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==Early Life==

==Early Life==

St. Bernard was born in a castle, the third of seven siblings into the highest nobility in Burgundy, France. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=559 St. Bernard of Clairvaux] Catholic Online</ref> His parents would send him for the finest of educations. At the age of nine years, Bernard was sent to a much renowned school at Chatillon-sur-Seine. He had a great taste for literature and devoted himself for some time to poetry. His success in his studies won the admiration of his masters, and for his growth in virtue. <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02498d.htm St. Bernard of Clairvaux] Catholic Encyclopedia</ref> Soon after his mother died, in 1113 Bernard decided to enter the monastery of Cîteaux, he was twenty-two.

St. Bernard was born in a castle, the third of seven siblings into the highest nobility in Burgundy, France. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=559 St. Bernard of Clairvaux] Catholic Online</ref> His parents would send him for the finest of educations. At the age of nine years, Bernard was sent to a much renowned school at Chatillon-sur-Seine. He had a great taste for literature and devoted himself for some time to poetry. His success in his studies won the admiration of his masters, and for his growth in virtue. <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02498d.htm St. Bernard of Clairvaux] Catholic Encyclopedia</ref> Soon after his mother died in 1113, Bernard decided to enter the monastery of Cîteaux, he was twenty-two.

==Monastery of Cîteaux==

==Monastery of Cîteaux==

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>

The Benedictine monastery was in dire condition and declining enrollment, three years without any new monks. When Bernard explained his intentions to family, they were appalled at the lifestyle he would be entering. St. Bernard had persuaded four of his brothers, one uncle, and 26 other men to join him. By his third year, 1115, he became Abbot. As a young Abbot, he published a series of sermons on the Annunciation. These marked him as the 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==

==Second Crusade==

==Second Crusade==

Pope Innocent passed away and new Pope was elected in 1145. The First Crusade had given the Christian forces control of a few areas in Palestine, including the city of Edessa. King Louis VII of France was eager to launch a crusade to retake Edessa and prevent a Muslim recapture of Jerusalem. He sought Bernard's approval, which he refused. He then asked the Pope to order Bernard to preach a Crusade. The Pope gave the order, and Bernard preached with spectacular results. At Pope Eugene III's command,  Bernard traveled through France and [[Germany]] preaching the Second Crusade to sent vast armies on the road toward [[Jerusalem]]. He aroused the greatest enthusiasm among the masses of the population.

Pope Innocent passed away and new Pope was elected in 1145. The First Crusade had given the Christian forces control of a few areas in Palestine, including the city of Edessa. Muslims had been conquering these land. King Louis VII of France was eager to launch a crusade to retake Edessa and prevent a Muslim recapture of Jerusalem. He sought Bernard's approval, which he refused. He then asked the Pope to order Bernard to preach a Crusade. The Pope gave the order, and Bernard preached with spectacular results. At Pope Eugene III's command,  Bernard traveled through France and [[Germany]] preaching the Second Crusade to sent vast armies on the road toward [[Jerusalem]]. He aroused the greatest enthusiasm among the masses of the population.

As for the Crusade, things went wrong from the start. The various rulers leading the movement were distrustful of one another and not disposed to work together. Of the soldiers who set out (contemporary estimates vary from 100,000 to 1,500,000), most died of disease and starvation before reaching their goal, and most of the remainder were killed or captured soon after their arrival. The impact on Bernard was devastating, and so was the impact on Europe.  Of the soldiers who set out (contemporary estimates vary from 100,000 to 1,500,000), most died of disease and starvation before reaching their goal, and most of the remainder were killed or captured soon after their arrival. The impact on Bernard was devastating, and so was the impact on Europe. In 1153, The passing of Pope Eugenius had struck the fatal blow by taking from him one whom he considered his greatest friend and consular. The entire responsibility for the Crusades failure rested on him. He was blamed for not providing miracles for victory, which he attributed it to the sins of the Crusaders. Bernard journeyed to reconcile the warring provinces of Metz and Lorraine. He persuaded them to peace and to an agreement drawn up under his mediation. <ref>[http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/232.html Bernard of Clairvaux] Anglican.org</ref>  

As for the Crusade, things went wrong from the start. The various rulers leading the movement were distrustful of one another and not disposed to work together. Of the soldiers who set out (contemporary estimates vary from 100,000 to 1,500,000), most died of disease and starvation before reaching their goal, and most of the remainder were killed or captured soon after their arrival. The impact on Bernard was devastating, and so was the impact on Europe. In 1153, the passing of Pope Eugene had struck the fatal blow by taking from him one whom he considered his greatest friend and consular. The entire responsibility for the Crusades failure rested on Bernard. He was blamed for not providing miracles for victory, which he attributed it to the sins of the Crusaders. Bernard journeyed to reconcile the warring provinces of Metz and Lorraine. He persuaded them to peace and to an agreement drawn up under his mediation. <ref>[http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/232.html Bernard of Clairvaux] Anglican.org</ref>  

==Works==

==Works==