Friends of the Rosary,

Every August 20, we honor St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), abbot, theologian, poet, orator, and writer, and Doctor of the Church, who perfected the monastic rule that would become the model for 163 monasteries of the Cistercian reform.

St. Bernard was an apostle of the Crusades, reconciler of kings, leader of peoples, and counselor of popes. He studied grammar, poetry, literature, rhetoric, dialectics, Scripture, and theology.

He also held a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, continually seeking her intercession and seeing her as our Mediatrix and as the Star of the Sea who guides us through the darkness of life. The prayer of the Memorare is attributed to him.

He wrote De Consideratione, and many of his sermons are excerpted in the Breviary.

Notably, his treatise “On Loving God” articulated the reasons we should love God to an immeasurable degree. In all of his works, Abbot Bernard sought to teach to draw our hearts to conversion and love. He regularly emphasized the personal nature of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, our call to mystical union with Him, the need for humility, the benefits of asceticism, and the central role that the Blessed Virgin Mary must play in our lives.

He was a theologian, contemplative, and mystic whose central goals were to love God and to draw others into that same love.

Many miracles were attributed to him. He had the charism of spiritual discernment and was able to read the inner thoughts and intentions of people.

Ave Maria!
Jesus, I Trust In You!

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Please give us the grace to respond with joy!

+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York

Enhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:
Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play