Lothair II became Innocent's strongest ally among the nobility. Henry I was sceptical because most of the bishops of England supported Antipope Anacletus II; Bernard persuaded him to support Innocent. In the first part, he proved himself innocent of the charges of Cluny and in the second he gave his reasons for his counterattacks. Made abbot of Clairvaux (1115), he erected numerous abbeys where his spirit flourished. At the time of St Bernard’s arrival the abbey was under the guiding hand of Stephen, later St Stephen Harding, an Englishman. Hasten to appease the anger of heaven, but no longer implore its goodness by vain complaints. Died Clairvaux, near Troyes, Champagne France August 20th 1153. Both the Henrician and the Petrobrusian faiths began to die out by the end of that year. Bernard was named a Doctor of the Church in 1830. He is labeled the "Mellifluous Doctor" for his eloquence. 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? In 1830 Pope Pius VIII bestowed upon Bernard the title "Doctor of the Church". 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.. The movement found an ardent and powerful advocate in Peter Abelard. He then returned to Clairvaux. [4], 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. [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. The European importance of Bernard, however, began with the death of Honorius (1130) and the disputed election that followed. He subsequently denounced the teachings of Peter Abelard to the pope, who called a council at Sens in 1141 to settle the matter. 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. Gain access to 104 of his sermons—many of which examine the Song of Songs in vibrant detail. The zeal of Bernard extended to the bishops, the clergy, and lay people. 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. There Bernard preached an immediate faith, in which the intercessor was the Virgin Mary. Main Cistercian monk and mystic, the founder and abbot of the abbey of Clairvaux and one of the most influential churchmen of his time. It is suggested that Clairvaux was peopled with all manner of scholars, some of whom may well have been Jewish scribes. Henry of Lausanne, a former Cluniac monk, had adopted the teachings of the Petrobrusians, followers of Peter of Bruys and spread them in a modified form after Peter's death. At the solicitation of William of St. Thierry, Bernard defended the order by publishing his Apology which was divided into two parts. The influence of the Abbot of Clairvaux was soon felt in provincial affairs. Study the chronology of St. Bernard’s life through his collected letters. He was a theologian, poet, orator, and writer. Bernard is Dante Alighieri's last guide, in Divine Comedy, as he travels through the Empyrean. However, Abelard continued to develop his teachings, which were controversial in some quarters. Some of these, at the command of Innocent II, took possession of Tre Fontane Abbey, from which Eugene III was chosen in 1145. Christians had been defeated at the Siege of Edessa and most of the county had fallen into the hands of the Seljuk Turks. [4] William yielded and the schism ended. St Bernard was a younger member of an extremely large family. —Bernard of Clairvaux, quoted in The Crusades. In June 1145, Bernard traveled in southern France and his preaching there helped strengthen support against heresy. [17] Pope Eugenius came in person to France to encourage the enterprise. 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. There he explains how the sins of the crusaders were the cause of their misfortune and failures. 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. By penitential practices he so exhausted his body that it could hardly sustain his soul, ever eager to praise and honor God. [citation needed], John Calvin quotes Bernard several times[22] in support of the doctrine of Sola Fide,[23] which Martin Luther described as the article upon which the church stands or falls. After the Christian defeat at the Siege of Edessa, the pope commissioned Bernard to preach the Second Crusade. Having previously helped end the schism within the church, Bernard was now called upon to combat heresy. 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 purpose of this council was to settle certain disputes of the bishops of Paris, and regulate other matters of the Church of France. Pope Innocent II died in the year 1143. On the death of Honorius II, which occurred on 14 February 1130, a schism broke out in the Church by the election of two popes, Pope Innocent II and Antipope Anacletus II. 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. The Church of St. Bernard de Clairvaux. Born in 1090, at Fontaines, near Dijon, France; died at Clairvaux, 21 August, 1153. The bishops made Bernard secretary of the council, and charged him with drawing up the synodal statutes. He defended the rights of the Church against the encroachments of kings and princes, and recalled to their duty Henry Archbishop of Sens, and Stephen de Senlis, Bishop of Paris. 