19/08/2024
Its the feast day of St. Bernard of clairvaux
SAINT OF THE DAY |Saint Bernard
August 20, 2024
St. Bernard of Clairvaux (c. 1090–August 20, 1153) was a prominent Cistercian monk, mystic, and influential church leader. Born in Fontaine-les-Dijon near Dijon, Burgundy, he founded and served as the abbot of Clairvaux Abbey. He was canonized on January 18, 1174, and his feast day is August 20.
Bernard came from a Burgundian aristocratic family with six siblings. His upbringing fostered a deep sense of mercy, justice, and loyalty. Both of his parents were paragons of virtue, and his mother, Aleth, had a profound impact on him, comparable to St. Monica’s influence on St. Augustine. After Aleth's death in 1107, Bernard felt this marked the start of his "long path to complete conversion." He abandoned his studies at Châtillon-sur-Seine and his prospects for an ecclesiastical career to pursue a life of renunciation and solitude.
Bernard sought the guidance of St. Stephen Harding, abbot of Cîteaux, and chose to join the fledgling Cistercian community founded by St. Robert of Molesme in 1098. This community aimed to restore Benedictine life to a more primitive and austere form. Bernard carefully settled his personal affairs and persuaded his brothers and about 25 companions to join him before entering Cîteaux in 1112. He devoted the next few years to spiritual and theological studies.
During this time, Bernard’s health was a constant struggle, including issues such as anemia, migraines, gastritis, hypertension, and a diminished sense of taste. These health challenges may have influenced his early and consistent focus on physical austerity.
Sources:
Text: britannica.com
Graphics: BMSN Media Centre
