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Saint Bernard of Clairvaux is remembered as one of the greatest voices of the Church in the Middle Ages. He lived during a time of both great faith and great conflict, when the Church needed strong leaders to guide her people. Bernard became that leader — not by seeking power or fame, but by giving himself completely to Christ.
He is best known for his deep love of Jesus, especially in the mystery of His Cross, and for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Bernard’s words about humility, prayer, and trust in God still touch hearts today, nearly nine hundred years after his death. His feast day is celebrated on August 20, a day when the Church invites us to remember his wisdom and his burning love for God.
But Bernard was not a perfect man from the start. He knew struggles, temptations, and even weaknesses of character, which makes his story all the more real for us. What shines through is not his own strength, but how God’s grace transformed him into a humble monk, a powerful preacher, and a saint whose life continues to inspire.
Quick Facts About Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Born | 1090, in Fontaine-lès-Dijon, Burgundy, France |
| Died | August 20, 1153, in Clairvaux, France |
| Category | Abbot, Theologian, Doctor of the Church |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church |
| Feast Day | August 20 (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran); August 19 (General Roman Calendar from 1570–1970, before reform) |
| Beatified | Pre-Congregation |
| Canonized | January 18, 1174, by Pope Alexander III |
Early Life
Bernard of Clairvaux, also known simply as Bernard of Fontaine because of his birthplace, was born in 1090 in Fontaine-lès-Dijon, a small town in Burgundy, France. His family belonged to the high nobility, living in a time when knights, castles, and feudal loyalties shaped daily life. Bernard’s father, Tescelin, was a respected knight, while his mother, Aleth, came from another noble family known for their piety. Aleth in particular was remembered as a deeply religious woman, and her faith left a strong mark on Bernard and his siblings.
The Burgundy region during Bernard’s childhood was strongly Catholic, but like much of Europe in the 11th and 12th centuries, it was also marked by political struggles, rivalry among nobles, and a Church in need of reform. Families like Bernard’s often expected their sons either to become warriors, serving in defense of their lands, or to enter the Church, which carried its own kind of influence and honor.
As a child, Bernard showed unusual sensitivity and intelligence. He loved study and was drawn to prayer, but like many young people of his time, he also struggled with pride and ambition. Writers who later described his life noted that Bernard could be very intense — passionate in thought and strong-willed in character. These traits would later serve him well in guiding others, but in his youth, they sometimes made him restless and self-focused.
One of the biggest influences in his early years was the death of his mother, Aleth, when he was still young. Her passing shook him deeply and planted in him a desire to seek something beyond worldly honors. This loss, along with the faith she had instilled in him, stirred in Bernard a longing for God that grew stronger as he reached adulthood. His upbringing in a noble but devout household prepared him for the radical choice he would later make: to leave behind the privileges of his birth and dedicate himself completely to the service of Christ.
Religious Life and Calling
As Bernard grew into young adulthood, the longing for God that had taken root in his childhood became stronger. At first, he wrestled with it. Coming from a noble family, he could have chosen the life of a knight or sought honors in society. His sharp mind and persuasive speech might also have led him into politics or the Church’s higher offices. But Bernard found himself drawn to something more hidden — a life of prayer, silence, and complete surrender to God.
His decision did not come suddenly. Bernard was known for his intensity, and when he thought about becoming a monk, he threw himself into the idea with his whole heart. He prayed, studied Scripture, and asked God for direction. During this time, he experienced moments of deep conviction, which some writers describe almost like visions or burning inspirations of the soul. These moments convinced him that his path was not in the world but in the cloister.
In 1112, at about the age of twenty-two, Bernard made his choice. He entered the newly reformed monastery of Cîteaux, led by Abbot Stephen Harding. The Cistercians, as they were called, were a new branch of the Benedictine tradition, seeking to live a stricter and simpler form of monastic life. Their goal was to return to the original spirit of Saint Benedict: poverty, manual labor, prayer, and community life without luxury or compromise. This radical way of life attracted Bernard, who wanted to give himself totally to God.
But Bernard did not go alone. His fiery enthusiasm persuaded many of his relatives and friends to join him. In fact, he brought more than thirty companions, including several of his brothers, to enter Cîteaux with him. This sudden wave of recruits gave new strength to the struggling monastery, which had been facing hardship and decline.
Yet Bernard’s calling was not without struggle. His health was delicate, and the severe fasting and discipline of the Cistercian life soon left him weak. At times, he had to face doubts about whether he had gone too far in his zeal. But even in weakness, he remained steadfast. These early trials shaped him, teaching him the humility and reliance on God that would later become central themes of his preaching.
