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Feast
Day: August 20
Also known as
Mellifluous
Doctor of the Church; Last of the Fathers of the Holy Church
Profile
French nobility. At age 22, fearing the ways of the world, he, four of
his brothers, and 25 friends joined the
abbey of Citeaux; his
father and another brother joined soon after.
Benedictine. Founded and led the
monastery at Clairvaux which soon had over 700
monks and 160 daughter houses. Revised and reformed the Cistercans.
Advisor to, and admonisher of,
King Louis the Fat and
King Louis the Young. Attended Second Lateran Council. Fought
Albigensianism. Helped end the
schism of
anti-Pope Anacletus II. Preached in
France,
Italy,
Germany. Helped organize the Second Crusade. Friend and biographer of
Saint
Malachy O'More. Spritual advisor to
Pope Eugenius III, who had originally been one of his
monks. First Cistercian
monk placed on the calendar of saints. Proclaimed a
Doctor of the Church by
Pope Pius VIII.
Every morning Bernard would ask himself, "Why have I come here?", and then
remind himself of his main duty - lead a holy life.
Born
1090 at Fontaines-les-Dijon,
Burgundy,
France
Died
20 August
1153 at Clairvaux
Canonized
1170 by
Pope
Alexander III
Patronage
beekeepers,
bees,
candlemakers,
chandlers,
Gibraltar,
Queens College Cambridge,
wax-melters,
wax refiners
Prayers
Rythmic Prayer to the Sacred Members of Jesus Hanging on the Cross
Representation
Cistercian
having a vision of
Mary; Cistercian with a beehive; Cistercian with a chained demon;
Cistercian with a mitre on the ground beside him; Cistercian with a swarm
of
bees nearby; Cistercian with a white dog; Cistercian writing and
watching Mary; beehive;
bees; book; instruments of the Passion; pen; white dog
Images
Gallery of images of Saint Bernard Writings
Readings
In dangers,
in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her
name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that
you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her
footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking
her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are
safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her
protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall
not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.
- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
Love is
sufficient of itself; it gives pleasure by itself and because of itself.
it is its own merit, its own reward. Love looks for no cause outside
itself, no effect beyond itself. Its profit lies in the practice. Of all
the movements, sensations and feelings of the soul, love is the only one
in which the creature can respond to the Creator and make some sort of
similar return however unequal though it be. For when God loves, all he
desires is to be loved in return. The sole purpose of his love is to be
loved, int he knowledge that those who love him are made happy by their
love of him.
- from a sermon by Saint Bernard
Look at
that clever calumniator! He begins by fetching a deep sigh, he affects to
be humble, and puts on a modest look, and with a voice choking with sobs
tries to gloss over the slander which is on the tip of his tongue One
would fancy that he expressly assumed a calm and easy demeanor; for when
he speaks against his brother, it is in a tender and compassionate tone. I
am really hurt, says he, to find that our brother has fallen into such a
sin; you all know how much I love him, and how often I have tried to
correct him. It is not today that I have noticed his failing; for I should
always be on my guard to speak of others, but others have spoken of it
too. It would be in vain to disguise the fact; it is only too true, and
with tears in my eyes I tell it to you. This poor unfortunate brother has
talent, but it must be confessed that he is very guilty, and however great
may be our friendship for him, it is impossible to excuse him.
- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 24th sermon on the Canticles
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