Saint Bernard de Clairvaux

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Bernard de Clairvaux, Saint (1091-1153), born of a noble family, renounced riches and worldly pleasures and founded the first Cistercian monastery, at Clairvaux—his ‘school of Christ’, where the Rule of St Benedict was to be scrupulously followed. He emphasized the importance of monastic obedience and humility, by contrast with the arrogance of secular masters, in achieving true wisdom and happiness. Most notably in his Sermons on the Song of Songs, Bernard sought to express an understanding of God which was mystical rather than analytic. The eloquence of imagery and expression he brought to the task owed much to his reading, not merely of Christian authors, but of Cicero, an author who also, through his De amicitia, helped to shape Bernard's thoughts about loving God. Despite his classical learning, Bernard was deeply suspicious of the application of logical analysis to Christian doctrine. He was instrumental in bringing two of the leading masters of his day before ecclesiastical councils: Abélard at Sens in 1140, Gilbert of Poitiers at Reims in 1148. He managed to secure the papal condemnation of Abélard, but despite his intrigues was outmanoeuvred by Gilbert, who in large measure succeeded in showing that Bernard had attacked what he was unable to understand.

[John Marenbon]