St. Bernard of Clairvaux: Oracle of the Twelfth Century by Abbe Theodore Ratisbonne

Author:Abbe Theodore Ratisbonne [Ratisbonne, Abbe Theodore]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TAN Books
Published: 2015-06-27T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

HAPPY CONSEQUENCES OF THE EXTINCTION OF THE SCHISM—PREPONDERANCE OF THE PAPACY IN ITALY, GERMANY, AND FRANCE—DISPUTES OF LOUIS VII WITH THE COUNT OF CHAMPAGNE—MEDIATION OF ST. BERNARD—VISIT OF ST. MALACHI

THE SORROW depicted upon the countenance of St. Bernard, his altered features, and the deep grief which wasted his frame, discovered still more plainly than his words the deep wound in his heart. Yet he did not sink down in the day of affliction; and the cross, to which he remained faithfully attached, communicated a masculine and generous virtue to his soul.

Italy was then enjoying the fruit of his labors. Innocent II applied himself to cure the evils of war, and to extend to all Christendom branches from the tree of peace, which was now flourishing at Rome. He held a council in the capital of the Catholic world, at which more than a thousand bishops were assembled under his auspices. They labored for the establishment of discipline; and, in order to impress upon the minds of the schismatics the heinousness of their fault, the council deprived the cardinals and prelates who had embraced the cause of Anacletus of all their functions and dignities.

This rigorous measure touched, among others, Cardinal Peter of Pisa, who, having been at first the chief mover in the schism, had yielded to St. Bernard's arguments and abjured his error in the hands of the Pope. Not considering himself, therefore, worthy of a punishment from which the Abbot of Clairvaux had promised to secure him, he applied to him, complaining of the hard measure dealt to him, and claiming his plighted promise.

St. Bernard acknowledged the justice of his cause, and took it warmly to heart. He wrote several times to Innocent in favor of the cardinal, without obtaining any satisfactory reply; he even displeased the Pope by his importunity on the same subject; but his great soul, hungering after justice, could not resolve to sacrifice the cardinal's legitimate rights. He addressed fresh letters to the Pope, at the risk of entirely losing his favor; and the expressions which he uses are remarkable. "Who, then," says he to the Sovereign Pontiff, "will do me justice against you? If I had a judge before whom I could cite you, I would show you after what manner you deserve that I should act on this occasion. There is the tribunal of Jesus Christ; I know it well. But, God forbid that I should accuse you before that tribunal, where, on the contrary, I would fain defend you! Therefore it is that I have recourse to him who has received commission to do justice to all; I appeal from you to yourself."

The effect of these energetic measures has not been related by contemporary authors; but Manriquez asserts that the Pope yielded to the representations of the saint, and that he re-established Peter of Pisa in his high dignities. Innocent II had regained, in Rome and in all other Christian states, the plenitude of his authority; he established it permanently, and used it successfully.

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