Bernard was born an aristocrat in Burgundy, France, in the 12th century. Already by the age of 22, he had decided to become a monk, and enter the Benedictine order. As proof of his persuasive powers, he brought along with him to the convent 30 like-minded comp-anions, including his widower father, four brothers and an uncle!

In the Benedictine order, Bernard’s talents for oratory and organization were quickly recognized. Within three years, he was placed at the head of a group of monks who were to establish a new foundation at Clairvaux, “the valley of light”.

As abbot of this new monastery for almost 40 years, Bernard’s influence on his contemporaries was profound. He was an eloquent preacher – “the honey-tongued doctor” as Pope Pius XII later referred to him -- who was especially profuse in his praises of Mary, mother of the Redeemer. “One can never speak enough about Mary,” he was wont to say. The prayer, Memorare, attributed to him, is still popular today.

His theological antagonist was his contemporary, the brilliant philosopher, Peter Abelard, whose rationalism he confuted.

In later years the Pope commanded Bernard to preach to kings and princes the duty of rescuing the sacred shrines in Palestine from the control of the Arab Muslims. The first Crusade (in the year 1145) which came about as the result of his preaching, established a kingdom in Jerusalem, which quickly degenerated into corruption and violence, belying all Bernard’s great hopes.

Because of his writings and his personal holiness, Bernard was made a saint and a doctor of the Church. He is considered the second founder of the Benedictines, the one who initiated the Cistercian reform.