Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Bernard was born in 1090 at Fontaine-lès-Dijon, in Burgundy, France, into a noble family. In 1113 he entered the poor and strict new monastery of Cîteaux, bringing with him about thirty relatives and friends, including several of his brothers. Two years later he was sent to found the abbey of Clairvaux, which he led as abbot until his death.

Under his influence the Cistercian order spread across Europe, with Clairvaux alone founding dozens of new monasteries. Though he longed for solitude, Bernard was constantly called upon by popes and kings: he helped end a papal schism, advised a Cistercian pope, Eugene III, and preached the Second Crusade in 1146. His sermons on the Song of Songs and his writings on the love of God and on the Virgin Mary are classics of Christian spirituality. He died at Clairvaux on August 20, 1153, was canonized in 1174 and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1830, known as the Doctor Mellifluus.

Cistercian and Trappist monasteries celebrate him solemnly. The Memorare prayer, popularly attributed to him, is prayed by countless Catholics, and the beautiful Marian hymns of his tradition are sung on this day.

Beekeepers honor him as their patron because of his honey-sweet preaching.