General Description:

Abbe Theodore Ratisbonne

In all of history there is probably no other man who so dominated his times, so influenced its people and was so beloved by all as St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Deciding to renounce the world and enter religion, he chose the newly founded Cistercians, the strictest of monastic orders, bringing with him 29 other men and thus beginning the meteoric growth of that order, which 40 years later, upon St. Bernard's death, numbered some 160 houses all over Europe. Stemming from his incomparable example and holy writings came innumerable vocations to the religious life and many remarkable "conversions" of prominent Churchmen to a serious practice of their religious duties-which changed the face of religion at that time.

Soon his presence was in demand everywhere-to settle serious religious and political disputes and to advise at Church councils. (He attended six all together.) He was called upon to decide who was true Pope between Innocent II and Anacletus II, a question he settled single-handedly. Later, one by one, he convinced the European heads of state as to the validity of innocent's claim. But he also reconciled the claimants to the German imperial throne, healed the insurrection of the Italian republics, ended the war of Robert of Sicily against the Pope, silenced the rationalism of Peter Abelard, squelched the errors of Arnold of Brescia, extirpated the heresies of Henry de Bruys, wrote the constitution of the Knights Templar, preached and inspired the Second Crusade, ended a pogrom against the Jews in Germany, verified the divine origin of the revelations of St. Hildegarde, stopped a war at Metz, and-prophesied, cast out devils, worked countless miracles,

wrote books, destroyed heresy, expended himself in every direction on behalf of the great and the small, and successfully accomplished every major commission given to him. All the while he was extremely frail and forever sick, took no joy in the world or pride in his accomplishments, and ever longed to return to his monastic cell.

Abbe Theodore Ratisbonne, in this thorough yet popularly written biography, masterfully chronicles and explains in their historical setting all the extraordinary events and glorious accomplishments of St. Bernard of Clairvaux - the "Oracle of the Twelfth Century" and a Doctor of the Church.  It is a book to make men weep over the glory of God manifested in a single man.

 

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Feast Day: Roman Rite Calendar - 08/20 Tridentine Calendar - 08/20 Patron Of: Beekeepers, Candle-makers, Gibraltar, Wax-refiners Profile French nobility. At age 22, fearing the ways of the world, he, four of his brothers, and 25 friends joined the abbey of Citeaux; his father and another brother joined soon after. Benedictine. Founded and led the monastery at Clairvaux which soon had over 700 monks and 160 daughter houses. Revised and reformed the Cistercians. Advisor to, and admonisher of, King Louis the Fat and King Louis the Young. Attended Second Lateran Council. Fought Albigensianism. Helped end the schism of anti-Pope Anacletus II. Preached in France, Italy, Germany. Helped organize the Second Crusade. Friend and biographer of Saint Malachy O'More. Spritual advisor to Pope Eugenius III, who had originally been one of his monks. First Cistercian monk placed on the calendar of saints. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius VIII. Every morning Bernard would ask himself, "Why have I come here?", and then remind himself of his main duty - lead a holy life. Born     1090 at Fontaines-les-Dijon, Burgundy, France Died     20 August 1153 at Clairvaux Canonized     1170 by Pope Alexander III Born - 1090 at Fontaines-les-Dijon, Burgundy, France Died - 20 August 1153 at Clairvaux All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.

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