1/4. Many stories exist regarding Bernard’s early years – his visions, torments and realisations. St. Bernard's Parish Hall. Bernard was instrumental in the appointment of GREGORIO PAPARESCHI, Pope Innocent II in the year 1130, despite the fact that not all agencies supported the man for the Papal throne. Around this time, he praised them in his Liber ad milites templi de laude novae militiae. After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. Nevertheless, the monastery at Clairvaux flourished as more and more disciples sought to place themselves under the leadership of St. Bernard. A Catholic priest and abbot (director) of a religious institution at Clairvaux, France, Bernard's influence stretched far beyond the borders of France. He was accused of being a monk who meddled with matters that did not concern him. The din of arms, the danger, the labors, the fatigues of war, are the penances that God now imposes upon you. During his youth, he did not escape trying temptations and around this time he thought of retiring from the world and living a life of solitude and prayer. 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. He recalled the city of Milan to obedience to the pope as they had followed the deposed Anselm V, Archbishop of Milan. [28] He was the first Cistercian monk placed on the calendar of saints and was canonized by Alexander III 18 January 1174. Bernard, the third of a family of seven children, six of whom were sons, was educated with particular care, because, while yet unborn, a devout man had foretold his great destiny. St Bernard was a visionary, a man of apparently tremendous religious conviction. Only the influence of a trusted friend and the order of the Chapter General convinced Bernard to ease up on his stringent regime. 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. Bernard went again to Italy, where Roger II of Sicily was endeavouring to withdraw the Pisans from their allegiance to Innocent. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. To understand St Bernard’s importance to Cistercianism it is first necessary to study the Order in detail. [6], Many miracles were attributed to his intercession. After the council, the bishop of Verdun was deposed. Innocent II, having been banished from Rome by Anacletus, took refuge in France. Soon afterwards, Henry of Lausanne was arrested, brought before the bishop of Toulouse, and probably imprisoned for life. Germany had decided to support Innocent through Norbert of Xanten, who was a friend of Bernard's. However, Innocent insisted on Bernard's company when he met with Lothair II, Holy Roman Emperor. 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". This action gave rise to a quarrel between the White Monks and the Black Monks which lasted 20 years. Another time, an immense number of flies, that had infested the Church of Foigny, died instantly after the excommunication he made on them. From the beginning of the year 1153, Bernard felt his death approaching. Towards the end of 1134, he made a second journey into Aquitaine, where William X had relapsed into schism. His success in his studies won the admiration of his teachers. Returning to Molesme, he left the government of the new abbey to Alberic of Cîteaux, who died in the year 1109. [26], Bernard "noted centuries ago: the people who are their own spiritual directors have fools for disciples. Abelard continued to press for a public debate, and made his challenge widely known, making it hard for Bernard to decline. [6], Bernard was instrumental in re-emphasizing the importance of lectio divina and contemplation on Scripture within the Cistercian order. He decided in favour of Innocent II. Another time, while he slept in an inn, a prostitute was introduced naked beside him, and he saved his chastity by running. Deputations of the bishops of Armenia solicited aid from the pope, and the King of France also sent ambassadors. He then went to Aquitaine where he succeeded for the time in detaching William X, Duke of Aquitaine, from the cause of Anacletus.[5]. He wrote at this time his sermons on the Song of Songs. 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." On the death of Pope Honorius II on 13 February 1130, a schism arose in the church. Disciples flocked to it in great numbers and put themselves under the direction of Bernard. Anacletus died of "grief and disappointment" in 1138, and with him the schism ended. As in the olden scene, the cry "Deus vult! Bernard of Clairvaux may well represent the most important figure in Templarism. His influence led Alexander III to launch reforms that led to the establishment of canon law. She, with the consent of her husband, soon took the veil in the Benedictine nunnery of Jully-les-Nonnains. After that, Bernard spent most of his time in Italy persuading the Italians to pledge allegiance to Innocent. [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." St. Bernard of Clairvaux, (born 1090, probably Fontaine-les-Dijon, near Dijon, Burgundy [France]—died 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. [13], News came at this time from the Holy Land that alarmed Christendom. 