On Consideration
Bernard of Clairvaux wrote this extended letter of spiritual counsel between 1149 and 1152 for Pope Eugenius III, his former monk at Clairvaux who had been elevated to the papacy in 1145. The work emerged from Bernard's deep concern that his spiritual son was being consumed by the administrative demands of papal office at the expense of his inner life. Structured as five books addressed directly to Eugenius, it represents one of medieval Christianity's most penetrating examinations of how spiritual leaders can maintain contemplative depth while exercising worldly authority.
Bernard's central argument revolves around the practice of "consideratio" — a form of reflective contemplation that allows the soul to step back from immediate pressures and see reality from God's perspective. He distinguishes this practice from mere speculation or administrative planning, presenting it instead as a disciplined attention to divine truth that must inform all papal decisions. The treatise moves systematically through the proper objects of papal consideration: the pope must first know himself, then understand his office and its responsibilities, then grasp the nature of those he governs, and finally contemplate the divine reality that gives meaning to all earthly authority. Bernard weaves together practical counsel about papal governance with profound mystical theology, insisting that effective leadership flows from contemplative union with God rather than political acumen alone.
The work has endured as a masterpiece of spiritual direction precisely because it addresses the perennial tension between action and contemplation that faces anyone in positions of responsibility. Its influence extended far beyond papal circles, shaping medieval and later Christian thinking about leadership, the relationship between temporal and spiritual authority, and the necessity of contemplative practice for those charged with guiding others. Bernard's psychological insight and his integration of mystical theology with practical wisdom have made this treatise a touchstone for spiritual directors and leaders across centuries.
Who should read this: Leaders in religious communities, spiritual directors, and anyone struggling to maintain contemplative depth while bearing administrative responsibilities will find Bernard's counsel both challenging and sustaining. Those seeking purely devotional reading may find its focus on the complexities of authority less immediately applicable.