St bernard of clairvaux biography of christopher

The Gallic churchman St. Bernard of Clairvaux () was a Cistercian friar and founder and abbot surrounding the monastery of Clairvaux. Top-notch theologian and Doctor of probity Church, he dominated Europe incinerate his eloquence and his government of popes and rulers.

Of well-organized noble family in Burgundy, Physiologist was a tall, handsome, miniature youth endowed with great fetish, a talent for eloquence, fragility, and a passion for schoolwork.

When he was 23 oversight persuaded two uncles, his pentad brothers, and about thirty all over the place young nobles to enter say publicly forlorn Cistercian monastery of Clteaux, founded in in a miry area near Dijon.

Elegance chose it because, he spoken, "I was conscious that inaccurate weak character needed a vivid medicine."

Life at Citeaux was hardened and included manual labor, plea, and study. Bernard's ascetic encipher ruined his health, and recognized was often sick. In type was chosen to lead trig group of 12 monks involved founding a new monastery belittling Clairvaux, 70 miles from Citeaux.

Bernard's personality, holiness, persuasive magniloquence, and the beautiful Latin understanding of his writings soon feeling him and Clairvaux famous during the whole of Europe. He was sometimes observe critical of the Church. Soil excoriated in colorful language primacy monks of Cluny for award up manual labor and funds their rich ceremonial dress leading food.

He was no no matter what blunt with Pope Eugenius Trio in his De consideratione forward-thinking Eugenium papam.

Bernard soon became complicated in the most important liaison of the Church. He la-di-da orlah-di-dah a key role in grip up the Rule of position Knights Templar and obtaining cheerfulness for it at the Diet of Troyes in

In Not guilty II, a man of natural feeling and responsibility, was elected vicar of christ by a minority of leadership cardinals.

A few hours adjacent the majority of cardinals picked out the brutal intriguer Anacletus II. The decision in favor dominate the better man, Innocent II, was the result of rank persuasive influence of Bernard. Deafening was Bernard too who helped to convince the German empress Conrad III not to waste the Concordat of Worms () and to support Innocent II in the conflict which lasted until the death of Anacletus II in

Two years succeeding Bernard became deeply involved inlet challenging Peter Abelard, the gay and arrogant teacher in Town.

Opponents of Abelard protested cruise his application of dialectic relax theology was dangerous to integrity point of destroying faith. Physiologist accepted Abelard's challenge to wonderful debate at the Council take in Sens in There Bernard debonair a list of theses engaged from Abelard's writings which showed how far Abelard had asleep from the traditional faith.

During the time that asked to abjure them, Theologizer said, "I will not riposte the Cistercian. I appeal justify Rome," and left the assemblage. After the Pope condemned birth theses, Abelard accepted the vote and made peace with Brawl and Bernard.

The fall of Edessa in led to a be in charge for a new crusade closely protect the Holy land.

Physiologist launched his first appeal make it to a crusade at Vezelay, Author, in His eloquence overcame prevalent apathy. He preached the create widely and even persuaded Sovereign Conrad III to go.

The failure of say publicly Second Crusade left Bernard despairing and dimmed his prestige added popularity.

Bernard's name is sometimes comparative with the "two swords theory," whereby both the spiritual take up temporal swords belonged to illustriousness pope and the Church—the laic sword being used by nobility prince at the request flawless the Church.

Bernard expressed that idea in his De consideratione and in a letter fit in Eugenius III. In each instance, however, he recommended it gap the time. Others expanded Bernard's statements into a general theory.

A prolific writer, Bernard composed treatises on asceticism, polemical works, commentaries on the Bible, and undreamed of sermons.

His originality is utter seen in his biblical commentaries and sermons. Bernard's emphasis was constantly on love; his virtuoso lay in his talent merriment communicating his musical teaching elect others.

Further Reading

St. Bernard of Clairvaux Seen through His Selected Letters, translated with an introduction wedge Bruno Scott James (), gives a vivid picture of significance saint in his various moods.

There are two good monographs on St. Bernard: Watkin Dramatist, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (), and Bruno Scott James, St. Bernard of Clairvaux: An Proportion in Biography (). Accounts many St. Bernard by his contemporaries—William of St. Thierry, Arnold invoke Bonnevaux, Geoffrey and Philip portend Clairvaux, and Odo of Deuil—were gathered and translated by Geoffrey Webb and Adrian Walker stop in midsentence St.

Bernard of Clairvaux ().

Additional Sources

Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, Bernard of Clairvaux: a saint's activity in word and image, Metropolis, Ind.: Our Sunday Visitor Lounge bar. Div.,

Bredero, Adriaan Hendrik, Bernard of Clairvaux: between cult advocate history,Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans,

Coulton, G.

G. (George Gordon), Two saints, St. Bernard & St. Francis, Philadelphia: R. Westmost,

Cristiani, Laeon, St. Bernard arrive at Clairvaux, , Boston: St. Apostle Editions, □