Introduction 1432 Bernard of Clairvaux (b. circa 1090 in Fontaines near Dijon, d. August 20, 1153, in Clairvaux) was a theologian, philosopher, mystic and preacher. Known as “Doctor Mellifluus” (the “honey-mouthed doctor”), Bernard was a monk of the Cistercian order and one of the most eloquent preachers in twelfth-century France. The aim of this essay is to consider Bernard as a spiritual and mystical writer. It will do this by firstly offering a brief biographical sketch of the man before considering
Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was a Cistercian monk who was given the title, Doctor Mellifluus (‘pleasant sounding’). His influence since medieval ages is significant and far spread. Interestingly, Luther remembered Bernard as the greatest of all the fathers of the church after Augustine’. In Bernard we can identify the dominant medieval method of Lectio Divina, engaging with a text through prayer and contemplation, this was a critical as well as devotional reflection. The Sermon one begins with
St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s appearance towards the end of Dante’s Commedia, which occurs at Book XXXI of Paradaiso, is not something a reader could predict. Bernard was removed from Dante by over 160 years in age. Bernard was a monk and a contemplative while Dante was a poet and an active Florentine government official. While Dante poeta may have wanted a holy person to lead Dante personaggio into the most sacred realms of Paradise, he could have chosen a Christian saint closer to his age and
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
The purpose of this paper is to examine Bernard of Clairvaux views how one should love God. Bernard of Clairvaux expresses love as a four varies degrees in which the Christian must come to understand when comes to the true love of God. I will attempt to show how St. Bernard shows how one is to grow and to develop in maturing love with God. Why and how we should Love God St. Bernard declares that “God Himself” should be the “motivation alone for our love.” (3) This type of love should not require
I. Bernard of Clairvaux was a Cistercian monk who is founder of the abbey of Clairvaux and one of the most significant churchmen of his time. He came from a Burgundian aristocratic family, in which his mother had a large religious influence on him. After her death, Bernard had turned away from his academic education and went to school at Châtillon-sur-Seine to pursue a religious livelihood. In 1115, Stephen Harding, one of the founders of the Cistercian Order, appointed him to lead a small group
Heloise. Peter Abelard was born in about 1079 and Abelard was “one of the most original minds of his day, that the medieval university of Paris arose out of his fame as a teacher and that his theological views brought him into conflict with St Bernard of Clairvaux” (Introduction xiii). Heloise too was an educated woman and eager to learn, “her keen intellect can analyse herself and her problem clearly, but the feeling behind the words is passionate and painful,” (Introduction xxxi). The twos love story
largely ignored, illuminates truths in the struggle to recapture the Holy Cities across the Mediterranean. Other letters penned by Hadewijch seem to both respond directly to and refute the call made by Bernard of Clairvaux in the twelfth century. In his letters In Praise of the New Knighthood, Bernard openly praises the murder of the “Other”, justifying such actions as the defense of the faith: “Yet this is not to say that the pagans are to be slaughtered when there is any other way of preventing them
theologians believed that images were considered to be idolatry. When Iconoclasm started they believed that images were bad as well, but people started to find a purpose for images and the issue of images in religion was some what concluded with Bernard of Clairvaux who believed they were good as long as the were used to honor God. Theologians through out time have all had many different ideas on what images should and should not be used for in Christianity. According to Exodus 20:4 God tells his chosen
and a New Elite Art, par 1). However, not everyone agreed with this extravagant style. When Gothic cathedrals began being built, French abbot, Bernard de Clairvaux made a judgment of his own. He explained that he did not see the need to be so extravagant when the money going to those glittering churches can go to a better use, the poor. I agree with Bernard; there is no need to be stylish when adorning cathedrals if there are better uses for that money. The other important characteristics of the Gothic
