Bernard of Clairvaux

Bernard was born into a noble family near Dijon in Burgundy. In 1113 he entered the strict new monastery of Cîteaux, bringing about thirty relatives and friends with him, including several of his brothers. Two years later he was sent to found a new monastery at Clairvaux, which he led as abbot for the rest of his life. Under his influence the Cistercian order grew rapidly, founding hundreds of houses across Europe. Bernard was a powerful preacher and a writer of great warmth; his sermons on the Song of Songs describe the love between God and the soul, and he wrote widely on humility and the love of God. He also became deeply involved in the affairs of the Church, settling a disputed papal election, drafting a rule for the Knights Templar, and opposing the teachings of Peter Abelard. In 1146, at the pope's request, he preached the Second Crusade, which ended in failure. When a monk preached attacks on Jews in the Rhineland, Bernard went there to stop him. He died in 1153 and was declared a saint in 1174.

Bernard of Clairvaux is also an author in the library: author page and works.

Faith: Cistercian monk, mystic and abbot of Clairvaux; venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica