the most difficult of cases. Through his intercession, we can ask God for the strength and courage to face our illnesses and our struggles, knowing that we are never alone and that God’s healing love is always with us. So let us pray: ‘Saint Padre Pio, you who had a deep faith in God and a profound love for your fellow human beings, we turn to you in our time of need. We ask for your intercession on behalf of all those who are sick and suffering, that they may be healed in body, mind, and spirit. We ask that you pray for us, that we may have the strength and courage to face our illnesses and our struggles with faith and hope, knowing that God is with us always. We trust in God’s love and mercy, and in the power of prayer to bring healing and wholeness to all who seek it. Saint Padre Pio, pray for us, and lead us to the healing grace of God. Amen.’ Prayer To Saint Padre Pio | A Prayer For Peace Saint Padre Pio was a man of peace, who lived his life in the service of God and his fellow human beings. He believed that peace was not merely the absence of conflict, but a state of inner harmony that could only be achieved through a deep and abiding relationship with God. In John 14:27, Jesus tells his disciples, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ Padre Pio understood the importance of this peace, and dedicated his life to helping others find it. One of the ways that Padre Pio fostered peace was through his ministry of reconciliation. He encouraged those who came to him to confess their sins and seek God’s forgiveness, knowing that this was the first step towards inner peace. In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.’ Padre Pio believed that this was not just a call to be a mediator in conflicts between […]
