St. Bernard of Clairvaux

A young Burgundian noble who entered the new Cistercian abbey of Cîteaux at twenty-two, taking thirty companions with him, Bernard founded Clairvaux at twenty-five and became the most influential preacher of his age. His sermons on the Song of Songs are among the great works of Christian mysticism; his counsel was sought by popes and kings; and his hymns to Jesus and Mary still shape Catholic devotion.

Bernard's eloquence was such that mothers hid their sons and wives their husbands when he came to preach, fearing they would follow him into the cloister. He mediated the papal schism of 1130, preached the Second Crusade at the request of Pope Eugene III, and composed the tender prayer "Memorare" attributed to his devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Named a Doctor of the Church and known as the "Doctor Mellifluus" — the Honey-Tongued Doctor — Bernard died at Clairvaux in 1153, having founded sixty-eight monasteries across Europe. His writings remain a wellspring of contemplative theology, bridging the intellectual rigor of the schools with the warmth of mystical love.