615 chapter 12: the singers of the mystical temple and this animal was torn to pieces for a pure and clear lie. Finally a fox was called, who, realizing that death was in store for him, pretended that he had catarrh and affirmed under a most solemn oath that because of his dull sense of smell he could not recognize the lion’s breath as different. At times we forge such a conscience for ourselves by pretense and dishonesty. “It is distinctly,” (says Bernard), “a foxlike conscience: lukewarm dealing with others, animal-like thinking, feigned confession, brief and rare compunction, obedience without zeal, prayer without attention, reading without edification, conversation without forethought” (Med. 10).111 Free us, Lord, from a conscience of this kind. For you do not judge by man’s standards, but just as you know all things as they are done, so you judge. Therefore, implant upright judgment within me; give me an upright conscience and a ready and unchangeable will to obey my conscience. CHAPTER 12 The Singers of the Mystical Temple In man the emotions take the place of music, since not clamor, but love sounds in the ear of God. He who well tempers the emotions, praises God best with a harmonious symphony. Here we give a sort of practice of this matter to be used again and again, selected from the Royal Harpist himself. See, how beautifully all the emotions tend towards the one God, albeit by different paths, I should have said tones! [The following texts are from the Vulgate translation]: Love: “I shall love you, Lord, my strength: the LORD is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer” (Ps 18:2-3). Sorrow: “To you only have I sinned, and have done evil before you: that you may be justified in your words, and may overcome when you are judged” (Ps 51:6). 111 Bernard, Meditations, 10, 2 at the end: PL 184, 502 (n. 331).
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