city of Edessa was captured due to a lack of protection and unity resulting in a great loss of a prominent and principal Christian “settlement”. Pope Eugene III had made St. Bernard of Clairvaux the main preacher for the Second Crusade, in the hopes of making others enthusiastic about the idea of another crusade. St. Bernard and Pope Eugene III eventually were able to influence and persuade two notable monarchs, Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany, to lead the crusaders into war. This story
The Crusade became predominantly French, reflecting Urban's origins and France's chivalric ideals. French knights embraced the cause fervently, leading to significant achievements. After reclaiming Antioch in 1098, they marched triumphantly on Jerusalem in 1099. The city fell amidst brutal violence, with Muslims slaughtered and Jews burned alive in the main synagogue, actions seen as celebrating their conquest. Urban's leadership and the French knights' zeal were instrumental in the early successes
Visit to St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church in North Miami Beach As part of our Class Ancient Medieval Civilizations one of the assignments was to do a Cultural Activity Report, mine was to visit the St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church located in North Miami Beach (16711 W Dixie Highway, NMB, FL 33160). I visited the church Sunday, March 1st accompanied by my friend Yuvi, she always wanted to visit this place, and I found this opportunity perfect to invite her so I had someone to go with and not just by
Saint Bernard, despite his unassuming appearance and chronic pain from a life of fasting, was the most influential spiritual figure in Europe. His charisma and unwavering devotion to the faith made him a natural choice to inspire and lead the Crusade. Sent by Abbot Stephen Harding to establish a daughter house at Clairvaux in 1115, Saint Bernard had spent the last twenty-five years preaching, writing, and engaging in theological
languished in near-anonimity for several years, despite generous contributions from various European personages. In 1126, Count Hugh of Champagne, having donated his estates to Bernard of Clairvaux for use in building a monestary for the Cistercian order, arrived in Jerusalem to join the Templars. This action indirectly obligated Bernard to support the newly chosen advocacy of his benefactor. He wrote to the count, "If, for God's work, you have changed yourself from count to knight and from rich to poor
to France where he met Bernard de Clairvaux, a learned monk who profoundly influenced the Templar order. Bernard shared Hugues' vision of pious warriors and pledged to help him develop a holy knighthood. Following Bernard's recommendation, the Templars vowed to lead obedient, simple lifestyles in accord with the Rule of St. Benedict. They donned the distinctive white vestments of Bernard's Cisterc... ... middle of paper ... ... Sources Consulted: Bernard de Clairvaux. De Laude Novae Militiae
Saladin In his De Laude Novae Militiae (1128 - 1131), Bernard of Clairvaux exhorted young Christian knights to take up the calling of spiritual chivalry and fight pagans without fear of eternal damnation since when he kills an evildoer, he is not a homicide, but ...a malicide, and it is plainly Christ's vengeance on those who work evil. Though Bernard's words served as a precursor to the Second Crusade they are important when examining the life of Saladin, for in his life and actions this man
Hildegard of Bingen, who lived from 1098 to 1179, was not known until the late 1970s. There was a rise in curiousity over Hildegard because she lived to be both an artist and a prophet. Moreover, Hildegard is associated with an abundance of traits. She is a preacher, visionary, scientist, poet, and many more characteristics. Hildegard’s life was filled with great joy, but also was accompanied with sickness and loss. She grew up in the monastery at Disibodenberg, where her parents entrusted her to
Historians do not have access to many documents that elaborate on the Knights Templar, but what they do have access to demonstrates that the Knights Templar, were extremely influential on the Medieval Church. The Knights Templar, a fairly controversial and secretive order, has been greatly misunderstood since the order began in the Middle Ages. Despite the misunderstandings and controversy, the Knights Templar had many good accomplishments; including protecting Christian pilgrims, defending the Church
“Others were strictly ‘of faith’ in that they could be grasped only through divine revelation.” This was a new view on the faith and reason argument contradictory to both Abelard with his belief that faith should be based on human reason, and the Bernard of Clairvaux who argued that one should only need faith. Aquinas, in the Summa Theologiae, stated that, “Man should not seek to know what is above reason.” His argument was, in very simple terms, that men need reason to understand all of God’s truths.