Today commemorates Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), an influential Cistercian Abbot who I find at times inspiring and other times appalling.  He was the son a Burgundian nobleman who at age 25 joined the new reformed monastic order of the Cistercians. After only three years he was sent to establish a new monastery which he named Clairvaux (Clear Valley). Bernard was a deeply contemplative  man practicing an austere form of monasticism. But unlike the stereotype of a monastic as someone who only spends hours at prayer, he was exceedingly active in the world. He was one of those kind of people who gets-things-done. In his lifetime he was involved in founding some 60 monasteries. 

Bernard inspired other people. They were often attracted by his dynamic personality. However, you didn’t want to get on the wrong side of him. He could be ferocious in attacking anyone he regarded as a heretic. He also was the prime preacher of the disastrous Second Crusade.

No one but our Lord is perfect. I have learned not to dismiss a person’s contributions because they are flawed. Bernard wrote extensively. His works include much poetry that today is captured on hymns. This is one of the hymns attributed to Bernard as translated by Edward Caswall.

    Jesus, the very thought of Thee,
    with sweetness fills my breast,
    but sweeter far Thy face to see,
    and in Thy presence rest.

    Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
    nor can the memory find
    a sweeter sound than Thy blest Name,
    O Savior of mankind.

Read 1 John 3:1-3  and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne