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'''St. Bernard of Clairvaux''' (b. 1090, died August 21, 1153) was a gifted holy man of [[France]]. Bernard was an Abbott, a monk, a Theologian, and a poet. One of the greatest spiritual masters of all times. He had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and there is no one who speaks more sublimely of the Queen of Heaven. The most powerful propagator of the Cistercian reform. A very wise man that the [[Pope]] commissioned to lead the Second Crusade. Helped end the schism of anti-Pope Anacletus II. St. Bernard founded and led the monastery at Clairvaux which had over 700 monks. Proclaimed a [[Doctor of the Church]] by Pope Pius VIII.

'''St. Bernard of Clairvaux''' (b. 1090, died August 21, 1153) was a gifted holy man of [[France]]. Bernard was an Abbot, a monk, a Theologian, and a poet. One of the greatest spiritual masters of all times. He had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and there is no one who speaks more sublimely of the Queen of Heaven. The most powerful propagator of the Cistercian reform. A very wise man that the [[Pope]] commissioned to lead the Second Crusade. Helped end the schism of anti-Pope Anacletus II. St. Bernard founded and led the monastery at Clairvaux which had over 700 monks. Proclaimed a [[Doctor of the Church]] by Pope Pius VIII.

==Early Life==

==Early Life==

==Monastery of Cîteaux==

==Monastery of Cîteaux==

The monastery was Benedictine and was in dire condition. When Bernard told his family, they were appalled at the lifestyle he would be entering. He persuaded four of his brothers, one uncle, and 26 other men to join him. By his third year, 1115, he became Abbott. As a young Abbot, he published a series of sermons on the Annunciation. These marked as a most gifted spiritual writer. <ref>[http://www.ccel.org/b/bernard/ St. Bernard of Clairvaux] Christian Classics Ethereal Library</ref>

The Benedictine monastery was in dire condition and declining enrollment, three years of no new monks. When Bernard told his family, they were appalled at the lifestyle he would be entering. He ended persuading four of his brothers, one uncle, and 26 other men to join him. By his third year, 1115, he became Abbott. As a young Abbot, he published a series of sermons on the Annunciation. These marked as a most gifted spiritual writer. <ref>[http://www.ccel.org/b/bernard/ St. Bernard of Clairvaux] Christian Classics Ethereal Library</ref>

==Pope Innocent II==

==Pope Innocent II==