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Litany of St. Bernard of Clairvaux

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This litany is for private use only.

Lord, have mercy on us,
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us.
Queen conceived without sin,
Pray for us.
Saint Bernard, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, who in giving thyself to God, drew many souls to Him, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, prodigy of the eleventh age, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, ornament of the clergy, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, terror of heretics, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, oracle of the Church, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, light of bishops, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, most humble, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, burning with zeal for the glory of God, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, most ardent for the honor of Mary, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, most beloved son of the Queen of Angels, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, most pure in body and mind, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, perfect model of poverty and mortification, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, most ardent in charity to all, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, who feared God and not earthly powers, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, whose whole exterior breathed holiness, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, whose very look spoke of God, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, flower of religious, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, who never lost sight of the presence of God, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, angel of Clairvaux, Pray for us.
St. Bernard, always absorbed in God, Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

Let Us Pray.
O great Saint, who from the very dawn of life turned all the powers of thy soul and the noble affections of thy pure and loving heart toward thy Creator; O angel clothed in mortal flesh, who appeared in this valley of tears as a bright lily of purity to shed around thee the good odor of Christ, to show to all the beauty of virtue, and to point out to thousands the way to Heaven. O pray for us, that truly despising all earthly objects, we may live for God alone. R. Amen.

Prayer Source: Prayers from Various Websites

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

August 20, 2005

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

(1091-1153)

Man of the century! Woman of the century! You see such terms applied to so many today—“golfer of the century,” “composer of the century,” “right tackle of the century”—that the line no longer has any punch. But the “man of the twelfth century,” without doubt or controversy, has to be Bernard of Clairvaux. Adviser of popes, preacher of the Second Crusade, defender of the faith, healer of a schism, reformer of a monastic Order, Scripture scholar, theologian and eloquent preacher: any one of these titles would distinguish an ordinary man. Yet Bernard was all of these—and he still retained a burning desire to return to the hidden monastic life of his younger days.

In the year 1111, at the age of 20, Bernard left his home to join the monastic community of Citeaux. His five brothers, two uncles and some 30 young friends followed him into the monastery. Within four years a dying community had recovered enough vitality to establish a new house in the nearby valley of Wormwoods, with Bernard as abbot. The zealous young man was quite demanding, though more on himself than others. A slight breakdown of health taught him to be more patient and understanding. The valley was soon renamed Clairvaux, the valley of light.

His ability as arbitrator and counselor became widely known. More and more he was lured away from the monastery to settle long-standing disputes. On several of these occasions he apparently stepped on some sensitive toes in Rome. Bernard was completely dedicated to the primacy of the Roman See. But to a letter of warning from Rome he replied that the good fathers in Rome had enough to do to keep the Church in one piece. If any matters arose that warranted their interest, he would be the first to let them know.

Shortly thereafter it was Bernard who intervened in a full-blown schism and settled it in favor of the Roman pontiff against the antipope.

The Holy See prevailed on Bernard to preach the Second Crusade throughout Europe. His eloquence was so overwhelming that a great army was assembled and the success of the crusade seemed assured. The ideals of the men and their leaders, however, were not those of Abbot Bernard, and the project ended as a complete military and moral disaster.

Bernard felt responsible in some way for the degenerative effects of the crusade. This heavy burden possibly hastened his death, which came August 20, 1153.

Comment:

Bernard’s life in the Church was more active than we can imagine possible today. His efforts produced far-reaching results. But he knew that they would have availed little without the many hours of prayer and contemplation that brought him strength and heavenly direction. His life was characterized by a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. His sermons and books about Mary are still the standard of Marian theology.

Quote:

“In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may more surely obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal” (St. Bernard).