Harmony and Proportion in Cistercian Buildings
The Cistercians used the “golden ratio” as one type of measurement in their construction. This is p = (1+v5)/2 = 1,61803 .... An irrational number, stemming from various geometrical methods: in particular the ratio between the two dimensions of a plane figure, in which the lesser of the two is to the greater as the greater is to the sum of both. This approach tends to give a certain harmony and proportion when applied in architecture.
It has been very correctly pointed out that in St. Bernard’s work there is ‘what can be called the principle of order, or the principle of ordering, that is to say, a fundamental tendency to consider everything, including the human being and the spiritual life, in the perspective of an order which exists or ought to be established.’ (M. Standaert, Coll 8 (1946) 178-216, here p. 178) He often connected the achievement of human unity with order and ordering. And if he spoke a great deal about order and harmony, this was perhaps simply a reaction to disorder, which made him suffer more than it did other people. Like anyone who has a passionate nature, he very keenly felt ups and downs of his emotive moods and sought a way to reduce the gap between exaltation and despondency. These ‘vicissitudes’ are linked to time and no one can escape from them in this life. He liked to quote from the Book of Wisdom the verse which says that ‘everything has been established with number, weight and measure. (11:20) it was his way of expressing how he longed to transcend this order, outside time:
O Jerusalem...in you there no longer subsists either weight or measure, but only overflowing abundance. No longer do you even have knowledge of number, because in you everyone participates together in him who is Being itself, and who subsists in himself. When will I, who am still delivered up to the vicissitudes of chance and number, come to this unique city which is the object of all my desire? (Sept 1.3 SBOp 4:347)
But love has already turned all order and measure upside down. ....”What violent, devouring, impetuous love! ... It makes no distinction of rank, it defies customs, it knows no measure.!” (SC 79.1 SBOp 2:272) Pathway of Peace, CS 187, 39-40 , Charles Dumont.
It has been very correctly pointed out that in St. Bernard’s work there is ‘what can be called the principle of order, or the principle of ordering, that is to say, a fundamental tendency to consider everything, including the human being and the spiritual life, in the perspective of an order which exists or ought to be established.’ (M. Standaert, Coll 8 (1946) 178-216, here p. 178) He often connected the achievement of human unity with order and ordering. And if he spoke a great deal about order and harmony, this was perhaps simply a reaction to disorder, which made him suffer more than it did other people. Like anyone who has a passionate nature, he very keenly felt ups and downs of his emotive moods and sought a way to reduce the gap between exaltation and despondency. These ‘vicissitudes’ are linked to time and no one can escape from them in this life. He liked to quote from the Book of Wisdom the verse which says that ‘everything has been established with number, weight and measure. (11:20) it was his way of expressing how he longed to transcend this order, outside time:
O Jerusalem...in you there no longer subsists either weight or measure, but only overflowing abundance. No longer do you even have knowledge of number, because in you everyone participates together in him who is Being itself, and who subsists in himself. When will I, who am still delivered up to the vicissitudes of chance and number, come to this unique city which is the object of all my desire? (Sept 1.3 SBOp 4:347)
But love has already turned all order and measure upside down. ....”What violent, devouring, impetuous love! ... It makes no distinction of rank, it defies customs, it knows no measure.!” (SC 79.1 SBOp 2:272) Pathway of Peace, CS 187, 39-40 , Charles Dumont.
