He is often cited for saying that Mary Magdalene was the Apostle to the Apostles. He may also have been related to the Counts of Champagne, who themselves appear to have been pivotal in the formation of the Templar Order. Bernard of Clairvaux may well represent the most important figure in Templarism. As in the olden scene, the cry "Deus vult! For this reason, the Black Monks attempted to make it appear that the rules of the new order were impracticable. His two successors, Pope Celestine II and Pope Lucius II, reigned only a short time, and then Bernard saw one of his disciples, Bernard of Pisa, and known thereafter as Eugene III, raised to the Chair of Saint Peter. The reputation of his holiness soon attracted 130 new monks, including his own father. The archbishop of Cologne and the archbishop of Mainz were vehemently opposed to these attacks and asked Bernard to denounce them. [5], In 1098 Robert of Molesme had founded Cîteaux Abbey, near Dijon, with the purpose of restoring the Rule of St Benedict in all its rigour. In 1144 Eugene III commissioned Bernard to preach the Second Crusade[6] and granted the same indulgences for it which Pope Urban II had accorded to the First Crusade. [c] Bernard led to the foundation of 163 monasteries in different parts of Europe. Malachy died at Clairvaux in 1148. Bernard of Clairvaux may well represent the most important figure in Templarism. Bernard praises it in his "De Laudibus Novae Militiae". On 31 March, with King Louis VII of France present, he preached to an enormous crowd in a field at Vézelay, making "the speech of his life". Patronage. Clairvaux became the Mother House of many new Cistercian monasteries, not least of all Fountaines Abbey in Yorkshire, England, which itself was to rise to the rank of most prosperous abbey on English soil. Bernard found it expedient to dwell upon taking the cross as a potent means of gaining absolution for sin and attaining grace. Returning to Molesme, he left the government of the new abbey to Alberic of Cîteaux, who died in the year 1109. Bernard is Dante Alighieri's last guide, in Divine Comedy, as he travels through the Empyrean. Abelard continued to press for a public debate, and made his challenge widely known, making it hard for Bernard to decline. Clothe yourselves in sackcloth, but also cover yourselves with your impenetrable bucklers. Lothair II became Innocent's strongest ally among the nobility. After persuading Gerard, Bernard traveled to visit William X, Duke of Aquitaine. Actually St Bernard contributed to condemning certain teachings of Abelard at the Provincial Synod of Sens in 1140 and went so far as to request Pope Innocent II's intervention. From the beginning of the year 1153, Bernard felt his death approaching. Bernard's informal political influence was further enhanced with the election of Pope Eugenius III, one of Bernard's former pupils. Sunday mornings. [13] He was buried at the Clairvaux Abbey, but after its dissolution in 1792 by the French revolutionary government, his remains were transferred to Troyes Cathedral. Bernard answered the letter by saying that, if he had assisted at the council, it was because he had been dragged to it by force, replying: Now illustrious Harmeric if you so wished, who would have been more capable of freeing me from the necessity of assisting at the council than yourself? [4], In the year 1119, Bernard was present at the first general chapter of the order convoked by Stephen of Cîteaux. After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. Bernard, abbot of Clairvaux, was a monk who spent most of his time out of the cloister, a spiritual man who seemed always embroiled in politics and a man of peace who convinced thousands to fight and die for their faith. In the year 1128 AD, Bernard participated in the Council of Troyes, which had been convoked by Pope Honorius II, and was presided over by Cardinal Matthew of Albano. There is no doubt that he was blood-tied to some of the first Templar Knights, in particular Andre de Montbard, who was his maternal uncle. The passing of Pope Eugenius had struck the fatal blow by taking from him one whom he considered his greatest friend and consoler. Conrad III of Germany and his nephew Frederick Barbarossa, received the cross from the hand of Bernard. The abbey became too small for its members and it was necessary to send out bands to found new houses. Bernard was born at his father's castle on the eminence of Les Fontaines, near Dijon, in Burgundy, in 1091. Hasten then to expiate your sins by victories over the Infidels, and let the deliverance of the holy places be the reward of your repentance." He was sent to found a new abbey at an isolated clearing in a glen known as the Val d'Absinthe, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) southeast of Bar-sur-Aube. âBernard of Clairvaux, quoted in The Crusades. He then went with him into Italy and reconciled Pisa with Genoa, and Milan with the pope. In brief however it would be fair to suggest that