Hodie, dilectissimi, sacrum Quadragesimae tempus ingredimur, tempus militiae chrisitanae. Non nobis est singularis haec observatio: una omnium est, quicumque in eadem fidei conveniunt unitatem. Quidni commune sit Christi ieiunium omnibus christianis? Quidni Caput suum membra sequantur? Si bona suscepimus ab hoc Capite, mala autem quare non sustineamus? An respuere tristia volumus, et communicare iucundis? Si ita est, indignos nos Capitis huius participatione probamus. Omne enim quod patitur ille, pro nobis est. Quod si in opere salutis nostrae ei collaborare piget, in quo deinceps coadiutores nos exhibebimus illi? Non est magnum si ieiunet cum Christo, qui sessurus est ad mensam Patris cum ipso, non est magnum, si compatitur membrum capiti, cum quo et glorificandum est. Felix membrum, quod huic adhaeserit per omnia Capiti, et sequetur illud quocumque ierit. . . . Mihi omnino adhaerere tibi bonum est, o Caput gloriosum et benedictum in saecula, in quod et angeli prospicere concupiscunt. Sequar te quocumque ieris: si transieris per ignem, non evellar a te nec timebo mala, quoniam tu mecum est. Tu dolores meos portas, et pro me doles; tu prius transis per angustum passionis foramen, ut latum praebeas sequentibus membris ingressum.
Today we enter the holy time of Lent, the time of Christian battle. This observance is not undertaken by us piecemeal: it is one and the same for all, for whoever convene in the same unity of faith. And why should the fast of Christ not be common for all Christians? Why should the members not follow the Head? If we receive good things from this head, why should we not receive evil ones? Should we refuse sad things, and share in the pleasant ones? If so, we prove ourselves unworthy of participation in this Head. For all that he suffers is for us. Shall it irk us to collaborate with him in the work of our salvation, in which we show ourselves to be co-helpers with him? It is no great thing if we fast with Christ, we who are to sit with him at the table of the Father, it is no great thing if the member suffers along with the head, with whom it is also to be glorified. Happy the member who cleaves through all things to the Head, and follows him wherever he goes. . . . It is good for me to cleave wholly unto you, O Head glorious and blessed forever, whom even the angels long to behold. I shall follow you wherever you go: if you pass through the fire, I shall not be torn from you, nor shall I fear any evil, for you are with me. You bear my griefs, and you grieve for me; you first cross through the narrow passageway of suffering, that you might provide the broad entryway to the members following you.
--St Bernard, In Quadragesima Sermo 1
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