The familial atmosphere engendered in him a deep respect for mercy, justice, and loyal affection for others. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Bernard considered lectio divina and contemplation guided by the Holy Spirit the keys to nourishing Christian spirituality. He subsequently denounced the teachings of Peter Abelard to the pope, who called a council at Sens in 1141 to settle the matter. Bernard's great de­sire was to excel in lit­er­a­ture in order to take up the study of Sa­cred Scrip­ture, which later on be­came, as it were, his own tongue. He was plagued most of his life by impaired health, which took the form of anemia, migraine, gastritis, hypertension, and an atrophied sense of taste. 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, saint, ascetic, founder of numerous abbeys and crusade preacher, was a powerful man of the Church and a 12th century trailblazer. Returning to Molesme, he left the government of the new abbey to Alberic of Cîteaux, who died in the year 1109. Some of these, at the command of Innocent II, took possession of Tre Fontane Abbey, from which Eugene III was chosen in 1145. There he explains how the sins of the crusaders were the cause of their misfortune and failures. 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. The first abbot of Clairvaux developed a rich theology of sacred space and music, writing extensively on both. 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. [7] Bernard's testimony was so irresistible that 30 of his friends, brothers, and relatives followed him into the monastic life. Latin text by J. L eclercq, H. R ochais, and C h. H. T albot. He also silenced the final supporters who sustained the schism. St Bernard of Clairvaux and Peter Abelard. Drawn as much by the fame of the monk as by the mandates of the king and the Pope, a vast assembly of prelates and nobles gathered at Vézelay in Burgundy. Bernard, informed of this by William of St-Thierry, is said to have held a meeting with Abelard intending to persuade him to amend his writings, during which Abelard repented and promised to do so. In 1120, Bernard wrote his first work, De Gradibus Superbiae et Humilitatis, and his homilies which he entitled De Laudibus Mariae. Bernard set out to convince these other regions to rally behind Innocent. In May of that year, the pope, supported by the army of Lothair III, entered Rome, but Lothair III, feeling himself too weak to resist the partisans of Anacletus, retired beyond the Alps, and Innocent sought refuge in Pisa in September 1133. He recalled the city of Milan to obedience to the pope as they had followed the deposed Anselm V, Archbishop of Milan. The purpose of this council was to settle certain disputes of the bishops of Paris, and regulate other matters of the Church of France. "[20], When Bernard was finished the crowd enlisted en masse; they supposedly ran out of cloth to make crosses. Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint (1090 or 91-1153), Mary Blessed Virgin, Saint, Malachy Saint (1094?-1148), Jesus Christ, Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint (1090 or 1091-1153), Bernard, de Clairvaux Saint (1090 ou 91-1153), Bridget of Sweden, Saint (ca. This led for a time to the exaltation of human reason and rationalism. After persuading Gerard, Bernard traveled to visit William X, Duke of Aquitaine. It was here that his first writings evolved. Download books for free. Although the councils of Étampes, Würzburg, Clermont, and Rheims all supported Innocent, large portions of the Christian world still supported Anacletus. Clothe yourselves in sackcloth, but also cover yourselves with your impenetrable bucklers. That was St. Bernard of Menthon, not the Cistercian reformer of the 12 th Century. [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. He then went with him into Italy and reconciled Pisa with Genoa, and Milan with the pope. … She, I say, is that shining and brilliant star, needed so much, set in place above life’s great and spacious sea, glittering with merits, all aglow with examples for our imitation. It was eventually reassembled at 16711 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, Florida, where it is now an Episcopal church and tourist attraction called Ancient Spanish … Meanwhile, as Bernard’s health worsened, his spirituality deepened. [25], One day, to cool down his lustful temptation, Bernard threw himself into ice-cold water. He turned away from his literary education, begun at the school at Châtillon-sur-Seine, and from ecclesiastical advancement, toward a life of renunciation and solitude. [17] Pope Eugenius came in person to France to encourage the enterprise. One time he restored the power of speech to an old man that he might confess his sins before he died. He could claim a form of higher knowledge that is the complement and fruition of faith and that reaches completion in prayer and contemplation. [12] Bernard lobbied the prelates on the evening before the debate, swaying many of them to his view. He then went to Aquitaine where he succeeded for the time in detaching William X, Duke of Aquitaine, from the cause of Anacletus.[5]. The movement found an ardent and powerful advocate in Peter Abelard. Bernard de Clairvaux: Sermons Divers. Leclercq, "Les Ecrits de Geoffrod'Auxerre,y Revue" bénédictine 62 [1952] 282). He takes his name from a monastery he founded … The din of arms, the danger, the labors, the fatigues of war, are the penances that God now imposes upon you. Disciples flocked to it in great numbers and put themselves under the direction of Bernard. The need for healthy theological discussion in the Church. Bernard died at the age of 63, after 40 years as a monk. 