In Bernard’s calling, we see both sides of his character: the strong will that could move others to follow, and the frailty that reminded him of his dependence on grace. This balance would guide the rest of his life as he moved from being a young monk to a leader in the renewal of Christian faith in Europe.
Major Contributions or Miracles
Not long after Bernard entered Cîteaux, his gifts became clear. Only a few years later, in 1115, he was sent with a group of monks to establish a new community in the Valley of Absinthe, a wild and isolated place in Champagne, France. There, Bernard founded the monastery of Clairvaux, which became his lifelong home and gave him the title by which he is remembered: Bernard of Clairvaux.
At Clairvaux, Bernard served as abbot, guiding his monks with both firmness and compassion. Life in the abbey was harsh: long hours of prayer, manual labor, little food, and no comfort. Bernard’s strictness at first led to criticism — some said he demanded too much and risked harming his health and that of his brothers. Over time, however, he learned to temper severity with gentleness, and his leadership made Clairvaux a model for Cistercian life. The community grew quickly, and from it many other monasteries were founded across Europe.
Bernard’s influence, however, did not remain inside the monastery walls. His reputation as a holy and wise man spread, and soon he was called upon to guide popes, bishops, kings, and ordinary people. He preached widely, becoming known as a powerful speaker whose words moved hearts to conversion. He played a major role in resolving one of the great crises of his time: the disputed papal election of 1130. Bernard strongly supported Pope Innocent II, helping him secure legitimacy against the rival antipope Anacletus II. His diplomacy and preaching were decisive in gaining support for Innocent across Europe.
Bernard also became one of the most respected spiritual writers of the Middle Ages. His sermons and letters, especially those on the Song of Songs, remain classics of Christian spirituality, full of deep love for Christ and the Virgin Mary. He emphasized humility, simplicity, and above all, personal devotion to Jesus, whom he often called “the honey of the soul.” This is why he is sometimes referred to as the “Mellifluous Doctor,” meaning “the honey-tongued teacher.”
One of his most significant public roles came in 1146, when he was asked to preach the Second Crusade. With passionate words, Bernard stirred many to take up the cross. However, the crusade itself ended in failure, something that brought him deep sorrow. He saw it not as God’s failure but as a sign of human sinfulness and lack of true conversion. This episode shows both his influence and the limits of his time: even a saint could be caught up in the complex politics and tragedies of the medieval world.
As for miracles, several were reported during Bernard’s lifetime and after his death. Chroniclers tell of him healing the sick by prayer or blessing, and even of calming storms. One of the best-attested miracles was the healing of a blind man during his travels. While the Church recognizes him more for his teaching and holiness than for miraculous wonders, these events contributed to the devotion that surrounded him.
Through his founding of Clairvaux, his guidance of Church leaders, his spiritual writings, and his preaching across Europe, Bernard left a mark that was both practical and deeply spiritual. His work combined monastic reform with wider service to the Church, making him a bridge between the cloister and the world.
Suffering, Persecution, or Martyrdom
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was not called to martyrdom in the sense of dying violently for the faith, but his life was marked by deep suffering. Much of it came from within himself, as his body was fragile and often sickly. The strict fasting and discipline of Cistercian life, which he embraced with great zeal, left him weakened. Throughout his life he battled stomach troubles and exhaustion, and more than once he was forced to slow down his activity to recover. This physical suffering kept him humble and reminded him of his dependence on God.
Beyond his health, Bernard also faced opposition in his mission. His strong voice in the Church meant he made enemies as well as friends. During the papal schism of 1130, when he supported Pope Innocent II, the rival party backing Antipope Anacletus II accused Bernard of interfering in politics and overstepping his place as a monk. Some even mocked him for leaving the quiet life of the cloister to involve himself in worldly struggles. But Bernard believed he was serving the unity of the Church, and he pressed forward despite criticism.
Another painful conflict came in his debates with Peter Abelard, a famous theologian of the time whose teachings Bernard believed were dangerous for the faith. Bernard opposed Abelard at the Council of Sens in 1140, where Abelard’s views were condemned. While Bernard defended the Church’s teaching out of love for truth, the controversy weighed heavily on him. He was not a man who enjoyed fighting, but his conscience compelled him to speak out. These kinds of disputes, though necessary, often left him worn and sorrowful.
Perhaps Bernard’s greatest inner suffering came from the failure of the Second Crusade. After preaching it with great passion in 1146, he saw the expedition collapse in disaster. Many people blamed him directly, accusing him of misleading thousands into a hopeless cause. Bernard carried this burden with deep sadness. He defended himself by saying the failure was due to the sins of the crusaders, not the will of God. Still, the experience left a scar on his heart, showing how even saints can feel the weight of disappointment and human failure.
