Saint of the day - August 20

St. Bernard was born of noble parentage in Burgundy, France, in the castle of Fontaines near Dijon. After the death of his mother, he resolved to join the newly established and very austere institute of the Cistercian Order.

In 1113, Bernard, along with thirty young men, presented themselves to the holy Abbot St. Stephen, at Citeaux. Impressed with the great progress he had made in his spiritual life, his superior sent Bernard along with twelve other monks to found a new monastery, which was later known as the celebrated Abbey of Clairvaux.

Bernard founded numerous other monasteries, composed a number of works and undertook many journeys for the honour of God. Several Bishoprics were offered him, but he refused them all. The reputation of Bernard spread far and wide, and even the Popes used to seek his advice.

When Pope Honorius II died in 1130, a schism broke out in the Church by the election of two popes, Pope Innocent II and Antipope Anacletus II. Pope Innocent took refuge in France, having been expelled from Rome by Anacletus. King Louis VI convened a national council of the French bishops and Bernard was chosen to judge between the rival popes. He decided in favour of Pope Innocent.

The schism ended, but only after the death of Anacletus in 1138. In 1139, Bernard assisted at the Second Council of the Lateran, in which the surviving adherents of the schism were definitively condemned.

Pope Celestine II and Pope Lucius II reigned after Pope Innocent II, and then one of the disciples of Bernard, called Bernard of Pisa, was raised to the Chair of Saint Peter as Pope Eugene III. Bernard was commissioned by Pope Eugene to preach the second Crusade. In obedience to the Sovereign Pontiff, he travelled preaching, through France and Germany.

St. Bernard died at the age of sixty three, on August 20, 1153. He was canonized just 21 years after his death by Pope Alexander III. In 1830, Pope Pius VIII declared him a Doctor of the Church.                                                                                                                                                                          
Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Amadour
2. Saint Herbert Hoscam
3. Saint Edbert
4. Saint Philibert
5. Saint Ronald

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