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. This Bernard named Claire Vallée, or Clairvaux, on 25 June 1115, and the names of Bernard and Clairvaux soon became inseparable. Updates? Deputations of the bishops of Armenia solicited aid from the pope, and the King of France also sent ambassadors. Under pressure from his ecclesiastical superiors and his friends, notably the bishop and scholar William of Champeaux, he retired to a hut near the monastery and to the discipline of a quack physician. Bernard took his time in terminating his domestic affairs and in persuading his brothers and some 25 companions to join him. 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. Malachy died at Clairvaux in 1148. 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! Having previously helped end the schism within the church, Bernard was now called upon to combat heresy. In June 1145, Bernard traveled in southern France and his preaching there helped strengthen support against heresy. Bernard had a great taste for literature and devoted himself for some time to poetry. Saint Bernard de Clairvaux “The Virgin’s name was Mary“, (Lk.1:27) which means ‘Star of the Sea.’This admirably befits the Virgin Mother. Born of Burgundian landowning aristocracy, Bernard grew up in a family of five brothers and one sister. Born in what is now considered France at Fontaines near Dijon in 1090 or 1091, his father, Tecelin or Tesselin, was a knight who died in the First Crusade, as well as a friend and vassal of the Duke of Burgundy. The influence of the Abbot of Clairvaux was soon felt in provincial affairs. This letter made a positive impression on Harmeric, and in the Vatican. 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." In the first part, he proved himself innocent of the charges of Cluny and in the second he gave his reasons for his counterattacks. Bernard found it expedient to dwell upon taking the cross as a potent means of gaining absolution for sin and attaining grace. [13], News came at this time from the Holy Land that alarmed Christendom. 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". Pope Benedict XVI. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Bernard's influence was soon felt in provincial affairs. After that, Bernard spent most of his time in Italy persuading the Italians to pledge allegiance to Innocent. Find books 978-90-429-3132-9. [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. St. Bernard of Clairvaux is clearly one of the greatest preachers of all time. [14], Having previously helped end the schism within the Church, Bernard was now called upon to combat heresy. Biografie. Saouma, Brigitte. [4] These include: Burgundian saint, abbot and theologian (1090-1153). The passing of Pope Eugenius had struck the fatal blow by taking from him one whom he considered his greatest friend and consoler. Bernard wrote to the pope a few days afterwards, "Cities and castles are now empty. [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 did not reject human philosophy which is genuine philosophy, which leads to God; he differentiates between different kinds of knowledge, the highest being theological. [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." 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. St. Bernard of Clairvaux (feast day is August 20th) But once out of Bernard's presence, he reneged. He wanted to excel in literature in order to take up the study of the Bible. He hastened to terminate his worldly life and restore discipline in his monastery. Henry I was sceptical because most of the bishops of England supported Antipope Anacletus II; Bernard persuaded him to support Innocent. Bernard was only nineteen years of age when his mother died. 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". Bernard had observed that when lectio divina was neglected monasticism suffered. The zeal of Bernard extended to the bishops, the clergy, and lay people. Bernard praises it in his "De Laudibus Novae Militiae". Bernard went again to Italy, where Roger II of Sicily was endeavouring to withdraw the Pisans from their allegiance to Innocent. It was at this council that Bernard traced the outlines of the Rule of the Knights Templar who soon became the ideal of Christian nobility. Bernard is said to have flung off his own robe and began tearing it into strips to make more. He is often cited for saying that Mary Magdalene was the Apostle to the Apostles. [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]. The Library of the Cistercian Abbey of Clairvaux at the time of Pierre de Virey (1472) PART A – ESSENTIAL INFORMATION 1. After writing a eulogy for the new military order of the Knights Templar, he would write about the fundamentals of Christian spiritual life, namely the contemplation and imitation of Christ, which he expressed in his sermons “The Steps of Humility” and “The Love of God.”