Why write in poetry rather than in prose according to Bernard of Cluny

Bernard of Cluny on Poetry vs. Prose

In the prologue to his satirical poem De contemptu mundi, Bernard of Cluny explicitly explains why he chose verse rather than prose. He argues that a wise author should not simply “publish” their work without first refining it through the scrutiny of others, and that poetry demands a higher standard of craftsmanship than prose. 

Bernard writes that a prudent writer should correct their style by comparing it with the works of the wise, and that if one refuses to submit to such correction, one shows both folly and pride. He notes that “the wise and learned” learn from the eloquence of others, imitate their structure, and refine their own work through polishing, ornamentation, and correction. In contrast, those who publish without such care “are not even taken seriously by the uneducated”

"Bernard of Cluny (also known as Bernard of Morlaix) was a twelfth-century Benedictine monk and one of the greatest Latin hymn writers of the Middle Ages. Although very little is known about his personal life, he is believed to have been born in France early in the twelfth century, possibly at Morlaix in Brittany, though his exact place of origin remains uncertain. Tradition holds that he was of English parentage and spent most, if not all, of his adult life in the famous Abbey of Cluny under the leadership of Peter the Venerable. At that time, Cluny was the most influential monastery in Western Europe, renowned for its magnificent church, elaborate liturgical worship, immense wealth, and large monastic community. It was within this environment of both religious devotion and material splendor that Bernard composed the work for which he is remembered.

Bernard's lasting fame rests almost entirely on his monumental Latin poem De Contemptu Mundi ("On the Contempt of the World"), a satirical and devotional masterpiece of approximately 3,000 lines. Written in an exceptionally difficult form of Latin verse known as Leonine dactylic hexameter, the poem denounces the moral corruption, greed, hypocrisy, and spiritual decay of the medieval world while directing the reader's attention to the eternal glory of heaven. Bernard himself confessed that such a demanding work could only have been completed through the direct help of the Holy Spirit, humbly attributing its composition not to his own skill but to divine wisdom.

The central theme of De Contemptu Mundi is the contrast between the fleeting pleasures of this present world and the everlasting joy awaiting God's people in the heavenly Jerusalem. Bernard vividly portrays the vanity of earthly riches, the certainty of divine judgment, the horrors of hell, and the incomparable beauty of the celestial city. His vision is deeply biblical, calling Christians to live as pilgrims whose true citizenship is in heaven rather than being captivated by the passing attractions of this life. While the poem contains severe denunciations of sin and sobering warnings of judgment, it also offers profound hope by pointing believers to the eternal rest and glory prepared for the redeemed. "

Bernard of Cluny - Hymn Writer Biography | Hymnal Library

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