Learning came easily to this intelligent and handsome young man from a well-to-do family. A distinguished future lay ahead, but, while drawn to prayer in a time of uncertainty, he made the decision to surrender his life to the service of Jesus. He persuaded 30 companions, including several of his brothers, to join him. In 1112 at 22 he joined the Cistercian Order, and Cîteaux became well known as a model monastery.

In 1115 Bernard was sent with 12 monks to establish a new monastery. He chose a site in the valley of the river Aube, which he renamed Clairvaux (Valley of Light), where he became abbot. They struggled at first, but by the time of his death it had become one of the chief centres of the Cistercian Order, with 700 monks, and a further 320 abbeys had been founded all over Europe, and Britain.

Bernard was a very able abbot, a gifted leader, a spiritual pioneer, writer and organiser, with a capacity to mould the mind of a generation. The Cistercian Order is a closed order that withdraws from the world but many came to him for counsel and support. He would fearlessly rebuke people on moral issues, he attacked unorthodox theology and lack of monastic discipline. But his attacks on other theologians and religious orders were not always fair.

In 1147, Pope Eugenius called for the Second Crusade, he enlisted Bernard as its chief promoter. Bernard travelled Europe calling upon men to enlist in "the cause of Christ." He helped to gain recognition for the new Order of Templars as a body of Christian knights to serve the church during the crusades. his advocacy of the disastrous Second Crusade made him unpopular in some quarters.

Bernard is noted for his mystical writings. His best known works are ‘On Loving God’, and ‘Sermons on the Song of Songs’, 86 sermons on the spiritual life that, in fact, only tangentially touch on the biblical text. Bernard is called the "honey-tongued doctor" for his eloquent writings on the love of God. He wrote eloquently on humility; yet loved being close to the seat of power. A political influencer he was an adviser to 5 popes and Pope Innocent III owed his position, in part, to Bernard's public support. Bernard preached with immense energy and power and was strong defender of Christian values. Through him, the Cistercian Order became the most important in Europe. His contribution to monasticism has been lasting.

BORN: 1090, Fontaine-lès-Dijon (castle at Fontaines), France

DIED: 20 August 1153, Clairvaux Abbey