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A Brief Biography
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This is a brief biography, highlighting the life of this great man. Almost every historian writing of the 11th and 12th Centuries, includes his name and accomplishments, both ecclesiastical and political. To do him justice, some have said, would take two huge volumes. Several have been written by such authors as Watkins Williams, Etienne Gilson, and Daniel Rops. Bernard played a part in all of the leading events of his century, in many cases, the leading role. |
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Bernard was a bitter and relentless critic of the Cluniac Style, epitomizing ecclesiastical splendor. Churches built under the influence of Bernard were architecturally sound, but built far from the influences of commerce and industry, and the pleasures of life. We have, close at hand, the Cistercian Churches in Western Kansas, examples of his influence. The imposing, but remote Cathedral of the Plains, standing in solitary splendor on the prairie near Hays is a 20th Century monument to Bernard. |
| Bernard was born in 1090 in the Chateau of Fontaines-les Dijon, of pious parents, Aleth and Tescelin, members of the upper nobility of Burgundy. Family names had not become generally established in this region. His greatness, according to stories of the time, was foretold even before his birth, when Aleth had a dream, interpreted for her by a Religious, that Bernard would become the "Guardian of the House of God." |
| As a young man growing up with his brothers and sister, he was the center of attention in his community. In 1112, he entered the monastery of Citeaux as a novice. Stephen Harding was the Abbot of the Monastery and later named Bernard Abbot of a new monastery to be built at Clairvaux. Bernard was ordained to the priesthood when this monastery was completed, and entered it. |
| He was recognized as an outstanding preacher and orator, and many of his sermons have been preserved and excerpted in Holy Liturgy. |
| Bernard wished to remain a humble Apostle of Christ although his personality and vigor oftimes aroused some of his contemporaries to question his humility. He arose with the same vigor to proclaim his love for Christ, and his work for God. |
| Bernard became involved in the schism of Anacletus in 1130, when Innocent II was elected Pope, but was rejected by Cardinal Pierlone, who wished himself to be named. He arranged another election involving factors whom he controlled, and was, of course, elected and took the name Anacletus II. A council was called at Etampes to solve this outrage, and it was Bernards's influence which resulted in the pronouncement of "Anathema" on Anacletus, and the final seating of Innocent II as the one and only Pope. The Kings of England, France, and Germany were all concerned and involved, and became impressed with Bernard's widsom and influence. Bernard, on the side of Innocent II, fought vigorously in support of the Church, and his prescience and powerful personality were mostly responsible for the ultimate peaceful solution to this unspeakable blot on Church history. |
| History also remembers Bernard for his vigorous opposition to Peter Abelard, a teacher and theologian of the Cathedral School of Paris. Abelard's writings became popular and accepted by many of the Church intellectuals, and among the common people. His thesis was "Faith through Reason", completely adverse to the teachings of the Church through the centuries, that Faith is a "Gift of God". Abelard's words, "Nothing can be believed unless it is understood" came to be widely accepted, and the mystery of God and His infinite love and mercy were submerged. Bernard's influence prevailed and, following the Council of Sens (1140), the Pope, writing to Bernard and others, declared Abelard's teachings to be heretical. The Catholic World and the political rulers again felt the profound influence of Bernard. Bernard's teaching on Grace and Free Will became monuments of Catholic theology. |
| Bernard was a devoted servant of our Blessed Mother, and admonished the Faithful to seek her protections, blessings and grace. |
| Bernard fearlessly condemned some of his contemporaries who scorned the Sacrament of Marriage, and he laid solid groundwork for the future recognition of the sanctity of this Rite, both in the Church and in Juris Prudence. |
| Bernard was a great confidant and friend of Suger, Abbot of St. Denis, the famous Benedictine Abbey near Paris. He espoused much of the Benedictine philosophy and teachings. |
| Bernard died after a period of great suffering on August 20, 1153. He was buried in his Monastery of Clairvaux, and his tomb is a shrine for the Faithful. Proclamation of his Canonization as a Saint took place on January 18, 1174. He was named "Doctor of the Church" in 1830. |
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