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. After the council of Étampes, Bernard spoke with King Henry I of England, also known as Henry Beauclerc, about Henry I's reservations regarding Pope Innocent II. Whether an ‘intention’ to create an Order of the Templar sort existed prior to the life of St Bernard himself is a matter open to debate. These nine volumes offer an intriguing glimpse into the life and works of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a twelfth-century Cistercian abbot and Doctor of the Church. His involvement in public affairs led him into conflict with two of the most distinguished schoolmen of his day, namely with Peter Abelard (1079–1142) at the Council of Sens (1141) and Gilbert of Poitiers (1076–1154) at the Council of Reims (1148). [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. St Bernard’s influence on the Templars is therefore pivotal to the whole of the movement’s aims and objectives and in our opinion no researcher should ever underestimate Bernard’s importance with this regard. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. [4], The beginnings of Clairvaux Abbey were trying and painful. He appears to have received a good, standard education, at Chatillon-sur-Seine, which fitted him, most probably, for a life in the Church, which, of course, is exactly the direction he eventually took. [7] Bernard's testimony was so irresistible that 30 of his friends, brothers, and relatives followed him into the monastic life. "[20], When Bernard was finished the crowd enlisted en masse; they supposedly ran out of cloth to make crosses. 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. [5], Bernard had occupied himself in sending bands of monks from his overcrowded monastery into Germany, Sweden, England, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, and Italy. [4], In 1139, Bernard assisted at the Second Council of the Lateran, in which the surviving adherents of the schism were definitively condemned. of Mabillon, 4 … Sunday mornings. Cistercians, Burgundy, beekeepers, candlemakers, Gibraltar, Queens' College, Cambridge, Speyer Cathedral. He is often cited for saying that Mary Magdalene was the Apostle to the Apostles. For this reason, the Black Monks attempted to make it appear that the rules of the new order were impracticable. Saint Bernard de Clairvaux French abbot. 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. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. 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. The archbishop of Cologne and the archbishop of Mainz were vehemently opposed to these attacks and asked Bernard to denounce them. Much can be found elsewhere in these pages relating specifically to the Cistercians. [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. Peter the Venerable, abbot of Cluny, answered Bernard and assured him of his great admiration and sincere friendship. 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. Certainly he was a fantastic organiser and possessed a charisma that few could deny. This abbey was the first Cistercian monastery and had been set up somewhat earlier by a small band of dissident monks from Molesmes. This was the occasion of the longest and most emotional of Bernard's letters. (See ‘The Templar Continuum’ Butler and Dafoe, Templar Books 2,000). His parents were Tescelin, lord of Fontaines, and Aleth of Montbard, both belonging to the highest nobility of Burgundy. He also silenced the final supporters who sustained the schism. During an absence from Clairvaux, the Grand Prior of the Abbey of Cluny went to Clairvaux and enticed away Bernard's cousin, Robert of Châtillon. Clothe yourselves in sackcloth, but also cover yourselves with your impenetrable bucklers. Your email address will not be published. 12/26/2020 In accordance with provincial restrictions to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person Masses in the Archdiocese of Toronto are temporarily cancelled. [10], In 1132, Bernard accompanied Innocent II into Italy, and at Cluny the pope abolished the dues which Clairvaux used to pay to that abbey. Malachy wanted to become a Cistercian, but the pope would not give his permission. King and monk stood together, representing the combined will of earth and heaven. Conrad III of Germany and his nephew Frederick Barbarossa, received the cross from the hand of Bernard. 