St. Bernard, Abbott and Doctor of the Church

Saint of the Day for 20 - August

Doctor of the Church, founder of the Abbey of Clairvaux, one of the fathers of the Cistercians, patron of beekeepers. St Bernard of Clairvaux, whose liturgical feast occurs on 20 August, travelled all the roads of Europe, fighting heresy and defending the Pope and the Church.

St. Bernard, Abbott and Doctor of the Church

A family gathered together in prayer

Bernard was born in 1090 at Fontaine, in France, of a good family. When he was 22, after having studied grammar and rhetoric, he entered the monastery founded by Robert of Molesme at Citeaux (in Latin, Cistercium -- the order centred around the monastery were thus known as Cistercians). Twelve companions joined him, including four brothers, an uncle, and a cousin. Following his example, many of his relatives undertook to enter religious life.

Jesus and Mary

For Bernard, the monastic life should involve work, contemplation, and prayer; and revolve around two fixed points: Jesus and Mary. For the Cistercian abbot, Christ is all: “When you discuss or speak, nothing has any flavour for me, if I have not heard you resound the Name of Jesus (Sermons on the Song of Songs, XV). And Mary, St Bernard writes, leads us to Jesus: “In dangers, 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…” (Homily II on the text Missus est).

The four grades of love

In his work On Loving God, Bernard points out the path of humility in order to achieve love of God. He exhorts us to love God without measure. For the Cistercian monk, there are four fundamental degrees or grades of love:

· Love of oneself for oneself: “First, one loves oneself for one’s own sake. Seeing, then, that by himself he cannot subsist, he begins to seek God by means of faith.”

· Love of God for love of self: “In the second grade, then, one loves God, but for oneself, not for Him. Beginning then to attend to God and to honour Him, in relation to one’s own needs.”

· Love of God for God: “The soul passes to the third grade, loving God not for oneself, but for Him. In this degree we stop for a long time; indeed, I do not know if in this life it is possible to reach the fourth grade.”

· Love of self for God: “That degree, that is, in which one loves himself only for love of God. Then, there will be a wonderful almost forgetfulness of self, almost abandoning of oneself so that everything tends toward God, so much so as to be one spirit only with Him.”

Bernard and the Templars

Among the writings of St Bernard is also the celebrated elegy of the monastic military order of the Templars, founded in 1119 by a group of knights under the guidance of Hugues de Payens, from Champagne, a relative of Bernard. In his work In Praise of the New Knighthood, he described the Templars in these words: “They are vested simply and covered with dust, their faces burned by the sun, their gaze proud and hard; before the battle they are armed interiorly with the strength of faith. Their only faith is addressed to God.”

The mellifluous doctor

Bernard of Clairvaux died on 20 August 1153; he was proclaimed a saint by Pope Alexander III in 1174. Pope Pius XII dedicated an encyclical to him, entitled Doctor mellifluus, in which he recalled, in particular, these words of St Bernard: “Jesus is honey on the lips, melody in the ear, joy in the heart.” “The mellifluous doctor,” the Pope wrote, “‘The ‘Doctor Mellifluus,’ ‘the last of the Fathers, but certainly not inferior to the earlier ones,’ was remarkable for such qualities of nature and of mind, to which God added an abundance of heavenly gifts.”

Saint of the Day for 20 August

St. Samuel, Prophet

St. Mary de Mattias, Virgin,Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ

Prayer of the Day

"O St. Bernard, Abbott and Doctor of the Church, humble servant of God, who found true peace in solitude and prayer, intercede for us before the Lord. Help us seek unity and spiritual strength in times of tribulation, and guide us with your wisdom to the heart of the Holy Trinity. Amen."

On this day, may we reflect on the life of St. Bernard, Abbott and Doctor of the Church and draw inspiration from their total dedication to God, especially in challenging times.

Saint of the Day: The Importance of Daily Holiness

Every day, the Catholic Church commemorates one or more saints, recognizing their virtues and example of Christian life. The tradition of the Saint of the Day serves as a reminder of those who dedicated their lives to God, serving humanity with love and devotion.

Who Are the Saints?

Saints are men and women who faithfully followed the teachings of Christ throughout their lives. Many endured martyrdom for their faith, while others devoted themselves to prayer, charity, and evangelization. The Church canonizes them after a thorough process of recognizing their virtues and the miracles attributed to their intercession.

The Celebration of the Saint of the Day

Each saint is honored on a specific day, usually corresponding to the anniversary of their death—considered the day of their final union with God. This practice allows the faithful to learn more about these holy men and women and find inspiration in their spiritual journey.

The Spiritual Purpose

The celebration of the Saint of the Day is not just a historical remembrance but an invitation to reflection and prayer. The faithful are encouraged to seek the intercession of the saint being honored, asking for strength and inspiration to face daily challenges with faith and hope.

Learning about and celebrating the Saint of the Day strengthens our faith and provides concrete examples of Christian living. Each saint teaches us valuable lessons about perseverance, love for others, and dedication to God. May we be inspired by their stories and strive for greater holiness in our own lives.

Honoring the lives of the saints and celebrating their legacy is an opportunity to deepen our faith and embrace a path of holiness in our daily lives. Each saint offers a unique lesson in love, resilience, and devotion to God. May their stories inspire us to live with greater faith and purpose, following in the footsteps of Christ every day.