This is exemplified by the short verse he once wrote. —Bernard of Clairvaux, quoted in The Crusades. Bernard suffered frequent bouts of ill health, almost from the moment he joined the Cistercians. Bernard went further and insisted that Pope Innocent II recognised this infant order as being solely under the authority of the Pope and no other temporal or ecclesiastical authority. The next day, after Bernard made his opening statement, Abelard decided to retire without attempting to answer. The purpose of this council was to settle certain disputes of the bishops of Paris, and regulate other matters of the Church of France. [12] Bernard then denounced Abelard to the pope and cardinals of the Curia. There Bernard preached an immediate faith, in which the intercessor was the Virgin Mary. 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." This abbey was the first Cistercian monastery and had been set up somewhat earlier by a small band of dissident monks from Molesmes. Alert. He did not pledge allegiance to Innocent until 1135. Bernard of Clairvaux is the attributed author of poems often translated in English hymnals as: The modern critical edition is Sancti Bernardi opera (1957–1977), edited by Jean Leclercq.[33][d]. 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. [6], Bernard was instrumental in re-emphasizing the importance of lectio divina and contemplation on Scripture within the Cistercian order. Main Cistercian monk and mystic, the founder and abbot of the abbey of Clairvaux and one of the most influential churchmen of his time. Gerard of Clairvaux, Bernard's older brother, became the cellarer of Citeaux. Hugues de Payens – The First Grand Master. His parents were Tescelin, lord of Fontaines, and Aleth of Montbard, both belonging to the highest nobility of Burgundy. [6], The little community of reformed Benedictines at Cîteaux, which had so profound an influence on Western monasticism, grew rapidly. 1/4. He was a theologian, poet, orator, and writer. This led for a time to the exaltation of human reason and rationalism. [25], One day, to cool down his lustful temptation, Bernard threw himself into ice-cold water. St. Bernard's Parish Hall. Gain access to 104 of his sermons—many of which examine the Song of Songs in vibrant detail. All of these were attributed to Bernard after his canonisation and therefore must surely be taken with a pinch of salt. Bernard was only nineteen years of age when his mother died. His two successors, Pope Celestine II and Pope Lucius II, reigned only a short time, and then Bernard saw one of his disciples, Bernard of Pisa, and known thereafter as Eugene III, raised to the Chair of Saint Peter. 107867101, citing Abbaye de Clairvaux, Clairvaux, Departement de l'Aube, Champagne-Ardenne, France ; Maintained by David Martin (contributor 47817370) . 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. 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). While […]. After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. The Abbot of Clairvaux contested, as we have seen, the excessively intellectualistic method of Abelard who in his eyes reduced faith to mere opinion, detached from the revealed truth. Forbid those noisy troublesome frogs to come out of their holes, to leave their marshes ... Then your friend will no longer be exposed to the accusations of pride and presumption.[4]. There are many who believe that it was his championship of the Templars that made their survival possible. The din of arms, the danger, the labors, the fatigues of war, are the penances that God now imposes upon you. In the first part, he proved himself innocent of the charges of Cluny and in the second he gave his reasons for his counterattacks. In addition to these victories, Bernard also had his trials. 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. [4], In the year 1119, Bernard was present at the first general chapter of the order convoked by Stephen of Cîteaux. [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. There is not left one man to seven women, and everywhere there are widows to still-living husbands. Bernard de clairvaux. In 1830 Pope Pius VIII bestowed upon Bernard the title "Doctor of the Church". Died Clairvaux, near Troyes, Champagne France August 20th 1153. [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. The purpose of this council was to settle certain disputes of the bishops of Paris, and regulate other matters of the Church of France. Abelard continued to press for a public debate, and made his challenge widely known, making it hard for Bernard to decline. Some of these, at the command of Innocent II, took possession of Tre Fontane Abbey, from which Eugene III was chosen in 1145. Patronage. 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. According to tradition, Bernard founded the monastery on 25 June 1115, naming it Claire Vallée, which evolved into Clairvaux. (See ‘The Templar Continuum’ Butler and Dafoe, Templar Books 2,000). Bernard’s influence grew within the established Church of his day. Bernard had a great taste for literature and devoted himself for some time to poetry. 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. James Meeker Ludlow describes the scene romantically in his book The Age of the Crusades: A large platform was erected on a hill outside the city. He decided in favour of Innocent II. She, with the consent of her husband, soon took the veil in the Benedictine nunnery of Jully-les-Nonnains. The passing of Pope Eugenius had struck the fatal blow by taking from him one whom he considered his greatest friend and consoler. [4] William yielded and the schism ended. He then returned to Clairvaux. [26], Bernard "noted centuries ago: the people who are their own spiritual directors have fools for disciples. At the solicitation of William of St. Thierry, Bernard defended the order by publishing his Apology which was divided into two parts. He preached at the Council of Vézelay (1146) to recruit for the Second Crusade. Both the Henrician and the Petrobrusian faiths began to die out by the end of that year. [30] Dante's choice appears to be based on Bernard's contemplative mysticism, his devotion to Mary, and his reputation for eloquence. [12] Bernard lobbied the prelates on the evening before the debate, swaying many of them to his view. All Public Masses in the Archdiocese of Toronto Are Temporarily Cancelled. Abbey mosaic of St. Bernard. 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. Cistercians honour him as the founder of the order because of the widespread activity which he gave to the order.[13]. 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 reputation of his holiness soon attracted 130 new monks, including his own father. Bernard’s influence upon the princes, the clergy, and the people of his age was most remarkable. Bernard's informal political influence was further enhanced with the election of Pope Eugenius III, one of Bernard's former pupils. Malachy died at Clairvaux in 1148. Bernard found it expedient to dwell upon taking the cross as a potent means of gaining absolution for sin and attaining grace. 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. The regimen was so austere that Bernard became ill, and only the influence of his friend William of Champeaux and the authority of the general chapter could make him mitigate the austerities. "[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. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. [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. After his death a cult of St Bernard rapidly developed. [18], There was at first virtually no popular enthusiasm for the crusade as there had been in 1095. 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. [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. But once out of Bernard's presence, he reneged. His success in his studies won the admiration of his teachers. Bernard walked hundreds of miles and talked to a great number of influential people in order to ensure Innocent’s ultimate acceptance. Bernard went again to Italy, where Roger II of Sicily was endeavouring to withdraw the Pisans from their allegiance to Innocent.