As the Russian True Orthodox Church's article below succinctly points out, Bernard of Clairvaux provides yet another example of the false mysticism of the west, after its fall into heresy. This incident should be sufficient to make Roman Catholics wake up, and understand that Bernard was no saint or doctor of the true Church, without even having to read his writings. While Rome claimed it imperative to "follow the unanimous teaching of the early Fathers", it seemed equally imperative to "adapt" ancient writings in conformity with Rome's greater understanding of doctrine (heresies). Bernard and all the other "doctors" of Roman Catholicism departed from the teachings of the ancient Fathers.
I Pet. 5:5 In like manner, ye young men, be subject to the ancients. And do you all insinuate humility one to another, for God resisteth the proud, but to the humble he giveth grace.
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Heresy is the result of pride. Where pride exists, spiritual delusion also exists. Where heresy exists then all true spirituality is lost and spiritual delusion, “prelest” (Russian term) or “plani” (Greek) takes its place.
So, since I am on a roll since yesterday’s post about the ”visionary” Ann Catherine Emmerich and her spiritual delusion which refutes the teachings of the Holy Fathers concerning the dormition and burial of the Theotokos (which is our relevant topic since we are in the last days of the Dormition Fast), I decided to post this about yet another (they have so many!) spiritual delusion that had a “Marian” character.
Born at the end of the 11th century, Bernard of Clairvaux was a reformer of the Cistercian order in the 12th century.
The story goes that Bernard was kneeling and praying when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Him holding the infant. Mary squeezed one of her breasts, squirting breast milk to him from a distance. In one version, the milk went to his mouth and symbolized that she was granting him wisdom.
In another version, the milk went to his eyes and cured an infection he had.
I don’t think any Orthodox person could call this anything other than spiritual deception. The Mother of God breastfeeding some monk is certainly too strange for anyone to even speak about. Our hymns express our awe before the Mother of God. Even the Archangel Gabriel stood in awe of Her as our hymnographer says,
Awed by the beauty of thy virginity, and the exceeding radiance of thy purity;
Gabriel called out unto thee, O Theotokos,
What worthy hymn of praise can I offer unto thee?
And what shall I name thee?
I am in doubt and stand in awe! Wherefore as commanded, I cry to thee:
Rejoice, O full of grace.
The lives of Latin “saints” of this period were full of such bizarre “miracles” which simply made those who experienced them more rooted in their unfortunate pride.
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Bernard of Clairvaux was known for extreme, life-threatening penances. For more on the Church Fathers' teaching on asceticism, watch this:
"The Royal Path: An Examination on the Patristic Meaning of the Term and its Misuse in Our Times", True Orthodox