August 20 - Homily for Today

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church. Bernard was born to French nobility in Dijon, in 1090. When he was 22, fearing the ways of the world, he, four of his brothers, and 25 friends joined the Benedictine abbey of Citeaux (it had the strictest monastic rule); his father and another brother joined soon after. Three years later Bernard was named Abbot of a new foundation at Clairvaux, a post he would hold for the next thirty-eight years.

 At first, and by his own admission, he was too strict on the monks, but later relented. The monastery prospered, establishing 160 daughter houses throughout Europe, and by the time of his death there were 700 monks at Clairvaux alone. What was so appealing to the monastic way of life was the blessed assurance that seeking God alone was not only theoretically possible but also practically fruitful. The great contribution of the monks has always been and always will be hope for the Church and the world, and a source of powerful prayer for all of the world’s ills.

Bernard was also very active in the life of the Church outside the monastery walls; he fought against heresies, and helped interdisciplinary problems within the Church itself, he was advisor to Pope Eugene III who had been one of his monks, he was a famed spiritual writer and preacher who made a great impact on the Western Church: he is rightly called the last of the Western Doctors of the Church.

Every morning Bernard would ask himself, “Why have I come here?”, and then remind himself of his main duty – “to lead a holy life!” He died after having led a very holy and exemplary life on August 20, 1153.

Bernard was truly a dear friend of Jesus referred to in the gospel passage – who was deeply united with his Savior, his Master and his Lord – and he encourages others to seek and find that same friendship! It is available to all! 

Remain in my love, says the Lord; whoever lives in me and I in him will bear much fruit.