Saint Bernard, Abbot and Church Doctor - August 20th saintoftheday
Mellifluous Doctor of the Church
Last of the Fathers of the Holy Church
Memorial
20 August
Profile
Born to the French nobility; brother of Saint Humbeline. 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 of Clairvaux which soon had over 700 monks and eventually 160 daughter houses. Revised and reformed the Cistercians. Advisor to, and admonisher of, King Louis the Fat and King Louis the Young. Attended the Second Lateran Council. Fought Albigensianism. Helped end the schism of anti-Pope Anacletus II. Preached in France, Italy, and Germany. Helped organize the Second Crusade. Friend and biographer of Saint Malachy O’More. Spritual advisor to Pope Eugene 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 – to lead a holy life.
Born
1090 at Fontaines-les-Dijon, Burgundy, France
Died
20 August 1153 at Clairvaux Abbey, Ville-sous-la-Ferté, Aube, France
Canonized
1170 by Pope Alexander III
Patronage
beekeepers
bees
Burgundy, France
candlemakers
chandlers
Cistercian Order
Cistercians
Gibraltar
Knights Templar
Queens College, Cambridge, England
Speyer Cathedral
wax-melters
wax refiners
Representation
beehive
bees
book
Cistercian having a vision of Mary
Cistercian with a beehive
Cistercian with a chained demon
Cistercian with a mitre on the ground beside him
Cistercian with a swarm of bees nearby
Cistercian with a white dog
Cistercian writing and watching Mary
instruments of the Passion
pen
white dog
with Saint Humbeline
Butler, Alban Father. "Butler's Lives of the Saints: Volume 3",Complete Edition". "August". "20:ST BERNARD, ABBOT OF CLAIRVAUX, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH" . Maryland: Christian Classics, 1990.360-365.