Saint Bernard (c 1090-1153) Feast Day 20th August

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was one of the most influential churchmen of his time.
He was a man who by personality and goodness of character, rather than by his position, influenced kings.

Both his parents died whilst he was still young.His father Tecelin was killed on a crusade. His mother Aleth died in 1107. He claimed his mother’s death led him towards his ’ long path to complete conversion '.

Saint Bernard decided he wanted to become a monk. He entered the Citeaux monastery with 30 other youths of noble rank. The monks of Citeaux and its daughter monasteries were called Cistercians.

In 1115 Saint Stephen Harding appointed him abbot of Clairvaux . Aided by 11 others it became a celebrated abbey. The monastic rule he perfected at Clairvaux became the model for 163 monasteries of the Cistercian reform. He became the most conspicuous figure in the history of the 12th century. He founded numerous abbeys.

For 10 years Saint Bernard had a penchant for penitential practices and as a result was plagued by poor health -anemia, migraine, gastritis hypertension and a poor sense of taste.

He was most active between 1130 and 1145. He was the confidant for 5 popes.
He was mediator and councilor for several civil and ecclesiastical councils and theological debate during 7 years of papal disunity.

Saint Bernard was given the task to promote the Second Crusade (1147-9). It ended unfortunately in failure.

Saint Bernard was loved and respected by everyone.
He died on the 20th August 1174.

Sources used Britannica, Catholic 0nline and *The Church’s Year * by Charles Alexander