In all these sufferings — illness, criticism, theological disputes, and failed hopes — Bernard showed that holiness is not freedom from pain, but faithfulness in the midst of it. He bore these trials with humility, using them to draw closer to Christ, who suffered far more for the sake of the world.
Death and Legacy
By the early 1150s, Bernard’s health, always delicate, was worn down by years of work, travel, and responsibility. He had carried the weight of guiding not only his monastery but also the wider Church, and his body could no longer keep pace with his spirit. Despite weakness and pain, he continued to write letters, preach, and encourage his monks until the very end.
On August 20, 1153, Bernard died at the age of about sixty-three in his monastery at Clairvaux. He passed peacefully among his brothers, the community he had founded and guided for nearly four decades. His body was buried at Clairvaux, and from the very beginning, devotion to him spread quickly. Monks, bishops, and laypeople alike remembered him not only for his wisdom but for the love of Christ that shone through his life.
After his death, relics of Bernard were preserved with great reverence. For centuries, his remains rested at Clairvaux, though later, during the upheavals of the French Revolution, many were transferred to Troyes Cathedral to keep them safe. His memory was honored with churches and chapels dedicated to him, especially in France and other parts of Europe influenced by the Cistercian order.
Bernard’s writings became one of his greatest legacies. His sermons on the Song of Songs, his treatises on humility and love of God, and his many letters were copied and studied across medieval Europe. They shaped the spirituality of monks, priests, and lay faithful for generations. His influence also extended beyond Catholicism: in later centuries, Anglicans and Lutherans also admired his writings for their depth of faith.
One of the strongest signs of his impact is the growth of the Cistercian Order. From Clairvaux alone, dozens of new monasteries were founded during his lifetime, spreading his vision of a simple, Christ-centered life across Europe. By the end of the Middle Ages, the Cistercians had become one of the most powerful spiritual movements in the Church, much of it inspired by Bernard’s leadership.
Even centuries after his death, Bernard’s voice has not been silenced. His emphasis on humility, devotion to Christ, and love of Mary remains a guide for Christians who seek holiness without pride. His story shows how one man, frail in body yet strong in faith, can shape the life of the Church for centuries to come.
Canonization and Veneration
The holiness of Bernard’s life was recognized quickly after his death. His influence had been so wide, and devotion to him so strong, that the Church moved swiftly in acknowledging him as a saint. On January 18, 1174, less than twenty-one years after his death, Pope Alexander III formally canonized Bernard of Clairvaux. This was a remarkable speed for canonization, showing how deeply he was admired across Christendom.
Bernard’s feast day was fixed on August 20, the anniversary of his death, and it remains celebrated on that date in the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and the Lutheran Church. For a time, in the Tridentine Calendar (1570–1970), his feast was listed on August 19, but it was restored to August 20 after the calendar reforms of 1970.
In 1830, Pope Pius VIII declared Bernard a Doctor of the Church, giving him the title “Doctor Mellifluus,” or “the Honey-tongued Doctor,” because of the sweetness and depth of his teaching. This honor placed him among the most important teachers in Catholic tradition, alongside figures like Augustine, Gregory the Great, and Thomas Aquinas.
Relics of Saint Bernard were originally kept at Clairvaux Abbey, but during the upheavals of the French Revolution, many were transferred for safekeeping to Troyes Cathedral, where they are still venerated. Over the centuries, churches and monasteries dedicated to him have been built across Europe and beyond, especially in regions influenced by the Cistercians.
Today, devotion to Saint Bernard is seen not only in the liturgy of his feast but also in the continued study of his writings. His sermons on the love of God, humility, and the Virgin Mary are still widely read and quoted. His prayer to Mary, often remembered in the words “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary…” — known as the Memorare — is one of the most beloved Marian prayers in Catholic devotion, though its authorship is sometimes debated.
Bernard’s influence is global. From European monasteries to parish churches in the Americas, Africa, and Asia, he is honored as a guide for Christians seeking a deeper, more personal love of Christ. His life and teaching remind the faithful that holiness is not about earthly success but about surrender to God’s will in every moment.
Short Prayer for Intercession
Prayer to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
O Saint Bernard,
you loved Christ with burning devotion
and trusted in the gentle help of Mary.
You knew weakness in your body,
sorrow in your heart,
and criticism from others,
yet you remained faithful in humility and prayer.Pray for us, that we may seek God above all things,
love Him with a sincere heart,
and find courage in times of struggle.
Help us to be faithful in both joy and trial,
until we share in the peace of Christ forever.Amen.