Bernard’s own personality, drive and influence saw the Cistercians growing from a slightly quirky fringe monastic institution to being arguably the most significant component of Christian monasticism that the Middle Ages ever knew. He was a staunch supporter of the Virgin Mary, a visionary and a man who had a profound belief in an early and very ‘Culdean’ form of Christianity. Bernard’s influence grew within the established Church of his day. Bernard of Clairvaux was one of the most powerful figures of the twelfth century. He did not pledge allegiance to Innocent until 1135. This appointment should not be underestimated, for it was Pope Innocent II who formally accepted ‘The Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon’ (The Knights Templar) into the Catholic fold. This he did, almost certainly, at the behest of Bernard and possibly as a result of promises he had made to this end at the time Bernard showed him the support which led to the Vatican. Christians had been defeated at the Siege of Edessa and most of the county had fallen into the hands of the Seljuk Turks. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Although travelling extensively on many and varied errands during his life, St Bernard always returned to his own abbey of Clairvaux, which it seems (to us at least) had been deliberately built in a location that allowed free travel in all directions. St Bernard travelled extensively, negotiated in civil disturbances and, surprisingly for the period, was instrumental in preventing a number of pogroms taking place against Jews in various locations within what is present day France. All Public Masses in the Archdiocese of Toronto Are Temporarily Cancelled. In particular he was a staunch opponent of the dialectician ‘Peter Abelard’, a man whom St Bernard virtually destroyed when Abelard refused to accept Bernard’s own criticism of his radical ideas. In our opinion past researchers have generally failed to credit St Bernard with the pivotal role he played in the planning, formation and promotion of the infant Templar Order. Cistercians, Burgundy, beekeepers, candlemakers, Gibraltar, Queens' College, Cambridge, Speyer Cathedral. A much fuller and more comprehensive detailed biography of St Bernard’s life can be found in ‘The Knights Templar Revealed’ Butler and Dafoe, Constable and Robinson – 2006. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, (born 1090, probably Fontaine-les-Dijon, near Dijon, Burgundy [France]âdied August 20, 1153, Clairvaux, Champagne; canonized January 18, 1174; feast day August 20), Cistercian monk and mystic, founder and abbot of the abbey of Clairvaux and one of the most influential churchmen of his time. St Bernard enters history in an indisputable sense at the age of 23 years, when together with a very large group of his brothers, cousins and maybe other kin, (probably between 25 and 30) he rode into the abbey of Citeaux, Dijon. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 107867101, citing Abbaye de Clairvaux, Clairvaux, Departement de l'Aube, Champagne-Ardenne, France ; Maintained by David Martin (contributor 47817370) . Abbey mosaic of St. Bernard. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. In 1141, at the urgings of Abelard, the archbishop of Sens called a council of bishops, where Abelard and Bernard were to put their respective cases so Abelard would have a chance to clear his name. [6] His father and all his brothers entered Clairvaux to pursue religious life, leaving only Humbeline, his sister, in the secular world. The son of a knight and vassal of the duke of Burgundy who perished in the first crusade, Bernard may have felt for a time the temptations of a military career, but the influence of a pious mother and his own inclinations towards a life of meditation and study led him to the cloister. [6], Bernard was instrumental in re-emphasizing the importance of lectio divina and contemplation on Scripture within the Cistercian order. He then found Radulphe in Mainz and was able to silence him, returning him to his monastery.[21]. Around this time, he praised them in his Liber ad milites templi de laude novae militiae. [6], So great was his reputation that princes and Popes sought his advice, and even the enemies of the Church admired the holiness of his life and the greatness of his writings. However, Abelard continued to develop his teachings, which were controversial in some quarters. Born in 1090, at Fontaines, near Dijon, France; died at Clairvaux, 21 August, 1153. St. