A man with a big heart
“The reasoning about the mysteries of God is not worth much, without a deep faith and without prayer” Bernardo said, a brilliant intellectual, great theologian, doctor of the Church and monk, who reformed the religious life of his time, in addition to founding the abbey of Clairvaux, and even 72 monasteries throughout Europe. Bernardo was a man with an upright and mystical temperament, who defended a religion where the passion of the heart prevails over moral precepts. He did not doubt for a moment that Mary is the way to reach Jesus and underlined the privileged place of the Virgin in the economy of salvation. In short, Bernardo, nicknamed “the conscience of his time”, Because of his great discernment, he was first and foremost a man with a big heart.
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Biography of Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard de Fontaines was born in 1090 at the castle of Fontaine-les-Dijon, within a noble Burgundian noble family and he was the third of seven children. His mother, Aleth, was a very pious woman. In fact, when she was pregnant, she sensed, by inner revelation, the exceptional vocation of this third child. From a very early age, the boy began to be attracted to silence and contemplation and liked to read the Holy Scriptures. This great love for the Lord made him study with the canons of the church of Saint-Vorles. One Christmas night, Bernardo had a dream: The little boy had a vision of the Child Jesus, after which he asked for the grace to remain pure. Then, as the years passed, he grew up to be a blond and handsome young man, so his family made big plans for him. However, after the death of his mother, Bernardo gave up his future as a knight and decided to enter a strict life of asceticism and prayer.
In 1112, without telling anyone, Bernard went to Cîteaux to become a monk. However, his family did not agree and tried to get him to return, but he did so only for a few months, during which he took the opportunity to preach the ideal of Cistercian life around him. In fact, Bernardo had such charisma that, when he returned to the abbey, some thirty companions accompanied him, including four of his brothers. Three years after beginning religious life, Bernardo founded the abbey of Clairvaux, which he placed under the protection of the Virgin Mary. In fact, Bernardo was abbot there for 38 years, refusing the honors and opportunities offered him elsewhere. On the other hand, his dedication to the Lord caused him to write the charity letteralong with other abbots belonging to the first foundations.
Bernardo was a man with great firmness and even severity, who never stopped defending the truth, even when faced with great renowned theologians or erroneous public opinion. For example, he particularly opposed Abelard’s thought, in whom he saw danger and heresy, since he considered faith as a simple opinion and reason as all-powerful. Regarding Abelardo, Bernardo referred saying: “a false Catholic is more pernicious than a declared impious one”.
On the other hand, Bernardo’s spirituality was centered on submission to Holy Scripture and surrender to the Will of God. He entrusted himself to the Blessed Virgin, while he was able to humbly recognize her weaknesses and faults. Furthermore, Bernardo knew how to touch souls with solid and profound teachings that went straight to the heart. This reason made him soon become noted for his persuasive qualities, and very often, people asked him to solve all kinds of problems and mediate conflicts. Thus, Bernardo toured Europe and participated in political and religious affairs of his time: he worked for the unity of the Church, for relations with the papacy, and thus exerted great political influence. On the other hand, Being a contemplative man by nature, Bernardo became a preacher out of love and very reserved. In fact, he used to say: “I’d rather die than speak in public”. It is worth noting that, at the request of Pope Eugene III, Bernard preached the second crusade.
Finally, Bernardo was a man who received many gifts and graces. For example, he received the gift of make miraclesbut, being immersed in contemplation, he never used it, saying: “There is no relationship between these miracles and me”. Finally, after a life of work for Christ, in all areas, both temporal and spiritual, Bernard died in the year 1153.
Finally, he was canonized by Alexander III 21 years after his death, on January 18, 1174. And, in 1830, Pius VIII proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church. His feast is celebrated on August 20.
Historical context of his life
The life of Saint Bernard is completely intertwined with the history of his time. Writer Ernest Hello said: “It is impossible to write the history of his life without writing that of the entire world at the time in which he lived. To imagine Saint Bernard a little, one must question everything, the books and the battlefields, the palaces of the kings, the councils, the towns and the oratory where the monks prayed”. Therefore, it can be said that Saint Bernard is one of the most representative men of the 12th century. This period was marked by great upheavals in all areas: philosophy, poetry, economic and social transformations, the birth of urban planning, the appearance of commerce, the establishment of royalty (with its centralization against the feudal nobility), without forgetting the confrontations between the Church and the State, the birth of heresies, the beginning of the crusades that opened the doors of the East, etc. In fact, it is precisely in this context that Saint Bernard was quite in demand because of his great faith, his intellectual potential and his literary and oratorical qualities. Due to the breadth of his gifts and talents, Saint Bernard played a prominent role in the conduct of ecclesiastical and state affairs, and contributed to the consolidation of Western Europe and the Church in the twelfth century. It should be noted that his greatest motivation was always the defense and interests of God.
