For All the Saints: Bernard of Clairvaux

Last updated on: January 24, 2017 at 6:58 pm by Allison Salerno

For All the Saints: Bernard of Clairvaux 2017-01-24T18:58:39-05:00 Allison Salerno

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a medieval monk, writer and a gifted preacher. This Doctor of the Church was born in Burgundy in 1090. I heard about him earlier this year over breakfast with a dear friend who is a medieval historian and an expert on the Crusades. The only St. Bernard I remember hearing about prior to that conversation was a dog. That breed is named after a different St. Bernard.

There is much to learn about and from the life of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, considered one of the last Fathers of the Church. His father was a knight who died in the First Crusade. Encouraged by his devout mother, St. Bernard joined a Cistercian monastary when he was 22. His enthusiasm for the cloistered life was so great his four brothers and nearly 30 friends joined the monastery too. He later founded and became Abbott of Clairvaux Abbey. While St. Bernard was a contemplative, politicians, bishops and kings sought him out. Consequently, his life was woven in with the politics of the the Second Crusade and of the Papacy.

What intrigues me most about the life of St. Bernard is his founding and reviving of dozens of monasteries in Europe during his lifetime. What an inspiration as our Church faces declining vocations. We are blessed that St. Bernard left so much writing (which Frank has already written about here and here ), spiritual food to taste centuries later.

Here is an excerpt from St. Bernard’s book On Loving God.

“Why should not the creature love his Creator, who gave him the power to love? Why should he not love Him with all his being, since it is by His gift alone that he can do anything that is good? It was God’s creative grace that out of nothingness raised us to the dignity of manhood; and from this appears our duty to love Him, and the justice of His claim to that love.”

He was devoted to Our Blessed Mother. Tradition tell us he wrote the Memorare prayer.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother, to thee I come, before thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate! Despise not my petitions, but, in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

St. Bernard’s overwhelming love of God and his knowledge that without God’s love we would not exist, is a reminder to me to always put this fact in front of me. “Every morning Bernard would ask himself, “Why have I come here?”, and then remind himself of his main duty – lead a holy life.“

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 20, 2010

For the Love of St. Joan of Arc: A Novena

Next Post

August 21, 2010 For the Love of St. Joan of Arc: A Novena (Day 2)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog News Conversion Story Culture Learning Living Nature Prayer Uncategorized Working

Select a Month June 2016 May 2016 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the Bible's teaching on contentment?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Be content with what you have Always want more Never rest Complain