His superiors soon noticed that Bernard had made great progress in his spiritual life; thus, in 1115, he and twelve other monks were sent to found a new monastery in what was then known as the Valley of Wormwood; within time it became even better known as the Valley of Light, or Clairvaux. His aged father came also, giving up his wealth and honor for the poverty of a monk in the monastery of Clairvaux. His married sister loved wealth. She visited Bernard, and the words he spoke moved her so deeply that two years later she retired to a convent with her husband's consent.

It was at Clairvaux where Bernard was appointed Abbot. As the Abbot of Clairvaux, Bernard did not lead a life of quiet contemplation - well read, literate, and having a bit of a short temper, he was nothing if not outspoken in his opinions and views. He was a powerful preacher and is reported to have performed miracles, especially in healing the sick. His reputation attracted great crowds of pilgrims to Clairvaux which soon became the most important of the Cistercian monasteries.

This saintly man was gradually drawn into world affairs as church leaders came to seek his advice. Even the pope's legates sought his counsel. A prolific writer, Bernard led much of the discussion and dialog on reforms and restructuring of the church as it passed through its first millennium. Most of St. Bernard's written records and correspondence have been lost over time, but what has survived has given historians a rich picture of everyday life in the European High Middle Ages. Ultimately he was recognized as the most influential spiritual leader of his time and was largely responsible for the rapid expansion of the Cistercian order. By 1153, the year Bernard died, there were more than 300 Cistercian monasteries, sixty-eight of which were founded directly from the monastery at Clairvaux.

Bernard was able to accomplish many things; one of his greatest achievements took place after the death of Pope Honorius II in 1130. A disputed election of the new pope caused a schism in the Church. Both Innocent II and Anacletus II were claimed to be the new pope. Catholics took sides and neither side would give in. Bernard traveled from one country to another to talk to church leaders in an effort to end the rift. After eight years of preaching and negotiating, the schism was finally ended. That was thought to be Bernard's crowning triumph.

Bernard also had his disappointments. When Pope Eugene III asked him to preach the second Crusade, he aroused great enthusiasm and hosts of men were inspired to join, but the expedition was a failure. That dealt Bernard a crushing blow.

By this time, Bernard's body was getting weary of travel, but his mind was still sharp, so he turned to his writing. His works fall into four categories: 1) letters, 2) treatises, 3) sermons, and 4) hymns. Yes, this gifted man also had a talent for music. Many of his hymns survive today and are used in both Catholic and Protestant Churches.

Bernard died in his monastery at Clairvaux in 1153, at the age of 63. His case for sainthood was organized early on - it was in 1121 when Bernard performed his first miracle, restoring speech to a mute and allowing him to make his first confession. By making the Sign of the Cross, he was credited with curing many people over his lifetime. He was canonized a saint by Pope Alexander III in 1174 and named a doctor of the church by Pope Pius VII in 1830. His feast day is August 20. By his life, St. Bernard showed how deeply he cared about God and God's people. We are fortunate to be under his wing.

Samples of his writing:

Love

"Love is sufficient of itself; it gives pleasure by itself and because of itself, it is its own merit, its own reward. Love looks for no cause outside itself, no effect beyond itself. Its profit lies in the practice. Of all the movements, sensations and feelings of the soul, love is the only one in which the creature can respond to the Creator and make some sort of similar return however unequal though it be. For when God loves all he desires is to be loved in return. The sole purpose of his love is to be loved, in the knowledge that those who love him are made happy by their love of him."

St. Bernard was devoted to Our Blessed Mother: The Memorare

"Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee O Virgin of virgins, my Mother, to thee I come, before thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate! despise not my petitions, but, in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen"

Prayer

"Nevertheless, each time that I speak about prayer, I seem to hear some very human thoughts come from your heart that I have often heard from others, having experienced them myself at times in my own heart. In fact, how can we explain this: we never stop praying yet it seems that we practically never know, through experience, what the fruit of that prayer is? As much as we pray and continue to pray, no one gives us anything, it seems as if we have toiled in vain."

Prayer for the Intercession of St. Bernard

God, You blessed Your Church with St. Bernard, a man full of zeal for Your house, radiating brightness and ardent love. Through his intercession, grant that we may be animated by the same spirit and always walk as children of light.   Amen.

Resource: Lives of the Saints
Rev. Hugo Hoever, S.O. Cist., Ph.D.