Plays
foundation of monasteries
Thanks to the contribution of Saint Bernard, the community of Cîteaux underwent a considerable expansion that developed rapidly, which allowed the foundation of four new abbeys “daughters of Cîteaux” (as they are called in the Cistercian word). It should be noted that Saint Bernard founded the abbey of Clairvaux, third daughter of Cîteaux, in 1115. The latter allowed the birth of three colonies, which in turn founded the abbey of the three sources (1115), the abbey of Fontenay (1118) and the abbey of Foigny (1121). In fact, throughout his life, Bernardo did not stop participating in the organization and expansion of the Cistercian order, in such a way that at the time of his death, Clairvaux had 341 abbeys and 700 monks, and the Cistercian order had with 165 foundations.
Writings of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux left numerous writings, in particular more than 300 sermons Y 500 cards that bear witness to his great role as a spiritual adviser. Among his most famous books we can cite:
The treatise on grace and free willwritten in 1127.
The Treatise on the love of Godwritten in 1124.
The In Praise of the New Templar Militia (de laude novae militiae) written in 1129.
The “Hymn to Saint Malachy”written in 1148.
The “Sermons on the Song of Solomon“, in which Bernardo reveals his heart in love with the heart of God and that he aspires to union with his beloved.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and the Virgin Mary
Saint Bernard was known as the Mary’s singer for his enthusiastic and cheerful style. It can be said that his thought took up that of the Fathers of the Church; proof of this are the numerous saint bernard words and quotes, through which he showed his great love for the Mother of God. In fact, he was a man who deeply delved into the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word and was quite amazed at the instrument chosen by God to achieve this end, that is, the Virgin Mary. In this regard, Saint Bernard referred saying: “Let us also, beloved ones, try to ascend through it to the same Lord who through it came down to us and come through it to the grace of the same one who through it came into our misery”. He also said: “When we think of her, we don’t go astray.” Saint Bernard was a man who emphasized the place of the Virgin as a being that allows man to approach God, thanks to her role as mediator. In fact, Saint Bernard said: “If you want a lawyer close to Jesus, turn to Mary. I say it without hesitation: Maria will be listened to with the consideration that she deserves. The son will listen to his Mother and the Father to his Son. This is the ladder for sinners: absolute trust, and on this is based my hope.
Lastly, it should be noted that St. Bernardo reflected his Marian spirituality in several of his works. For example, in his sermons: sermon for Advent, for February 2 (Purification of Mary), for the Assumption, for the Annunciation, for September 8 (Nativity of Mary).
Prayers of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
The “remember” prayer of Saint Bernard
“Remember, oh most pious Virgin Mary
that has never been heard
that none of those who have come to your protection,
imploring your help,
have been forsaken.
Encouraged by this trust, I come to You,
O Mother, Virgin of virgins,
and groaning under the weight of my sins
I dare to appear before you.
O mother of God, do not reject my pleas,
rather, listen to them and welcome them benignly.
Amen.”
Prayer “Look at the star, invoke Mary” of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
Oh! you, whoever you are, who feel far from the mainland,
dragged by the waves of this world, in the midst of storms and storms,
if you don’t want to capsize, don’t take your eyes off the light of this star.
If the wind of temptations rises,
If the rock of tribulations stands in your way,
Look at the star, invoke Mary.
If you are swayed by the stirrings of pride,
of ambition, gossip, envy,
Look at the star, invoke Mary.
If anger, greed, impure desires
shake the fragile ship of your soul,
He looks up at Maria.
If disturbed by the memory of the enormity of your crimes,
confused before the clumsiness of your conscience,
terrified by fear of Judgment,
you begin to let yourself be carried away by the whirlwind of sadness,
to fall into the abyss of despair, think of Mary.
If the storms of your passions rise,
Look at the Star, invoke Mary.
If the sensuality of your senses wants to sink the boat of your spirit,
raise your eyes of faith, look at the Star, invoke Mary.
If the memory of your many sins wants to throw you into the abyss of despair,
take a look at the Star in the sky and pray to the Mother of God.
Following her, you will not get lost on the way. Invoking her you will not despair.
And guided by Her you will arrive at the Celestial Port.
May his name never leave your lips…