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. Bernard walked hundreds of miles and talked to a great number of influential people in order to ensure Innocent’s ultimate acceptance. Bernard's influence was soon felt in provincial affairs. The influence of the Abbot of Clairvaux was soon felt in provincial affairs. He did not pledge allegiance to Innocent until 1135. Bernard of Clairvaux, O.Cist(1090 – August 20, 1153) was a Frankish abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercianmonastic order. of the Sermones de tempore, de sanctis, and de diversis has been published by B. Gsell and L. Janauschek in vol. [12] The council found in favour of Bernard and their judgment was confirmed by the pope. transl. The question appears to be easily answered for in the small Templar type Church in St Bernard’s birthplace there is a marble plaque that states the Church was built by St Bernard’s mother in thanks for the safe return of her husband from the Crusade. [12] Bernard lobbied the prelates on the evening before the debate, swaying many of them to his view. 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. 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. In June 1145, at the invitation of Cardinal Alberic of Ostia, Bernard traveled in southern France. 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. The central elements of Bernard's Mariology are how he explained the virginity of Mary, the "Star of the Sea", and her role as Mediatrix. He protested his profound esteem for the Benedictines of Cluny whom he declared he loved equally as well as the other religious orders. [c] Bernard led to the foundation of 163 monasteries in different parts of Europe. [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. About the same time, Bernard was visited at Clairvaux by Malachy, Primate of All Ireland, and a very close friendship formed between them. [6] His father and all his brothers entered Clairvaux to pursue religious life, leaving only Humbeline, his sister, in the secular world. 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. Bernard wrote to the pope a few days afterwards, "Cities and castles are now empty. 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 … [19] The full text has not survived, but a contemporary account says that "his voice rang out across the meadow like a celestial organ"[19]. 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. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) may well represent the most important figure in Templarism. 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. [9], Again reproaches arose against Bernard and he was denounced, even in Rome. A staunch supporter of an Augustinian view of the mystery of the Christian faith, St Bernard was fiercely opposed to ‘rationalistic’ views of Christianity. born 1090, probably Fontaine-les-Dijon, near Dijon, Burgundy died Aug. 20, 1153, Clairvaux, Champagne; canonized Jan. 18, 1174; feast day August 20. His father, Tecelin, or Tesselin, a knight of great bravery, was the friend and vassal of the Duke of Burgundy. [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. With a mixture of simple, religious zeal and some extremely important family connections, this little man involved himself in the general running, not only of the Cistercian Order, but the Roman Church of his day. It was this general chapter that gave definitive form to the constitutions of the order and the regulations of the Charter of Charity, which Pope Callixtus II confirmed on 23 December 1119. [3] In the year 1128, Bernard attended the Council of Troyes, at which he traced the outlines of the Rule of the Knights Templar,[a] which soon became the ideal of Christian nobility. [15] Henry of Lausanne's followers became known as Henricians. [12] Bernard then denounced Abelard to the pope and cardinals of the Curia. Saint Bernard de Clairvaux a eu un esprit intéressé et intelligent, une attitude et une conduite pragmatiques, une âme de vrai chrétien, un coeur de combattant dans un corps délicat, d'ascète, habillé de la soutane blanche de la propreté spirituelle et matérielle. Patronage. 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. The enthusiasm of the assembly of Clermont in 1095, when Peter the Hermit and Urban II launched the first crusade, was matched by the holy fervor inspired by Bernard as he cried, "O ye who listen to me! After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. Space here does not permit a full handling of this extraordinary man’s life or his interest in so many subjects, including architecture, music and (probably) ancient manuscripts. But once out of Bernard's presence, he reneged. Temporal matters are merely accessories; the principles according to Bernard's work were that piety and meditation were to precede action. In a letter by Bernard to German Emperor Lothair regarding Antipope Anacletus, Bernard wrote, “It is a disgrace for Christ that a Jew sits on the throne of St. Peter’s.” and “Anacletus has not even a good reputation with his friends, while Innocent is illustrious beyond all doubt.”, Bernard wrote to Gerard of Angoulême (a letter known as Letter 126), which questioned Gerard's reasons for supporting Anacletus. But an even greater show of support came from the common people.