Saint of the Day : 20 August
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) was a Cistercian monk, mystic, and Doctor of the Church whose persuasive rhetoric and theological vigor made him one of the most dominant ecclesiastical figures of 12th-century Europe.
Early Life & Monastic Vocation
- Burgundian Roots: Born to Tescelin, Lord of Fontaines, and Aleth of Montbard, both belonging to the highest nobility of Burgundy in Fontaine-lès-Dijon, the third of a family of seven children, six of whom were sons.
- Bernard received a Latin education focused on rhetoric and classical literature at a much renowned school at Chatillon-sur-Seine, kept by the secular canons of Saint-Vorles, because, before he was born, a devout man had foretold his great destiny. His great desire was to excel in literature in order to take up the study of Sacred Scripture.
- Entry to Cîteaux: In 1112, at age 22, he entered the austere monastery of Cîteaux, famously persuading around 30 male relatives and companions—including several of his brothers—to join the order alongside him.
- Founding of Clairvaux: In 1115, Abbot Stephen Harding sent Bernard to found a daughter house in a secluded valley named Clairvaux (“Valley of Light”). Bernard served as its abbot until his death 38 years later.
Monastic Expansion & Theology
- Cistercian Growth: Under his leadership, Clairvaux became the hub of a vast monastic network, directly founding 68 daughter monasteries and spurring the Cistercian movement across Western Europe.
- The “Mellifluous Doctor”: Earned this title for his lyrical, affectively rich Latin prose. His primary works include On Loving God (De Diligendo Deo), On Consideration (De Consideratione), and 86 influential Sermons on the Song of Songs.
- Marian Devotion: Bernard heavily influenced medieval Marian theology, emphasizing the Virgin Mary as an indispensable mediator and advocate for humanity.
Ecclesiastical & Political Power
- Papal Arbiter: Played a central role in resolving the papal schism of 1130 by championing Pope Innocent II, and later served as a mentor to one of his former Clairvaux monks, Pope Eugene III.
- Conflict with Abelard: A fierce opponent of early Scholastic dialectic, Bernard engaged in a high-profile intellectual clash with Peter Abelard, ultimately securing Abelard’s condemnation for heresy at the Council of Sens in 1140.
- The Second Crusade: Commissioned by Pope Eugene III in 1146, Bernard traveled across France and Germany preaching the Second Crusade. The campaign’s disastrous collapse in the Holy Land cast a shadow over his final years.
Canonization
- Death & Sainthood: Bernard died at Clairvaux on August 20, 1153. He was canonized by Pope Alexander III in 1174 and officially named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius VIII in 1830.
Sources:
Catholic Encyclopaedia
Wikipedia