THE name of the Blessed Virgin Mary should always be on our lips. One must depend on her when in danger and difficulties. She should be a mainstay when we pray, especially in times of doubts.
Saint Bernard attests that with “her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection, you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.”
This is how Saint Bernard personifies the Blessed Mother’s concern for her children. To Saint Bernard is attributed the ejaculation “Omnia per Mariam [All through Mary].”
Every time he passes a grotto where the statue of the Blessed Mother stands, he removes his hat and greets her “Ave Maria.” One day the Blessed Mother replied “Ave Bernard.”
Man of charisma
Saint Bernard belongs to a noble family in Burgundy, France. He was born in 1090 in a castle of Fontaines, Dijon. He had his early schooling in the College of Chatillon, where he was known for remarkable piety and memory. He also studied theology and the Holy Scriptures.
He received the inspiration to be a religious while praying inside a church. He told Nivard, his youngest brother, about his intention. “Good-bye, Little Nivard, you will now have all the landed property to yourself.”
“What! Will you take Heaven and leave me the Earth? Do you call that fair?”
Bernard, the cheerful, handsome and highly educated noble, surprised everyone with his decision to be a Cistercian monk at 20. This community in Citeaux is a dying religious group, and is the most austere order of the church.
Bernard’s testimony about God’s call must have been so inspiring that five brothers, two uncles and two dozen teenage friends joined him in monastic life. A total of 32 aspirants, according to Fr. Antony Netikat, CM, in Saints for Everyday.
Zealous monk
After three years, together with 12 monks, he was tasked to establish a new monastery in Wormwood Valley. It was founded on June 25, 1115. Called Claire Vaiie, it was finally named Clairvaux (Valley of Light). Princes sought Bernard’s advice. Many miracles, too, were attributed to his intercession.
Clairvaux attracted 130 new monks, including his own father, according to Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI, in A Year With The Saints. The church in Europe was renewed!
Bernard founded 136 monasteries in Italy, England, Portugal, Germany, Sweden and Ireland that his active life made him the “most conspicuous figure of the 12th century.”
He was Abbot for 37 years. He is considered as the second founder of the Order of Saint Benedict for improving the primitive austerity of Saint Benedict’s original rule.
Monasticism was revitalized. The Trappist of the Cisterian Order is one of those he founded.
Doctor Mellifluus
In his encyclical in 1953, Pope Pius XII called Saint Bernard Doctor Mellifluus because his teaching was described sweet as honey. Bernard, the writer, is cited in the New Encyclopedia Britanica as one “imbued with resonance and poetic genius.”
His works include the Theology of Christian Holiness, a discussion on grace and free will; Commentary on Song of Songs, and a Treatise on The Love of God.
At the request of Pope Eugene III, a former disciple, he wrote the Book of Considerations to emphasize that the head of the church should possess, above all, the traits of personal sanctity.
The affective style of his theology is exemplified in today’s Office of Readings: “Love is sufficient of itself, it gives pleasure by itself and because of itself. It is its own merit, its own reward. Love looks for no cause outside itself, no effect beyond itself. Its profit lies in its practice.”
The New Catholic Encyclopedia summarized his theology as the following: “God is charity, created man by love and by love redeemed him! The supreme proof of that love, the Incarnation of the Word and the Redemption.”
Adviser to popes
A prayerful man, he is described as one who combines contemplation and action.
As confidant of five popes, he travelled extensively to unify the church.
In 1130, two popes were elected, Innocent II and Anacletus II, which divided the College of Cardinals. He sided with Pope Innocent II and worked for his recognition.
Then he traveled to correct the teachings of theologians who did not conform to the doctrines, practices and traditions of mother church. This earned him the title “Hammer of Heretics.”
He, likewise, mediated and counseled in civil and ecclesiastical counsels. When Jerusalem and Antioch were threatened by conquest, with the fall of Edessa in 1144, he was ordered to preach the need for the Second Crusade. He was successful in convincing the European Army to go to holy war. Intrigues, unchristian ideals and overconfidence contributed to the failure of the crusade. He was blamed for the failure.
First Cisterian saint
He died on August 20, 1153, at the age of 62 or 63 in Clairvaux France, He was canonized on January 18, 1874, by Pope Alexander III and named Doctor of the Church in 1830 by Pope Pius VIII.
In 1790 his head was enshrined in Troyes Cathedral and the rest of his relics were moved from Clairvaux to church of Ville-sous-la-Ferté.
Santiago is a former regional director of the Department of Education National Capital Region. She is currently a faculty member of Mater Redemptoris College in Calauan, Laguna.
Image credits: Wikimedia Commons
1 comment
St Bernard was born in Fontaine-les-Dijon, not Fontaines, Dijon. I know. I live in this municipality 🙂