St. Bernard of Clairvaux

 Reflections on St. Bernard of Clairvaux

 

Feast Day: August 20 | Doctor of the Church

After reading Pope Benedict XVI's tribute to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) during his General Audience to St. Bernard on October 21, 2009, I was immediately drawn to the saint's unabashed dedication to Jesus and the most Blessed Virgin Mary.

  

St. Bernard of Clairvaux (which translates to "Clear Valley") was a prolific writer who said, "Jesus alone is "honey in the mouth, song to the ear, jubilation in the heart (mel in ore, in aure melos, in corde iubilum)" - earning him the moniker "Doctor Mellifluus" or "the Honey-Sweet Doctor".

His singular praise for the most BVM is clearly seen in this homily:  "In danger, in distress, in uncertainty", he says, "think of Mary, call upon Mary. She never leaves your lips, she never departs from your heart; and so that you may obtain the help of her prayers, never forget the example of her life. If you follow her, you cannot falter; if you pray to her, you cannot despair; if you think of her, you cannot err. If she sustains you, you will not stumble; if she protects you, you have nothing to fear; if she guides you, you will never flag; if she is favourable to you, you will attain your goal..." (Hom. II super Missus est, 17: PL 183, 70-71). 

In another famous Sermon on the Sunday in the Octave of the Assumption, he described with passionate words Mary's uniquely intimate participation in the redeeming sacrifice of her Son predicated by Luke 2:34-35 aka Simeon's prophecy to Mary at the Presentation in the Temple. "O Blessed Mother", he exclaimed, "a sword has truly pierced your soul!... So deeply has the violence of pain pierced your soul, that we may rightly call you more than a martyr for in you participation in the passion of the Son by far surpasses in intensity the physical sufferings of martyrdom" (14: PL 183, 437-438). 

St Bernard's faith solidly founded on the Bible and on the Fathers of the Church, instructs us that without a profound faith in God, nourished by prayer and contemplation, by an intimate relationship with the Lord, our reflections on the divine mysteries risk becoming an empty intellectual exercise and losing their credibility.

Early Life

Bernard was born in 1090 at Fontaines-lès-Dijon, Burgundy, France, into a noble family. He was the third of seven children. His mother, Aleth, raised him with deep piety, and her death when Bernard was still young left a lasting spiritual impression on him. In 1110 AD, at the age of 20, Bernard entered the newly founded and struggling Cistercian monastery of Cîteaux, a new monastic foundation. He didn't come alone — he persuaded his five brothers, two uncles, and some 30 young friends to join him, so compelling was his zeal.

Religious Life

Just three years later, in 1115, the Abbot of Cîteaux sent Bernard to found a new monastery. He established the Abbey of Clairvaux ("Clear Valley") in a desolate wooded area, which he would govern as abbot for the rest of his life. Under his leadership, Clairvaux flourished, and the Cistercian order — known for its austerity, manual labor, and return to strict Benedictine observance — spread rapidly across Europe, with Bernard personally founding or inspiring the foundation of dozens of daughter houses.

Though he sought a life of contemplative seclusion, Bernard became one of the most influential figures in 12th-century Europe:
He preached the Second Crusade (1146) at the request of Pope Eugene III, drawing enormous crowds with his eloquence.
He mediated Church disputes, including helping resolve the papal schism in favor of Pope Innocent II.
He was a fierce defender of orthodoxy, notably opposing the theologian Peter Abelard on matters of doctrine.

Spirituality and Writings

Bernard is renowned for his profound and tender devotion to the humanity of Christ and to the Virgin Mary. He authored roughly 530 letters and 300 sermons. His mystical theology emphasized love as the path to union with God. Among his celebrated works are:

• On Loving God (De Diligendo Deo), a treatise that passionately and rationally articulates the reasons we should love God to an immeasurable degree.

• Sermons on the Song of Songs - a series of eighty-six sermons

• On Consideration, written for Pope Eugene III. Worthy of mention is a quite unusual book that he completed in this same period, in 1145, when Bernardo Pignatelli, a pupil of his, was elected Pope with the name of Eugene III. On this occasion, Bernard as his spiritual father, dedicated to his spiritual son the text De Consideratione [Five Books on Consideration] which contains teachings on how to be a good Pope. In this book, which is still appropriate reading for the Popes of all times, Bernard did not only suggest how to be a good Pope, but also expressed a profound vision of the Mystery of the Church and of the Mystery of Christ which is ultimately resolved in contemplation of the mystery of the Triune God. "The search for this God who is not yet sufficiently sought must be continued", the holy Abbot wrote, "yet it may be easier to search for him and find him in prayer rather than in discussion. So let us end the book here, but not the search" (XIV, 32: PL 182, 808) and in journeying on towards God. 

Death and Legacy

Bernard died on August 20, 1153, at Clairvaux. He was canonized in 1174 by Pope Alexander III and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1830 by Pope Pius VIII. He remains one of the most significant monastic reformers and mystical theologians in Church history, and is honored as the last of the Church Fathers in the Western tradition.

The patron saint of beekeepers, bees, candlemakers, chandlers, Cistercians, and Knights Templar.

Many miracles were attributed to him. He healed the sick, cast out demons, multiplied food, calmed storms, and raised the dead. He had the charism of spiritual discernment and was able to read the inner thoughts and intentions of people.

 

Let's end with a prayer

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, God called and you responded. You navigated the weaknesses of your age, inspired countless others to love God, and continue to make a lasting impact upon the world. Please pray for me, that I will never waver in my love of God and will believe, with a firm faith, that profound holiness is achievable. As you were so deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, please pray for me and for the whole Church, that we will discover that same love in our hearts and allow her to lead us through the darkness we encounter. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

References

1. General audience of 21 October 2009: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. (n.d.). https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2009/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20091021.html

2. My Catholic Life! (2026, August 19). Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor of the Church. https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/august-20-saint-bernard-of-clairvaux-abbot-and-doctor-of-the-church/