Homily – August 20, 2009 – St. Bernard of Clairvaux

+ Bernard of Clairvaux lived in the first half of the twelfth century. He is one of the great monastic leaders and theologians in the history of the Church. He is considered the last of the Western Fathers of the Church. In the time of his youth, Bernard noticed the laxity of monastic observance, and so eventually, persuading thirty of his own relatives and friends to join him he founded Benedictine Monastery of a more strict observance (which later became known as Cistercians) at Clairvaux. He became abbot there and held the post for thirty-eight years. He established other foundations in France, Britain, and Ireland. When he died, in 1153, there were 700 monks at Clairvaux alone.

Bernard was also very much active in the affairs of the Church, especially in caring for the pilgrims, and the poor; for fighting heresy, and at the request of the Pope in preaching the need for the Second Crusade as the Great Schism of East and West had begun. Some of his theological and devotional writings have become classics, especially his treatise On Loving God, and his best-known work: eight sermons on the Canticle of Canticles: which ranged from life as a monk, to mystical union between Christ the bridegroom and the Church as bride. Pope Pius VIII declared him doctor of the Church in the early nineteenth century.

The Book of Sirach today speaks of one who is gifted with divine wisdom and understanding and learning; such a one will be filled with joy and gladness as they pass on their find to others. We are given gifts never for ourselves alone, but also always with others in mind. The one gift that Jesus tells us in the gospel passage that he wants as many as possible to experience is the gift of unity and peace that can only be found fully by belief in him and in his Father. Gifted as we are with divine wisdom and understanding – we can learn this truth without much difficulty if we are open to receive it; and then we can encourage others to experience the same thing according to their graced capacity. I think Bernard of Clairvaux, who was all about unity and peace found in the depths of experience with God, would agree that no one is ever completely filled with all that God has to give at any one time; we must all keep making acts of faith, acts of belief, acts of trust, acts of love, acts of surrender to God and his will and ways: and then be open to receive anything and everything that he deigns to give us at any particular time during our days as an aid to living a productive day. This is the life of the bride of Christ; this is the life of the monk; this is the life of the Christian man or woman.

May we always be open to all that God wants and wishes to teach us about the things of heaven and earth!