St. Bernard of Clairvaux
1090-1153
📅 Feast Day: Jun 20
📖 Life Timeline
1090
Born in August 1090 AD, FontainelesDijon, France
1091
CLAIRVAUX (St) Ab
1153
RVAUX (St) Ab
1113
n near Dijon, at the age of twenty-two he joined (1113) the re- cently founded struggling abbey of Citeaux, after having
1115
when he was sent as abbot- founder to Clairvaux (1115) and as such became the real founder of the Cister- cians
1830
ced many other works
1153
Died — August 20, 1153 AD, Clairvaux
1174
Canonized — 1174 by Pope Alexander III
✝ Biography
BERNARD of CLAIRVAUX (St) Ab. Dr. O.S.B. Cist. R.M. Aug. 20 1090-1153. Born near Dijon, at the age of twenty-two he joined (1113) the re- cently founded struggling abbey of Citeaux, after having persuaded thirty other young noblemen to follow him thither. Scarcely had he finished his novitiate when he was sent as abbot- founder to Clairvaux (1115) and as such became the real founder of the Cister- cians. During his lifetime he established sixty-eight Cistercian houses, was the ad- viser of popes, kings and councils, the preacher of the second crusade (which, however, was a failure), the arbiter of Europe, who, as has been said, “carried the 12th century on his shoulders.” In the theological field, he confuted Abelard, wrote profusely on the love of God, com- mented for his monks on the Song of Songs, sent a noble treatise, De consideratione, to his former monk, Pope Eugene III, and produced many other works. He was declared a doctor in 1830 and is known as the Doctor Mellifluus (“the Honeysweet Doctor’). In art he is often represented with three mitres on a book or at his feet, in allusion to his having refused three bishoprics.
Cf. Mab. — Bolland. — Zimm, — Att. — Chev
THE BOOK
BERNARD of VALDEIGLESIAS (St) Mk. O.S.B. A.C, Aug. 20 d. p. 1155. A monk of Valdeiglesias in Spanish Galicia. He is the patron saint of Ca
🛡 Patronage
Patron of: Beekeepers, Cistercians, Europe (co-patron), and those fighting heresy. Doctor of the Church.
💬 Words of the Saint
Begin this hour to live as though you were to die tonight.
📜 Key Facts
Born
August 1090 AD, FontainelesDijon, France
Died
August 20, 1153 AD, Clairvaux
Feast Day
Jun 20
Canonized
1174 by Pope Alexander III
🕊 Legacy
Bernard's influence on medieval spirituality is unmatched. His 'Song of Songs' commentaries shaped mystical theology. He defended the Church against heresies and his political influence was enormous. The Cistercian order he built became one of the most powerful forces in Christendom.
📜 Personal Writings
Read excerpts from the saint's own words — their personal letters, spiritual writings, and teachings.
📖 On Loving God
On the Degrees of Love
We love ourselves for our own sake; we love God for our own sake; we love ourselves for God's sake; we love God for God's sake. These are the four degrees of love. The first is natural, the second is grateful, the third is virtuous, the fourth is perfect.
— St. Bernard of Clairvaux
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