SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX


Saint Bernard was a man
Of CHARM=with learning=
And eloquence


He was the abbot of Clairvaux =
A doctor of the CHURCH=and a
LEADING church man
Of the 12^th century=and ONE
Of the principal promoters of MONASTI CISM


Bernard's arrival =
TRIGGERED an unprecedented release
Of monastic energy


In three years=he
Was SENT OUT
At the head of a COLONY
Of thirteen
They settled in Clairvaux
And created the diocese
Of Langres


He was a leader=
A WRITER=preacher=and
BECAME a SAINT


He PERSONALLY founded 68 monasteries
In Europe
And STILL had 700 monks
Left over=to CALL his own


CLAIRVAUX became the SPIRITUAL CENTER
Of Europe=
And when he died at age 63
There were 339 houses
In the CISTERCIAN COMPLEX


For years on end=he was
ACTIVE in public affairs=and
This lead to a GENUINE CRY
Of his SOUL=for
He was TORN AWAY from his cloister


He WON a GOOD PART of EUROPE
For Pope INNOCENTII=and preached
The SECOND CRUSADE


Which would wind up being
HIS BIGGEST FAILURE


Saint Bernard was CANONIZED
Twenty-two years after his death
And three of his brothers
As well as a sister
EARNED the title=”BLESSED”


His most FAMOUS written
Document was his TREATISE
On the LOVE OF GOD


And he FOCUSED on the
HUMAN NATURE of Christ=and
His LOVE for the BLESSED MOTHER=Mary


He was canonized in 1174=and became a DOCTOR
Of the CHURCH in 1830


And today=August 20th=
Is his FEAST DAY


Robert P. Wallman
8-20-2018