Jesus, the very thought of thee

Some hymns (spiritual songs) are the best products ever produced by a human being. They are directly from the deepest part of the heart of saints.

“Jesus, the very thought of thee” is one of them.

This song was written by Bernard Clairvaux who lived 1090-1153, the Middle Ages of Europe.  This bright shining hymn was composed during the spiritual deadness and moral darkness of the Middle Ages when the church had sunk to new depth of decay and deterioration.

Bernard Clairvaux is one of the most prominent personalities of the entire middle ages and of church history in general. He was a man of exceptional devotion and spiritual vitality. Endowed with a warm personality and a sharp intellect, he gave a new impulse to monastic life and contributed not a little toward the awakening of an inner devotion to God. Because of him, his monastery became known as the Valley of Light – Clairvaux. He inspired the masses by his powerful preaching and lead individual souls by his quiet conversations. If it were not for the monastic movement by saints like Bernard, there would not have been much spiritual light in the medieval Christianity.

The works of Bernard, besides being beautiful in form and composition, are distinguished by a tender and living feeling with a mystic fervor and holy love.  This hymn is just like that, and is the best of the best.

He once wrote: “You want me to tell you why God is to be loved and how much? I answer: The reason for loving God is God Himself, and the measure of love due to Him is immeasurable love.”