It is a pleasure to write a few words of introduction to an admirable translation of some interesting “Sermons of St. Bernard” made by one of the Community of St. Mary’s, York. The sermons are nineteen in number, and are all of them related to the mysteries of Advent and Christmas. Of the seven sermons, De Adventu Domini, printed in Dom Mabillon’s edition of the saint’s works, we have here the first two. Then follow the four homilies on the text Missus est, etc. This is the title that is generally given to these famous sermons, but the holy preacher himself intended them to be called De laudibus Virginis Matris, as we read in his letter to Peter the Deacon. Of the six discourses for the Vigil of Christmas, the translator has selected the first, the fourth, and the sixth. All the five sermons on Christmas Day are given. The volume ends with two on the Circumcision and three on the Epiphany. Aeterna Press

Martin Luther's conception of the Nativity found expression in sermon, song, and art. This beautiful gift edition of a classic collection combines all three.

INTRODUCTION 5 ADVENT 10 I. SERMON ON ITS SIX CIRCUMSTANCES 10 II. SERMON ON THE WORDS TO ACHAZ, "ASK THEE A SIGN," ETC. 20 ON THE "MISSUS EST" 25 I. PRAISES OF THE VIRGIN-MOTHER 25 II. THE MISSION OF THE ANGEL 34 III. COLLOQUY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN AND THE ANGEL 46 IV. THE ANNUNCIATION, AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN'S CONSENT 57 ON THE VIGIL OF OUR LORD'S NATIVITY 68 I. ON THE JOY HIS BIRTH SHOULD INSPIRE 68 II. ON THE MIRACULOUS NATURE OF THE NATIVITY 74 III. ON THE DISPOSITIONS REQUIRED IN THOSE WHO CELEBRATE THE FEAST 81 ON OUR LORD'S NATIVITY 88 I. THE FOUNTAINS OF THE SAVIOUR 88 II. THE THREE COMMINGLINGS 95 III. ON THE PLACE, TIME, AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES 101 IV. ON THE SHEPHERDS FINDING OUR LORD 108 V. ON THE WORDS, "BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER," ETC. 112 ON THE CIRCUMCISION 117 ON THE HOLY NAME 121 ON THE HOLY NAME AND OTHER SCRIPTURAL TITLES OF OUR LORD 121 ON THE EPIPHANY 127 I. ON "THE GOODNESS AND KINDNESS OF OUR SAVIOUR HATH APPEARED" 127 II. "GO FORTH, YE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM" 133 III. ON THE GIFTS OF THE WISE MEN 137

Excerpt from Sermons of St. Bernard on Advent and Christmas: Including the Famous Treatise on the Incarnation Called Missus About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

The twelfth-century abbot and contemplative known to history as The Mellifluous Teacher' wrote sermons for the entire Christmas liturgical cycle -- from the first Sunday of Advent (four weeks before Christmas) to the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary/Presentation of Christ in the Temple (2 February). As he reflects on the wonder of the Incarnation, he reminds Christians still today that Christmas celebrates the awesome condescension of God-with-us, not a commercial carnival.

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