Michael Casey, OCSO, has been a monk of Tarrawarra Abbey (Australia) since 1960. In the intervening years he has conducted many retreats and workshops on every continent (except Antarctica) and has written many articles on topics relating to monastic history and spirituality. He is also the author of many books, including The Road to Eternal Life: Reflections on the Prologue of Benedict's Rule and Seventy-Four Tools for Good Living: Reflections on the Fourth Chapter of Benedict’s Rule, both from Liturgical Press.

A fine rendering of Christianity for the modern intelligent mindThe Book Reader

• Table of ContentsForeword   iTable of Contents   iiiCHAPTER ONE: HISTORICAL BACKDROP   1A Biographical Outline   3Bernard the Writer   17Bernard the Reader   22‘Monastic Theology’   32CHAPTER TWO: THE SERMONS ON THE SONG OF SONGS   38Literary Precedents   40Content   54The Theme of Desire for God   59CHAPTER THREE: THE VOCABULARY OF DESIRE   63Desiderium   65Associated Metaphors and Images   75Amor, Dilectio, Caritas   88Affectus, Affectio   94Devotio   110Intenti   114Compuntio   120Concluding Reflections   129CHAPTER FOUR: THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF DESIRE   131The Image of God   132The Region of Unlikeness   133The Origin of Desire   171CHAPTER FIVE: THE CULMINATION OF DESIRE   190Spiritual Marriage   191Unity of Spirit   201Desire for Heaven   208The Vision of God   231The Resurrection of the Body   234The Theme of the Ascension   237A Note on Bernard’s Eschatology   241CHAPTER SIX: DESIRE AS DIALECTIC   244The Principle of Intermediacy   245The Theme of Alternation   251The Last Things in Process of Realisation   280a.  The Paradise of a Good Conscience   282b.  The Monastic Paradise   287c.  The Third Heaven   289d.  Wisdom–Outshining of Eternal Light   296The Negative Principle   298Concluding Reflections   311CONCLUSION   315SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY (Including Abbreviations)   3221.  Abbreviations of the Works of Bernard and Cistercian Writers   3222.  Primary Sources   3233.  Bibliographies   3244.  Monastic-Patristic Serials   3245.  Collective Works   3266.  The Works of Jean Leclercq   3287.  General Indications   330INDICIES1.  Scriptural Index   3342.  Bernardine Index   3363.  Index of Persons   3554.  Topical Index   369