My Nominee for “MIP” of the Middle Ages: St. Bernard of Clairvaux

I don’t know if there is a competition for “Most Interesting Person” in the Middle Ages, but today I’d like to nominate St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153). August 20 is his feast day.

What a rich and varied influence he had. He was a shaker and mover in the Cistercian monastic reform. Clearly his gifts were visible from the start: after only three years as a monk he was commissioned to be founder of a new monastery, which became Clairvaux.  He came to be a guide of church councils and advisor to popes. A Doctor of the Catholic Church, he is just about the only medieval theologian cited with favor by Reformed theologian John Calvin.

Now some of what Bernard did might not make him too popular today. He worked hard to obtain the condemnation of the controversial theologian Peter Abelard, and was given the task of preaching up an army to go on the unpopular 2nd Crusade.

But hey: my nomination is not for “nicest” but “most interesting.”

What I love about Bernard is not his great achievements but his passionate love of Jesus. That is what shines in the lengthy series of sermons on the Song of Songs which, among other works, has earned his influential place in the history of mysticism.

This love of Jesus is communicated to Christians who may not even know Bernard’s name through two great hymns attributed to him.

One is the passion hymn “O Sacred Head Now Wounded.”

The other is “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.”

I’ll close with a couple of the verses. Few hymnals contain them all, though you can see the whole thing on the Cyber Hymnal.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize will be;
Jesus be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.

When once Thou visitest the heart,
Then truth begins to shine,
Then earthly vanities depart,
Then kindles love divine.

May it be so in my life. May it be so in yours. May you love Jesus, gain Jesus himself as your life’s goal, find love of God and neighbor kindled by his presence.

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I’d love to hear from you in the comments. What do you think of St. Bernard? What do you think pure love of Jesus might do in the lives of Christians today?

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You can see more of my posts on role models for today’s disciples (aka “saints”) here!