MY BELOVED IS MINE AND I AM HIS: SELF-KNOWLEDGE IN THE ...

conscience she enjoys through the mercy of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit. 291 The
mourning soul has indeed been comforted according to the Word’s promise, for it has
now foreseen the possibility, even in this life, of a new, peaceful, and joyous self-
awareness to dispel its present vision of itself which is marked by fear, shame, and guilt.
Once the Word has shared with reason the possibility of this newfound self-knowledge,
he can return to his spouse, the will, not now with arguments, but with this sweet vision
of rest in good conscience that will attend the life of repentance. Thus reason addresses a
second speech to his wife, not now a stern rebuke, but a word of gentle persuasion: “I
have found today a most beautiful garden, a most lovely place. It would be good for us to
be there. It is not good for you to lie in this bed of grief, tossing and turning on this
coverlet of sadness.” 292
Whereas reason’s stern rebuke failed to move the will, his words of gentle
persuasion do, and for two reasons. First, from the theological perspective, this speech
stirs the will because reason has called upon the Word in his tears and “The Word is close
to those who seek him, to the soul that seeks him in himself; he is near to those who call
upon him, and he lends efficacy to their words.” 293 The same Word that spoke powerfully
and preveniently within the soul to lead errant reason back to its heart now moves the will
inwardly by granting reason’s words the grace of persuasive power.
291 On the theme of the conscience in Bernard’s theology, see Philippe Delhaye, “La conscience
morale dans la doctrine de S. Bernard,” in Saint Bernard Théologien, Analecta Sacri Ordinis Cisterciensis
9 (1953): 209-222.
292 Conv 24 (IV, 97): “.”
293 Conv 24 (IV, 97): “Aderit Dominus quaerenti se, animae speranti in se; aderit votis supplicibus,
et verbis eius efficaciam ministrabit.”
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