A Comparative Study of the Lives of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) though they were not
Contemporaries and were born into different countries and both had very different approaches in their responses to God's call. However, each are credited with the rebuilding of Christ's church on a large scale. Saint Francis was born in Italy to a wealthy family of silk merchants almost thirty years after Saint
Bernard's death. Saint Bernard was born into a family of nobility in Burgundy, France both men were born into a position of wealth and esteem.

Saint Bernard had a great taste for literature and devoted himself for some time to poetry. Saint
Francis also had shared a joy for poetry, mostly texts of troubadour songs dealing mainly with themes of chivalry and courtly love. Most were metaphysical, intellectual, and formulaic. They both also shared their love of God and spread the knowledge of the gospels in their writings and sermons. They were known to have a strong evangelizing effect on listeners and attracted large numbers to their orders with their ascetic looks and simple attire. Saint Bernard strived in particular to effectively drive out many of the heresies which occurred in the early Middle Ages through his teachings.

The conversion of Saint Francis had been one of a slow, steady journey. Showing signs of deep compassion and understanding even as a young child when reproached by his father for having left his wares unattended to chase down a beggar in order to give the poor man the full contents of his pockets. Saint Francis' life of materialism, worldly concerns and pleasures slowly lost its hold on him and he awakened to God's plan for his life’s work. While Saint Bernard had ...

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...g, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s Living Word guided by the Holy Spirit the keys to nourishing Christian spirituality. The last years of Bernard’s life were darkened by the failure of the crusaders. He died at the age of 63, in 1830 the title “Doctor of the Church” was bestowed upon him and though he did not start the Cistercian Order he is celebrated as greatly as a founder would be.

While both Saint’s differed in personality, style and views on violence and the politic involvement as well as topics in which they preach upon they both led a life of fortitude in their legendary missions of building Christ’s Church on earth. They both although suffering chronic illness traveled throughout their lives and left a long lasting legacy of ascetic practice of poverty and apostolic life.