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux one of the most illustrious preachers and monks of the middle ages, was born at Fontaines, near Dijon, in France. Henry I was sceptical because most of the bishops of England supported Antipope Anacletus II; Bernard persuaded him to support Innocent. You can come and participate at whatever level you're comfortable with. It was at this council that Bernard traced the outlin⦠[24] Calvin also quotes him in setting forth his doctrine of a forensic alien righteousness, or as it is commonly called imputed righteousness. Tens of thousands heard his powerful preaching, and he personally attracted and helped many hundreds of men to follow a call to monastic life. From that moment a strong friendship sprang up between the abbot and the bishop, who was professor of theology at Notre Dame of Paris, and the founder of the Abbey of St. Victor, Paris. It is also true to say that if Citeaux remained the ‘head’ of the Cistercian movement during the life of St Bernard, Clairvaux lay at its heart. He was a theologian, poet, orator, and writer. hymns. Bernard died at age sixty-three on 20 August 1153, after forty years spent in the cloister. Hasten to appease the anger of heaven, but no longer implore its goodness by vain complaints. [31], The Couvent et Basilique Saint-Bernard, a collection of buildings dating from the 12th, 17th and 19th centuries, is dedicated to Bernard and stands in his birthplace of Fontaine-lès-Dijon.[32]. There he explains how the sins of the crusaders were the cause of their misfortune and failures. In the conclaveAnacletus IIwas elected by a narrow mnargin, but many influential cardinals favored the contender, Pope Innocent ⦠His success in his studies won the admiration of his teachers. However, Innocent insisted on Bernard's company when he met with Lothair II, Holy Roman Emperor. [12] The council found in favour of Bernard and their judgment was confirmed by the pope. About the same time, Bernard was visited at Clairvaux by Malachy, Primate of All Ireland, and a very close friendship formed between them. [9], Again reproaches arose against Bernard and he was denounced, even in Rome. Bernard had returned to France in June and was continuing the work of peacemaking which he had commenced in 1130. He then returned to Clairvaux. Though not yet 30 years old, Bernard was listened to with the greatest attention and respect, especially when he developed his thoughts upon the revival of the primitive spirit of regularity and fervour in all the monastic orders. Bernard, abbot of Clairvaux 1115â1153, was one of the most eloquent preachers and spiritual writers of the medieval period. One time he restored the power of speech to an old man that he might confess his sins before he died. She, with the consent of her husband, soon took the veil in the Benedictine nunnery of Jully-les-Nonnains. Germany had decided to support Innocent through Norbert of Xanten, who was a friend of Bernard's. In 1830 Pope Pius VIII bestowed upon Bernard the title "Doctor of the Church". The last years of Bernard's life were saddened by the failure of the crusaders, the entire responsibility for which was thrown upon him. Bernard considered lectio divina and contemplation guided by the Holy Spirit the keys to nourishing Christian spirituality. ST BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX (1090-1153), De precepto et dispensatione and other works, in Latin, DECORATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This led for a time to the exaltation of human reason and rationalism. Born Fontaine de Dijon France 1090. For whatever reason St Bernard wrote the first ‘rules’ of the Templar Order. bernard was a cistercian monk and mystic, founder and abbot of the abbey of clairvaux, and one of the most influential churchmen of his time | it is said that his mother aleth exerted a virtuous influence on him only second to that of monica on st augustine | after her death in 1107 he began his 'long path to complete conversion', turning from his literary education to a life of renunciation and solitude || juan ⦠1/4. His texts are prescribed readings in Cistercian congregations. The last years of Bernard's life were saddened by the failure of the Second Crusade he had preached, the entire responsibility for which was thrown upon him. About the same time he wrote his work on Grace and Free Will. Nevertheless, the monastery at Clairvaux flourished as more and more disciples sought to place themselves under the leadership of St. Bernard. Believing himself at last secure in his cloister, Bernard devoted himself with renewed vigour to the composition of the works which won for him the title of "Doctor of the Church". He was the first Cistercian placed on the calendar of saints, and was canonized by Pope Alexander III on 18 January 1174. After his death a cult of St Bernard rapidly developed. The influence of the Abbot of Clairvaux was soon felt in provincial affairs. His father, a knight named Tecelin, perished on crusade; and his mother Aleth, a daughter of the noble house of Mon-Bar, and a woman distinguished for her piety, died while Bernard was yet a boy. © 1997-2020 TemplarHistory.com | Managed by Pawn Marketing & Publishing Inc. After the council, the bishop of Verdun was deposed. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed ), memorial page for Bernard âBishop ofâ Clairvaux (1091â1153), Find a Grave Memorial no. The first abbot of Clairvaux developed a rich theology of sacred space and music, writing extensively on both. Abstract. Anacletus died of "grief and disappointment" in 1138, and with him the schism ended. [5], Bernard had occupied himself in sending bands of monks from his overcrowded monastery into Germany, Sweden, England, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, and Italy. In opposition to the rational approach to divine understanding that the scholastics adopted, Bernard preached an immediate faith, in which the intercessor was the Virgin Mary. Bernard of Clairvaux (Latin: Bernardus Claraevallensis; 1090 – 20 August 1153), venerated as Saint Bernard, was a Burgundian abbot, and a major leader in the revitalization of Benedictine monasticism through the nascent Order of Cistercians. Bernard was named a Doctor of the Church in 1830. He was accused of being a monk who meddled with matters that did not concern him. What does seem evident is that Bernard was bright, inquisitive and probably tinged with a sort of genius. Only three years later St Bernard, still an extremely young man, (25 years) was dispatched, together with a small band of monks, to a site at Clairvaux, near Troyes, in Champagne, there to become Abbott of his own establishment. Cardinal Harmeric, on behalf of the pope, wrote Bernard a sharp letter of remonstrance stating, "It is not fitting that noisy and troublesome frogs should come out of their marshes to trouble the Holy See and the cardinals."[4]. [15] Henry of Lausanne's followers became known as Henricians. As in the First Crusade, the preaching led to attacks on Jews; a fanatical French monk named Radulphe was apparently inspiring massacres of Jews in the Rhineland, Cologne, Mainz, Worms, and Speyer, with Radulphe claiming Jews were not contributing financially to the rescue of the Holy Land. The Templars were officially declared to be a monastic order under the protection of Church in Troyes in 1139. transl. The first to die was Suger in 1152, of whom Bernard wrote to Eugene III, "If there is any precious vase adorning the palace of the King of Kings it is the soul of the venerable Suger". Much can be found elsewhere in these pages relating specifically to the Cistercians. [29] Pope Pius VIII bestowed on him the title "Doctor of the Church". There is some dispute as to whether Bernard’s father had fought in the storming of Jerusalem in 1099, and indeed whether he died in the Levant. [b] In 1137, he was again forced to leave his solitude by order of the pope to put an end to the quarrel between Lothair and Roger of Sicily. St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church (Spanish: Monasterio Español de Sacramenia) is a medieval Spanish monastery cloister which was built in the town of Sacramenia in Segovia, Spain, in the 12th century but dismantled in the 20th century and shipped to New York City in the United States. [4], The beginnings of Clairvaux Abbey were trying and painful. Bernard suffered frequent bouts of ill health, almost from the moment he joined the Cistercians. By the end of 1131, the kingdoms of France, England, Germany, Portugal, Castile, and Aragon supported Pope Innocent II; however, most of Italy, southern France, and Sicily, with the Latin patriarchs of Constantinople, Antioch, and Jerusalem supported Antipope Anacletus II. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. [14], Having previously helped end the schism within the Church, Bernard was now called upon to combat heresy. [8] In 1118 Trois-Fontaines Abbey was founded in the diocese of Châlons; in 1119 Fontenay Abbey in the Diocese of Autun; and in 1121 Foigny Abbey near Vervins, in the diocese of Laon. Made abbot of Clairvaux (1115), he erected numerous abbeys where his spirit flourished. [19], Unlike the First Crusade, the new venture attracted royalty, such as Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of France; Thierry of Alsace, Count of Flanders; Henry, the future Count of Champagne; Louis's brother Robert I of Dreux; Alphonse I of Toulouse; William II of Nevers; William de Warenne, 3rd Earl of Surrey; Hugh VII of Lusignan, Yves II, Count of Soissons; and numerous other nobles and bishops. St Bernard was a younger member of an extremely large family. [6], The little community of reformed Benedictines at Cîteaux, which had so profound an influence on Western monasticism, grew rapidly. St Bernard died in Clairvaux on August 20th 1153, a date that would soon become his feast day, for St Bernard was canonised within a few short years of his death. In 1120, Bernard wrote his first work, De Gradibus Superbiae et Humilitatis, and his homilies which he entitled De Laudibus Mariae. William Marshall – The Flower of Chivalry, Above: Melrose Abbey: JeremyA under CC BY-SA 2.5 The Knights Templar are known to history as the warrior monks, but what is not as commonly known is the kinship the Order shared with the Cistercians, […], by Stephen Dafoe Within two decades of the victory of the First Crusade (1095-1099) a group of knights led by Hugues (Hugh) de