St. Bernard Of Clairvaux's 'Man Of Sorrows'

With each repetition, the man appeals to a different, implied component of the Holy Trinity, each to no avail. Behind the simplicity of each iteration a question is asked: why? The man’s experience in the cellar has confirmed his musing that if there really was a God, he would not abandon them in this way, forcing humans to eat one another, His own sacred creatures, in order to survive. Moving past the Cellar Scene and continuing with him for the remainder of his journey is the fact that the man’s focus has been shifted to a new savior, one who will continue to carry the fire of humanity and love and never allow its flame to be extinguished. This savior is the boy. The boy embodies the characteristics of the new world, one of compassion, generosity, kindness, and hope, a world that will rise anew from the ashes. While the man is beginning to realize his son’s role, he still faces an internal conflict as his selfish instinct to shield the boy from the horrors of the world obstructs his understanding of the critical role the boy plays as the carrier of the fire. Dark, tumultuous thoughts wrestle in the man’s mind on page 114 as he asks himself “Can you do it? When the time comes?” After being exposed absolute corruption in the cellar, the man contemplates, doing possibly the worst thing he could - murder his son - in order to save the boy’s

The poem consists of a mixture of Christian and epic elements and has a very unique style. It represents the crucifixion as a battle and Christ as an epic hero, similar to Beowulf, which is quite different from the texts in the Bible. This contrast can be observed in the description of Jesus’ action during the crucifixion, and in the

Half a century prior, Ill “[denies] paternity” of his illegitimate child with Claire, bringing “along two witnesses” whom he has bribed in order to escape his sentence (32), sentencing Claire to a life of prostitution. The contradiction between Ill’s connection to Christ and life of sin mocks what Christ is. If Ill can still function as a Christ figure while having committed major sins, then Christ could have done the same. Dürrenmatt is arguing that the church itself is not free of sin, as much as they would like to appear to be. Connections and contradictions between Ill and Christ satirize Christ and mock the church.

The last sentence of the poem, ““There is still murder in your heart” (14), is a powerful claim that suggests that a routine consisting of prayer, communion, or hymn singing will not dissolve the sin of the heart. However, seeing this claim from a different standpoint, this can also suggest that this dull routine is convenient when it comes to preserving an appearance of purity and grace. There is an image in the middle of the poem, “light swords” (7), that possibly represents sharp members of the congregation trying to deceive the church authorities and God. Their comfort to the routine is remarkable because it does not really make a difference at the end; the only thing that truly matters is the masked life they are trying to keep hidden. Readers may consider the arguments presented in this poem as the truth reaching out to the contemporary church and its followers to improve their relationship with

21) Julian of Norwich, an anchoress of Saint Julian, received great visions of the crucifixion of Christ, on what was thought to be her deathbed. According to the Norton Anthology of English Literature, Sixth Ed., her revelation of these visions, Showings, is colored by her experience and temperament as an individual woman. Julian's depiction of the crucifixion describes Christ's love for humanity upon his crucifixion. "This I took it for that time that our Lord Jesu of his courteous love would show me the comfort before the time of my temptation; for me thought it might well be that I should by the sufferance of God and with his keeping be tempted of fiends before I should die." (Norton Anthology of English Literature, Sixth Ed., p. 294) His choice to die upon the cross seems to be the necessity for the salvation of mankind, not as the manifestation of His inimitable honor and glory.

sacrifices his ways of life and what he wanted to do to be a priest, and to spread christianity all

As I first examined this work, I could not focus on just one portion of it. Although each part tells its story, there it one overall explanation. As usual, I am drawn to the center of this piece which would be a man sitting in an oval like throne. With a closer look, I look at this man and see a cross behind him, with angelic figures in the background. I conclude this important

Bernardus Gelduinus, Christ in Majesty, relief in the ambulatory of Saint-Sernin, Toulouse, France, ca. is a low relief of Christ. The relief is made up of marble and demonstrates symbols with his hand raised for blessing and his left hand resting on an inscribed book. The four corners of Christ consist of four evangelists, which is similar to Carolingian or Ottonian Gospel book covers.

Charles B. Hodge, Jr., is a prolific writer and a minister of the Church of Christ. He closes each chapter of The Agony & Glory of the Cross with “The Cross…there is no other way!” Thus, I have taken Reverend Hodge’s declaration for the title of this review. He further explains his thesis of the importance of the cross: “Jesus could not save Himself and still be our Savior. There is no way but the cross.” The unique approach to teaching the New Testament – and Christs’ journey to Calvary – requires several readings, analysis, and return to biblical text.

In this quote Bernard is in the prayer group thing listening and waiting for their God and everyone in

When Bernard is exiled to Iceland he is unhappy and decides to go the reservation even when told he shouldn’t. When in London his popularity increases and takes advantage of his new status. He used his new status to get to women, but those women were promised that they would get to meet John through knowing Bernard. Also with being exiled Bernard becomes more independent and individualized. “And then he spends most of his time by himself—alone." There was horror in Fanny's voice.”(pg 35) This is the beginning of where Bernard’s defining feature is a downfall and a virtue. It defines his virtue because it makes an individual to be alone. It’s also a downfall because it makes him insecure and manipulative to John.

Ignatius believed himself to be a beacon of morality in an otherwise dismal society. For instance, throughout A Confederacy of Dunces, he would write about the evils of the hedonistic, “bourgeois” society in which he lived, and about how the world would be in a much better position if based on the medieval principles (such as divine-right and cruel forms of torture) in which he subscribed were

Bonhoeffer had been challenging his seminarians to make the choice before them to embrace the cross of Christ by sharing in his suffering and death

Upon delving into a specific genre, one may have a set of expectations before the commencement of their reading. A historical-fiction novel may entail allusions to monumental events. A tragedy might end with a series of events that go terribly wrong. Finally, a chivalric romance might include a knight who sets off on a quest to prove himself to be loyal to his lord and lady. The poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, is an example of a chivalric romance.

Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises promotes our capacity, through our prayers, to hear Christ’s voice and to use our senses to feel and experience His presence. Smith says, “Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola is very focus on Jesus – or, more specifically, on the Jesus story: his birth, life, death and resurrection. In prayer and through the guidance of the Exercises, we are drawn into the Jesus story so that our lives