. According to tradition, Bernard founded the monastery on 25 June 1115, naming it Claire Vallée, which evolved into Clairvaux. There are many who believe that it was his championship of the Templars that made their survival possible. Bernard had returned to France in June and was continuing the work of peacemaking which he had commenced in 1130. Both his parents were exceptional models of virtue. Bernard de Clairvaux (cunoscut și ca Sfântul Bernard, n. 1091, d. 21 august 1153, Clairvaux) a fost un călugăr și conte de Châtillon. [29] Pope Pius VIII bestowed on him the title "Doctor of the Church". Bernard's "Prayer to the Shoulder Wound of Jesus" is often published in Catholic prayer books. He decided in favour of Innocent II. Innocent II, having been banished from Rome by Anacletus, took refuge in France. Encyclopedia Americana, 1970 v. 3, p. 606 (Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153) Incipit Speculu[m] b[ea]ti Bernhardi abbatis de honestate vite, ca. Leuven: Éditions de l’Institut supérieur de philosophie, Louvain-La-Neuve/Peeters, 2016. vii + 373 pp. By 1119 the Cistercians had a charter approved by Pope Calixtus II for nine abbeys under the primacy of the abbot of Cîteaux. Bernard's entry at Catholic Encyclopedia This page … Bernard of Clairvaux quotes Pope Honorius delegated Bernard to preach throughout France and Germany the renewal of the holy war. Bernard died at age sixty-three on 20 August 1153, after forty years spent in the cloister. St. Bernard's Parish Hall. [4] William yielded and the schism ended. King Louis VI of France convened a national council of the French bishops at Étampes in 1130, and Bernard was chosen to judge between the rivals for pope. [18], There was at first virtually no popular enthusiasm for the crusade as there had been in 1095. Summary Ref: 2008-22 Clairvaux Abbey was founded in 1115 by Bernard de Fontaines, who directed it until his death in 1153. As in the olden scene, the cry "Deus vult! He had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary, and he later wrote several works about the Queen of Heaven.[4]. Four brothers, an uncle, two cousins, an architect, and two seasoned monks under the leadership of Bernard endured extreme deprivations for well over a decade before Clairvaux was self-sufficient. [6], Bernard was instrumental in re-emphasizing the importance of lectio divina and contemplation on Scripture within the Cistercian order. Alert. This Bernard named Claire Vallée, of Clairvaux, on the 25th of June, 1115, and the names of Bernard and Clairvaux thence became inseparable. Abelard continued to press for a public debate, and made his challenge widely known, making it hard for Bernard to decline. King and monk stood together, representing the combined will of earth and heaven. Bernard’s struggles with the flesh during this period may account for his early and rather consistent penchant for physical austerities. Another time, while he slept in an inn, a prostitute was introduced naked beside him, and he saved his chastity by running. By Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. However, Abelard continued to develop his teachings, which were controversial in some quarters. 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. Illustrious persons were buried at Clairvaux in the livery of the poor of Christ, among them Henry of France, brother of King Louis VII; Alexander of Cologne, who was later one of the successors of St. Bernard of Clairvaux; Henry Murdach who became Abbot of Vauclair and later Archbishop of York; Philip, Archdeacon of Liège, etc. Aleth’s death, in 1107, so affected Bernard that he claimed that this is when his “long path to complete conversion” began. Abelard sought a debate with Bernard, but Bernard initially declined, saying he did not feel matters of such importance should be settled by logical analyses. [26], Bernard "noted centuries ago: the people who are their own spiritual directors have fools for disciples. Tome II: (Sermons 23–69). [12] The council found in favour of Bernard and their judgment was confirmed by the pope. Ensemble officium presents a programme of Gregorian chant and early polyphony in celebration of this controversial saint. [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. He was an Abbot in the Cistercian order. He could also commune with nature and say: Believe me, for I know, you will find something far greater in the woods than in books. Soon afterwards, Henry of Lausanne was arrested, brought before the bishop of Toulouse, and probably imprisoned for life. After the council, the bishop of Verdun was deposed. However, Innocent insisted on Bernard's company when he met with Lothair II, Holy Roman Emperor. Abelard submitted without resistance, and he retired to Cluny to live under the protection of Peter the Venerable, where he died two years later. The archbishop of Cologne and the archbishop of Mainz were vehemently opposed to these attacks and asked Bernard to denounce them. "[18], Bernard then passed into Germany, and the reported miracles which multiplied almost at his every step undoubtedly contributed to the success of his mission. Pope Innocent II died in the year 1143. It contains the rules and laws for life within their chivalric military order. At his death, they numbered 343. Bernard of Clairvaux on the Life of the Mind, John R. Sommerfeldt, Newman Press (2004) ISBN 0809142031 ISBN 9780809142033, p. 67 „I rejoiced so greatly when I heard of your answer in the case of some who seemed to be filled with extravagant ambition vicar of stalisfield. At the age of 22, while Bernard was at prayer in a church, he felt the calling of God to enter the monastery of Cîteaux. He was the hardest for Bernard to convince. At the Eucharist, he "admonished the Duke not to despise God as he did His servants".

Billard Avec Monnayeur, Les Termes Du Champ Lexical De Lété, Location Yourte Drôme Ardèche, Des Hommes - Film 2020, La Supplication Analyse, Lettres Persanes 11 à 14 Analyse, Generateur Lotto 6/49,