--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was so cold. In the monastery…" description: "\"“It was so cold. In the monastery. Sometimes the wind came from the sea with ice in it... It could freeze the skin off your face. Once the snow was so ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/sarah-dunant-22065_historical-fiction_it-was-so-cold-in-the-monastery-sometime_1739284.png" --- # It was so cold. In the monastery. Sometimes the wind came… ![“It was so cold. In the monastery. Sometimes the wind came from the sea with ice in it... It could freeze the skin off your face. Once the snow was so deep we couldn't get out of the doors to the woodshed. A monk jumped from a window. He sank into a drift and took a long time to get up. That night…” quote by Sarah Dunant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/sarah-dunant-22065_historical-fiction_it-was-so-cold-in-the-monastery-sometime_1739284.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/sarah-dunant-22065_historical-fiction_it-was-so-cold-in-the-monastery-sometime_1739284.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/sarah-dunant-22065_historical-fiction_it-was-so-cold-in-the-monastery-sometime_1739284.png) > ““It was so cold. In the monastery. Sometimes the wind came from the sea with ice in it... It could freeze the skin off your face. Once the snow was so deep we couldn't get out of the doors to the woodshed. A monk jumped from a window. He sank into a drift and took a long time to get up. That night, they made me sleep next to the stove. I was small, thin, like a piece of birch bark. But then the Stove went out. Father Bernard took me into his cell... It was he who first gave me chalk and paper. He was so old his eyes his eyes looked as if he was crying. But he was never sad. In winter he had fewer blankets than the others. He said he didn't need them because God warmed him. (...) But even Father Bernard was cold that night. He laid me down on the bed next to him, wrapped me in an animal skin, then in his own arms. He told me stories about Jesus. How His love could wake the dead and how with Him in one's heart one could heat the world... When I woke it was light. The snow had stopped. I was warm. But he was cold. I gave him the skin but his body was stiff. I didn't know what to do. I got out a piece of paper from his chest under the bed and drew him, lying there. His face had a smile on it. I knew that God had been there when he died. That now He was in me, and because of Father Bernard I would be warm forever.”” [Sarah Dunant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dunant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A monk's selfless love and faith provide warmth and spiritual comfort amidst harsh physical cold, illustrating how compassion can transcend suffering. **In simple terms:** Compassion and faith give inner warmth despite external cold. Key Takeaway Seek to give and receive compassionate support. Themes compassion faith sacrifice spirituality Mood reflective hopeful somber Type narrative inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - winter hardship - caregiving - spiritual mentorship - personal loss - healing Key Concepts selflessness redemption human connection Questions to Reflect On - How can we embody compassionate care in our own lives? - What limits exist when relying solely on personal sacrifice? 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That night, they made me sleep next to the stove. I was small, thin, like a piece of birch bark. But then the Stove went out. Father Bernard took me into his cell... It was he who first gave me chalk and paper. He was so old his eyes his eyes looked as if he was crying. But he was never sad. In winter he had fewer blankets than the others. He said he didn't need them because God warmed him. (...) But even Father Bernard was cold that night. He laid me down on the bed next to him, wrapped me in an animal skin, then in his own arms. He told me stories about Jesus. How His love could wake the dead and how with Him in one's heart one could heat the world... When I woke it was light. The snow had stopped. I was warm. But he was cold. I gave him the skin but his body was stiff. I didn't know what to do. I got out a piece of paper from his chest under the bed and drew him, lying there. His face had a smile on it. I knew that God had been there when he died. 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