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CALENDAR of the SAINTS
20 August 2006 A.D.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
Crusading Hammer of Heretics
“If you desire to enter here, leave at the threshold the body you have brought with you from the world; here there is room only for your soul.”
The twentieth Doctor of the Church was a man who turned his back on the world and took over thirty with him to devout their life to God. He built monasteries throughout western Europe. He was the confidante of popes and kings, beggars and paupers. He preached the Crusades, never compromising the Truths and Traditions. He was responsible for the revival of the Cistercian Order. This holy and mystic Abbot from France composed one of the most beautiful prayers ever created - the Memorare. He was Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.
Saint Bernard was born at the castle of Fontaines, in Burgundy near Dijon, in 1090. The grace of his person and the vigor of his intellect filled his parents with the highest hopes, and the world lay bright and smiling before him. But Saint Bernard renounced it forever to join the monks of Citeaux, a few miles distant.He entered the Cistercian abbey in Citeaux, France in 1113, convincing thirty friends and relatives to join him. Four of his brothers and a group of friends, thirty young Christians in all, went when he did to Citeaux, leaving the youngest brother, Nivard, to be the mainstay of his father in his old age. “You will now be heir to everything,” they said to him as they departed. “Yes,” said the boy; “you leave me the earth, and keep Heaven for yourselves; do you consider that fair?” And he too left the world. At length their aged father came also, exchanging wealth and honor for the poverty of a monk in the monastery of Clairvaux, which Saint Bernard with a band of monks founded in the diocese of Langres in 1115.
One sister alone remained behind; she was married, and loved the world and its pleasures. Splendidly clothed, one day she came to visit Saint Bernard. He refused to see her; finally consenting to do so, not as her brother but as the minister of Christ. The words he then spoke moved her so deeply that two years later she retired to a convent with her husband’s consent, dying later in the reputation of sanctity.
Saint Bernard’s holy example attracted so many novices that many other monasteries had to be built. Unsparing for himself, he at first expected too much of his monks, who were disheartened by his severity. Soon perceiving his error, he led them forward to wonderful perfection by the sweetness of his correction and the mildness of his government. Naturally, this influx led to the revival of the Cistercian Order and within three years of becoming a priest, Saint Bernard was sent with twelve others to establish a new monastery at Clairvaux which was to be the daughter house of Citeaux.
Saint Bernard used to say to those who applied for admission to the monastery, “If you desire to enter here, leave at the threshold the body you have brought with you from the world; here there is room only for your soul.” Every day he asked himself the question: “Why have you come here, Bernard?”
In spite of his desire to remain secluded, the fame of his sanctity spread far and wide, and many dioceses asked for him as their bishop. This special mission the Sovereign Pontiff had bestowed on him enabled Saint Bernard to found many monasteries in France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Sicily and even Syria. Kings beseeched him to serve as a peacemaker whenever possible and Saint Bernard was revered not only for his holy life, but for his great writings.
One of the greatest prayers he wrote was the Memorare to Our Lady:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with confidence, I fly to you, O virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
He was devoted heart and soul to his Crucified Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The holy Abbot of Clairvaux received many visions and messages through private revelation, one of which was his zeal to help the suffering Christ so that he offered to help Him bear the terrible suffering of the cross. Christ comforted Bernard and inspired him to carry His word and faith to all parts of Europe and the Mideast, entreating the saint to defend the true pontiff Pope Innocent II as opposed to the antipope Anaclete II.
He served loyally the true popes of his time, becoming a close advisor to Pope Innocent's successors Pope Celestine II and Pope Lucius II, the 166th successor of Peter, who was struck by a lethal rock thrown by rioters. Lucius, a peacemaker, had waded into the crowd to quell the violence when he was hit.
Through the help of Lucius' successor Pope Eugenius III, Saint Bernard's own former subject, he escaped this dignity. Nonetheless, his retirement was continually invaded. The poor and the weak sought his protection; bishops, kings, and popes applied to him for advice; and at length Blessed Pope Eugenius himself ordered him to preach the Second Crusade. By his fervor, eloquence, and miracles Saint Bernard kindled the enthusiasm of Christendom, and two large armies were organized. Their defeat was only due, said the Saint, to their sins, but many had saved their souls by their dedication to the glory of God.
Saint Bernard died peacefully on August 20, 1153 five weeks after the death of his pontiff Blessed Eugene. His very precious writings have earned for him the title of the last Father of the Holy Church and one of its most famous Doctors. Along with Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Bernard was also known as "Hammer of heretics." He was canonized by Pope Alexander III in 1174, 21 years after his death. Saint Bernard was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1830 by Pope Pius VIII.
Saint Amadour Saint Bernard of Valdeiglesius Saint Brogran Saint Christopher Saint Edbert Saint Gobert Saint Haduin Saint Heliodorus
Martyred during the persecution of Shapur in 'Persia' with several hundred companions. Saint Herbert Hoscam Blessed James Bell
Educated at Oxford University. Conformed to the rules of the state church under Queen Elizabeth, but eventually returned to his Catholic faith as a priest. Hanged in 20 April 1584 at Lancaster, England with Blessed John Finch. Saint Leovigild Saint Lucius Martyrs of Thrace Saint Maximus 
Saint Oswin
Educated by Saint Aidan. Succeeded Saint Oswald as king of Deira. Murdered, 20 August 651 at Gilling, Yorkshire, England on the orders of his cousin Oswy.
Saint Ronald
Earl of the Orkney Islands, described as "elegant and accomplished". He made a vow to build a church in his lands; the result was the Saint Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. Murdered in 1158 A.D. by a group of warriors rebelling against him, his rule and his religion, and considered a martyr in Kirkwall, Scotland. 
Saint Samuel the Patriarch
The last Judge of Israel, described in the Old Testament book of 1 Kings. The son of Elcana and Hannah, who vowed before his birth to give him to God. Delivered the Israelites from the rule of the Philistines (1 Kings 7). Believed by some to be the author of the books of Judges and Ruth, and the first 24 verses of 1 Kings. In his old age he appointed his sons judges over Israel, but they displeased the ancients, who asked him for a king, and the Lord told him to anoint Saul (1 Kings 8).
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