Saint Bernard

Saint Bernard (Bernard of Clairvaux) – Life, Influence, and Wisdom

Discover the life, spiritual legacy, and famous sayings of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153), a preeminent Cistercian monk, mystic, and Doctor of the Church whose voice shaped medieval Christian devotion.

Introduction

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (c. 1090 – August 20, 1153), commonly known simply as Saint Bernard, is one of the most revered figures in Christian monasticism. He was a Cistercian abbot, mystic, preacher, theologian, and reformer during the 12th century. His spiritual writings, sermons, and leadership helped shape monastic life, influence church politics, and deepen the contemplative tradition in the West.

Often called the “Doctor Mellifluus” (“honey-tongued doctor”) for the sweetness of his rhetoric, Bernard’s blend of ascetic discipline and passionate devotion made him a bridge between monastic interiority and public ecclesiastical action. Even centuries later, his teachings on humility, love of God, and devotion to the Virgin Mary resonate in Christian spirituality.

Early Life and Family

Bernard was born around 1090 in Fontaines-lès-Dijon (near Dijon), in Burgundy, France, into a noble family. Tescelin de Fontaine, a local lord, and his mother Alèthe (Aleth) de Montbard.

When young, Bernard was educated in a secular school run by the canons of Saint-Vorles in Châtillon-sur-Seine. Cistercian monastery at Cîteaux.

Monastic Life and Founding of Clairvaux

In 1115, having shown promise in Cîteaux, Bernard was entrusted with founding a new monastery in a remote valley. That site became Clairvaux Abbey (Latin Clara Vallis, “clear valley”).

Clairvaux quickly became a center of spiritual renewal and discipline. Bernard insisted on a rigorous asceticism, contemplative life, and a direct, affective devotion to Christ.

Bernard was also a prolific writer: he produced sermons, theological treatises, letters, and meditative works, notably his Sermons on the Song of Songs.

Involvement in Ecclesiastical Affairs & Crusade Preaching

While his monastic life was central, Bernard was equally engaged in the broader Church:

• The Papal Schism (1130): After the death of Pope Honorius II in 1130, a schism arose with the election of rival popes (Innocent II vs. Anacletus II). Bernard supported Innocent II, playing a key role in persuading kings, bishops, and monastic communities to recognize him.

• Preaching the Second Crusade (1146): At the request of Pope Eugene III, Bernard preached the Second Crusade. His sermon at Vézelay is often called the turning point in mobilizing support.

• Combatting Heresies: Bernard opposed various heterodox movements, including the Petrobrusians, Cathars, and teachings associated with Peter Abelard.

• Theological and ecclesiastical influence: He intervened in disputes between monastic orders (Cistercians vs. Cluniacs), wrote on episcopal duties, and influenced theological debates on grace, free will, and mystical experience.

Final Years and Death

In his final years, Bernard’s health declined, but he remained active in monastic and ecclesiastical affairs. August 20, 1153, at Clairvaux Abbey.

In 1174, Bernard was canonized by Pope Alexander III. 1830, Pope Pius VIII declared him a Doctor of the Church. Doctor Mellifluus (“honeyed teacher”) or Last of the Fathers.

Spiritual Themes, Personality & Influence

Mystical devotion and affective theology
Bernard emphasized an experiential, heartfelt love of God over dry intellectualism. He favored poetry, metaphor, and affective language to evoke spiritual union.

Humility and purity
Humility was central in Bernard’s spiritual path. He believed that the soul must descend before it can ascend, and that humility opens the way for God’s grace.

Marian devotion
Bernard promoted veneration of the Virgin Mary and often spoke of her as an intermediary and model of humility. He is credited with popularizing Marian devotion in the 12th century.

Rhetoric and persuasion
He was a master orator, capable of moving wide audiences and influencing rulers, clergy, and laypeople alike. His sermons and letters reveal a forceful voice combined with pastoral sensitivity.

Legacy in monastic reform
Bernard’s leadership solidified the Cistercian order as a powerful monastic movement. During his lifetime, dozens of monasteries were founded under influence of Clairvaux.

Continued theological influence
Later theologians—such as John Calvin, Martin Luther, and various mystics—drew on Bernard’s writings. Paradiso.

Selected Works

Some important works and writings of Saint Bernard include:

• Sermons on the Song of Songs (a series of mystical sermons)

• De consideratione (addressed to Pope Eugene III on prayer, reform, and papal responsibilities)

• Apologia (defense of Cistercian life against Cluniac criticisms)

• On Loving God (De diligendo Deo) and On Humility and Pride (De gradibus humilitatis et superbiae)

• Numerous letters—over 500 survive—on spiritual, ecclesiastical, and personal matters.

Famous Quotes of Saint Bernard

Here are some well-known sayings attributed to Bernard, or paraphrases drawn from his writings and sermons:

• “The stones will teach you that which you cannot learn from the masters.”

• “Great graces cannot be obtained without humility.”

• “For Mary is our hope: for through her, we have received the one we hoped for.” (on Marian devotion)

• “If you love, you will suffer; if you suffer, you will love more; if you love more, you will suffer more; if you suffer more, you will love still more.” (attributed)

These quotes capture Bernard’s emphasis on humility, suffering transformed by love, and experiential knowledge of God.

Lessons from Saint Bernard

• Humility as a spiritual foundation. Bernard teaches that a humble soul is more open to grace and growth.

• Love over speculation. He urges that theology be rooted in love of God rather than cold intellectualism.

• Active contemplation. His life demonstrates that deep prayer and monastic discipline can coexist with engagement in the life of the Church.

• Use your voice for justice. Bernard did not retreat into silence; he intervened in schisms, preached crusades, counseled princes, and defended reform.

• Integrate devotion and doctrine. His Marian devotion, Christocentric focus, and mystical theology show how belief and devotion can feed each other.

Conclusion

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux remains a towering figure in Christian history—one whose voice bridged cloister and cathedral, mysticism and politics, monastic simplicity and theological depth. His life invites us to a prayerful humility, a love of God lived in the heart, and a commitment to spiritual reform that does not shy from the world.