Payens offered themselves to the Patriarch of Jerusalem to serve as a […], Traditional history tells us that Hugues de Payens and Geoffrey de St. Omer arrived at the palace of King Baldwin II with the desire to defend Christian pilgrims from the attack of the infidels. Disciples flocked to it in great numbers and put themselves under the direction of Bernard. Bernard had a great taste for literature and devoted himself for some time to poetry. This Bernard named Claire Vallée, or Clairvaux, on 25 June 1115, and the names of Bernard and Clairvaux soon became inseparable. At the solicitation of William of St. Thierry, Bernard defended the order by publishing his Apology which was divided into two parts. [13] Bernard sent him, at the pope's own request, various instructions which comprise the Book of Considerations, the predominating idea of which is that the reformation of the Church ought to commence with the sanctity of the pope. In June 1145, at the invitation of Cardinal Alberic of Ostia, Bernard traveled in southern France. The Mission of St. John the Divine became the Church of St. Bernard de Clairvaux, named in honor of the great Saint who had been a leading influence among the Cistercians 847 years ago, and whose feast day is commemorated on August 20. You don't have to kneel or stand up to sing the. [13] Bernard considered it his duty to send an apology to the Pope and it is inserted in the second part of his "Book of Considerations." Three years later, Bernard was sent with a band of twelve monks to found a new house at Vallée d'Absinthe,[6] in the Diocese of Langres. He had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary, and he later wrote several works about the Queen of Heaven.[4]. born 1090, probably Fontaine-les-Dijon, near Dijon, Burgundy died Aug. 20, 1153, Clairvaux, Champagne; canonized Jan. 18, 1174; feast day August 20. No matter who you are or where you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome here. "[27], Bernard's theology and Mariology continue to be of major importance, particularly within the Cistercian and Trappist orders. Bernard went again to Italy, where Roger II of Sicily was endeavouring to withdraw the Pisans from their allegiance to Innocent. Bernardâs influence upon the princes, the clergy, and the people of his age was most remarkable. A Catholic priest and abbot (director) of a religious institution at Clairvaux, France, Bernard's influence stretched far beyond the borders of France. [7] Bernard's testimony was so irresistible that 30 of his friends, brothers, and relatives followed him into the monastic life. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Many stories exist regarding Bernard’s early years – his visions, torments and realisations. In a letter to the people of Toulouse, undoubtedly written at the end of 1146, Bernard calls upon them to extirpate the last remnants of the heresy. He could be irascible and domineering at times, but seems to have been generally venerated and well liked by those around him. Gerard of Clairvaux, Bernard's older brother, became the cellarer of Citeaux. [18][19] Others followed his example and he and his helpers were supposedly still producing crosses as night fell. The regimen was so austere that Bernard became ill, and only the influence of his friend William of Champeaux and the authority of the general chapter could make him mitigate the austerities. Alert. To understand St Bernard’s importance to Cistercianism it is first necessary to study the Order in detail. Bernard's influence was soon felt in provincial affairs. There Bernard preached an immediate faith, in which the intercessor was the Virgin Mary. St. Bernard of Clairvaux. At the Eucharist, he "admonished the Duke not to despise God as he did His servants". St. Bernard died during the year of 1153 in Clairvaux, France. The European importance of Bernard, however, began with the death of Honorius (1130) and the disputed election that followed. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. At the time of St Bernard’s arrival the abbey was under the guiding hand of Stephen, later St Stephen Harding, an Englishman. Gain access to 104 of his sermonsâmany of which examine the Song of Songs in vibrant detail. Bernard announced his determination to follow the Cistercian way of life and together with his entourage he swamped the small abbey, swelling the number of brothers there to such an extent that it was inevitable that more abbeys would have to be formed. [5] During the absence of the Bishop of Langres, Bernard was blessed as abbot by William of Champeaux, Bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne. The son of Tocellyn de Sorrell, Bernard was born into a middle-ranking aristocratic family, which held sway over an important region of Burgundy, though with close contacts to the region of Champagne. At the conference held at Palermo, Bernard succeeded in convincing Roger of the rights of Innocent II.
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