Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Abbot, Doctor of the Church

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[Salvation]

Bump!

[Salvation]

BTTT on 08-202-04!

[Salvation]

That is a wonderful prayer to Jesus Hanging on the Cross. What would happen if we would all say that contemplation on Good Friday? Or any day, for that matter?

[Salvation]

BTTT on the Memorial of St. Bernard, 08-20-05!

[Salvation]

Litany of St. Bernard of Clairvaux

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This litany is for private use only.

Lord, have mercy on us,
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us.
Queen conceived without sin,
Pray for us.
Saint Bernard, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, who in giving thyself to God, drew many souls to Him, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, prodigy of the eleventh age, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, ornament of the clergy, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, terror of heretics, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, oracle of the Church, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, light of bishops, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, most humble, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, burning with zeal for the glory of God, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, most ardent for the honor of Mary, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, most beloved son of the Queen of Angels, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, most pure in body and mind, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, perfect model of poverty and mortification, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, most ardent in charity to all, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, who feared God and not earthly powers, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, whose whole exterior breathed holiness, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, whose very look spoke of God, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, flower of religious, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, who never lost sight of the presence of God, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, angel of Clairvaux, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, always absorbed in God, Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

Let Us Pray.
O great Saint, who from the very dawn of life turned all the powers of thy soul and the noble affections of thy pure and loving heart toward thy Creator; O angel clothed in mortal flesh, who appeared in this valley of tears as a bright lily of purity to shed around thee the good odor of Christ, to show to all the beauty of virtue, and to point out to thousands the way to Heaven. O pray for us, that truly despising all earthly objects, we may live for God alone. R. Amen.

Prayer Source: Prayers from Various Websites

[Salvation]

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

August 20, 2005

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

(1091-1153)

Man of the century! Woman of the century! You see such terms applied to so many today—“golfer of the century,” “composer of the century,” “right tackle of the century”—that the line no longer has any punch. But the “man of the twelfth century,” without doubt or controversy, has to be Bernard of Clairvaux. Adviser of popes, preacher of the Second Crusade, defender of the faith, healer of a schism, reformer of a monastic Order, Scripture scholar, theologian and eloquent preacher: any one of these titles would distinguish an ordinary man. Yet Bernard was all of these—and he still retained a burning desire to return to the hidden monastic life of his younger days.

In the year 1111, at the age of 20, Bernard left his home to join the monastic community of Citeaux. His five brothers, two uncles and some 30 young friends followed him into the monastery. Within four years a dying community had recovered enough vitality to establish a new house in the nearby valley of Wormwoods, with Bernard as abbot. The zealous young man was quite demanding, though more on himself than others. A slight breakdown of health taught him to be more patient and understanding. The valley was soon renamed Clairvaux, the valley of light.

His ability as arbitrator and counselor became widely known. More and more he was lured away from the monastery to settle long-standing disputes. On several of these occasions he apparently stepped on some sensitive toes in Rome. Bernard was completely dedicated to the primacy of the Roman See. But to a letter of warning from Rome he replied that the good fathers in Rome had enough to do to keep the Church in one piece. If any matters arose that warranted their interest, he would be the first to let them know.

Shortly thereafter it was Bernard who intervened in a full-blown schism and settled it in favor of the Roman pontiff against the antipope.

The Holy See prevailed on Bernard to preach the Second Crusade throughout Europe. His eloquence was so overwhelming that a great army was assembled and the success of the crusade seemed assured. The ideals of the men and their leaders, however, were not those of Abbot Bernard, and the project ended as a complete military and moral disaster.

Bernard felt responsible in some way for the degenerative effects of the crusade. This heavy burden possibly hastened his death, which came August 20, 1153.

Comment:

Bernard’s life in the Church was more active than we can imagine possible today. His efforts produced far-reaching results. But he knew that they would have availed little without the many hours of prayer and contemplation that brought him strength and heavenly direction. His life was characterized by a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. His sermons and books about Mary are still the standard of Marian theology.

Quote:

“In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may more surely obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal” (St. Bernard).

[sionnsar]

This litany is for private use only.

What does this mean?

[Salvation]

It means you can say it yourself, but it can't be used during a Mass or public devotion, such as during Lent.

[sionnsar]

I see. I was guessing it was something like that -- "unauthorised".

[Ciexyz]

I've heard of Bernard mainly thru his controversy with Abelard, and I've heard of Abelard because of his illicit romance with Heloise (for which her family castrated Abelard, which caused Heloise to go into the church as a nun.)

[Ciexyz]

Faith-sharing bump.

[Ciexyz]

He carried the twelfth century on his shoulders.

His bio is most impressive.

[Salvation]

August 20, 2007

Saint Bernard

August 20th is the feast of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church. Cistercians keep it as a solemnity. This particular depiction of the "amplexus" or embrace of Saint Bernard by the Crucified Jesus is found in the Cistercian Church of San Bernardo Alle Terme in Rome.

Preface of the Mass of Saint Bernard

Truly it is right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.

Christ is the Word
whom Saint Bernard held in the silence of his heart;
Christ is the Bridegroom
whom he desired with all the ardour of his soul;
Christ is the Son of the Virgin Mary
whose sweetness was his comfort and delight.

In the holy abbot Bernard you have given your Church
a teacher in the school of charity,
a prophet burning with the fire of the Holy Spirit,
a poet to sing the praises of the Virgin Mother,
a servant of unity and peace.

Even today, his words fill us with wonder,

inflame us with longing for the wedding of the Lamb,
and inspire us to sing your praise with joy.

Therefore, with the angels and the great company of saints,
we exalt your glory forever.

Posted by Father Mark on August 20, 2007

[Salvation]

The Memorare

St. Bernard of Clairvaux composed the famous prayer
to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary known as The Memorare

Remember REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do 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.

Memorare MEMORARE, O piissima Virgo Maria, non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, tua petentem suffragia, esse derelictum. Ego tali animatus confidentia, ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, curro, ad te venio, coram te gemens peccator assisto. Noli, Mater Verbi, verba mea despicere; sed audi propitia et exaudi. Amen.

[Salvation]

Reading	From a sermon by St. Bernard, abbot
I love because I love, I love that I may 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 its practice. I love because I love, I love that I may love. Love is a great thing so long as it continually returns to its fountainhead, flows back to its source, always drawing from there the water which constantly replenishes it. 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.   The Bridegroom’s love, or rather the love which is the Bridegroom, asks in return nothing but faithful love. Let the beloved, then, love in return. Should not a bride love, and above all, Love’s bride? Could it be that Love not be loved?   Rightly then does she give up all other feelings and give herself wholly to love alone; in giving love back, all she can do is to respond to love. And when she has poured out her whole being in love, what is that in comparison with the unceasing torrent of that original source? Clearly, lover and Love, soul and Word, bride and Bridegroom, creature and Creator do not flow with the same volume; one might as well equate a thirsty man with the fountain.   What then of the bride’s hope, her aching desire, her passionate love, her confident assurance? Is all this to wilt just because she cannot match stride for stride with her giant, any more than she can vie with honey for sweetness, rival the lamb for gentleness, show herself as white as the lily, burn as bright as the sun, be equal in love with him who is Love? No. It is true that the creature loves less because she is less. But if she loves with her whole being, nothing is lacking where everything is given. To love so ardently then is to share the marriage bond; she cannot love so much and not be totally loved, and it is in the perfect union of two hearts that complete and total marriage consists. Or are we to doubt that the soul is loved by the Word first and with a greater love?

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[Joe 6-pack]

The author of De Laudibus Novae Militiae and source of my tagline...

"Que me amat, amet et canem meum."