St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Bernard of Clairvaux was born around 1090 in Fontaine-les-Dijon, near Dijon, Burgundy, into an aristocratic family. He abandoned a literary education to join the Cistercian Order at Cîteaux in 1112. In 1115, he founded the Abbey of Clairvaux, becoming its abbot and playing a pivotal role in expanding the Cistercian Order. Between 1130 and 1145, Bernard mediated in civil and ecclesiastical councils and theological debates, supporting Pope Innocent II during the papal schism with Anacletus. He was a confidant of five popes and a prominent figure in medieval Christendom. Bernard wrote extensively, including his famous Sermons on the Canticle of Canticles, and was a strong advocate for devotion to the Virgin Mary. In 1147, he was commissioned by Pope Eugene III to preach the Second Crusade, which he did across France and Germany. Despite the crusade's failure, Bernard remained influential. He died on August 20, 1153, at Clairvaux. His legacy as a theologian and reformer led to his canonization on January 18, 1174, by Pope Alexander III. Bernard's impact on European monasticism and his enduring theological writings cemented his status as one of the most influential churchmen of his time.